Occasional Tamiya Fatigue... anyone else?

[mongoose1983]

I find that every so often I lose all motivation to work on projects or even prowl ebay for parts. Since my dry spell that lasted a couple years it's only been here and there and brief - a few days here or there - but I'm feeling it right now. Have so many great projects waiting and I have time tonight to work on one, I just can't muster the juice to do anything with them.

To be frank it may have more to do with my general mental health issues and lifelong struggle with depression than anything else... but I was just wondering if others go through similar bouts of temporary periods of not being able to get yourself to bother working on things that just days earlier you were dying to have time for.

Anyone else experience this or similar??

I just can say one thing: Thank you Ben for helping me, for sharing your good humor with everyone in here, and for giving me a chance to enjoy a bit more this hobby of running and restoring vintage RC cars.

[Theibault]

Been at it non stop for thirty one years. I take a few month break every couple years. It's normal. Find another hobby to do in the mean time. I paint minis and build Gundam models on the side.

[mynameisdannyowens]

Good news is I'm getting back into RC over the last month and the light at the end of the tunnel isn't an on coming train 👍

Haha!!!! Brilliant, that really made me chuckle!!

When you're sense of humour is alive and kicking you know you'll be all alright sooner or later

I've got half a dozen rebuilds/builds/restores to do but going by my form of the last two years they'll take me another ten to finish!!

Glass is half full though and it means my 'activity' in the hobby is guaranteed future proof for a good while!

I'd say I spend way way way more time browsing this great forum than I do driving, painting or building actual real life Tamiyas!

(And I bet I'm not on my own on that front....)

[moffman]

I grew up outside Belfast, I hear ya, my family is in Hampshire and they get worried about my obsession. With guns and RC. But as a instructor in the self defense arts I'm dealing with law enforcement most weeks. Never been a wine drinker, nice if I was because it seems the group I hang out with are into their wine. Eat the liver with a nice chianti. Hannibal style

I hated wine with a passion until I was in Spain a few years ago and went on one of those wine tasting days and a few of the people and the vineyard owner explained to me how to get the best out of drinking wine and to cut a long story etc I'm now a total convert and I never drink to get drunk that's just a waste of good wine!

[markbt73]

I haven't done much with RC recently either. Part of it is that work has been getting me down (I had that "what am I doing with my life" moment about a month ago, and have since been contemplating a career change), and part of it is that the 1:1 cars have been misbehaving, so my free time has been limited. And when I do have time, I look arounf my hobby room at all the half-finished projects and can't decide what to work on, so I end up not doing anything.

But, I know me, and I'll be back to it soon. I do see a cleanout/selloff in the future, just to re-focus my energy. Fewer impulse buys, fewer trades just to get something different, and probably more custom and scratch built models.

[chickenman242tk]

I think we all go through phases where what excites you now will bore you in 6 months time.

I was getting tired of doing the same old thing , every sunday go out and bash nitros , sure was fun but now especially with a 10 day old baby im struggling to find the motivation to do anything rc.

I was meant to run my revo yesterday with a mate , he is just getting into traxxas and id say I've plateaued with it and I seriously could not find the motivation to run it , think that's why I've turned to Tamiya as its a lot easier to spend an hour or so here and there and make something great.

I think what im trying to say is , maybe you need to look at a different aspect of the hobby , try something different it worked for me .

it like your first love , may not be with them but they will always have a place in your heart.

[essexbill]

Take a break and step back.

Don't sell anything, store it, take a break for a few weeks, then one day you will either see a kid in the park, something at a car boot sale, or even the cover of a mag will catch your eye then you will be inspired to get going again.

Believe me as I speak from experience and regret.

Take care.

[XV Pilot]

I usually consider it a source of frustration, but this thread has made me realise that it is perhaps a good thing that my enthusiasm always exceeds my hobby budget. As it is, I don't ever seem to find myself with projects to do and no enthusiasm to do them - it is always the other way around. Perhaps if I had enough dosh to undertake enough projects to swamp my enthusiasm, things may be different? Who knows?

[Nobbi1977]

I usually consider it a source of frustration, but this thread has made me realise that it is perhaps a good thing that my enthusiasm always exceeds my hobby budget. As it is, I don't ever seem to find myself with projects to do and no enthusiasm to do them - it is always the other way around. Perhaps if I had enough dosh to undertake enough projects to swamp my enthusiasm, things may be different? Who knows?

I have enough hobbys and a mad schedule at work that keeps my interest and free time rotating enough. Wifey wants a new house so my disposable income is about to go from "buy what I want" to "what do I need to sell to get this one" I might do more driving then and less random building

[Vrdetailing]

I find that every so often I lose all motivation to work on projects or even prowl ebay for parts. Since my dry spell that lasted a couple years it's only been here and there and brief - a few days here or there - but I'm feeling it right now. Have so many great projects waiting and I have time tonight to work on one, I just can't muster the juice to do anything with them.

To be frank it may have more to do with my general mental health issues and lifelong struggle with depression than anything else... but I was just wondering if others go through similar bouts of temporary periods of not being able to get yourself to bother working on things that just days earlier you were dying to have time for.

Anyone else experience this or similar??

I have also had mental heath issues in the past.. If you ever need a chat PM me.

I keep taking the pills and feeding my tamiya addiction

[Percymon]

Hey Beef - I, and many above, feel your pain buddy. Winter weather doesn't help (unless you're in the southern hemisphere), tiring days of waking up in the dark, driving to and from work in the dark, and dismal weather really kill any enjoyment. Roll on some spring sunshine !

Irrespective of whatever else is going on in life, I think we all get burnt out just on RC from time to time. I revelled in buying, cleaning and restoring models, as well as building new ones for 4-5 years, but then completely lost interest for 6-8 months. Part of my problem was the number of projects I had in the queue, and the amoutn of family time it took away.

Even now I'm finding it hard to do the last 5-10% on a few of them, yet I'm still buying new projects. Seems i have more excitement for buying than i do building lol!

I really need to get organised, tackle one (or two if waiting for parts) at a time and get through the rather long and depressing list of cars I still have to work on.

[ChrisRx718]

I haven't run a model in about 5 weeks. Makes me sad. I've also still got models on the shelf which I intended to finish this time last year, some the year before that - they're all still here un-finished!

I think like others I see the potential in a pile of parts and start calculating the cost of the few parts required to turn that pile of plastic into another working model, losing sight of the main goal which is of course to build and run these things, not just accumalate parts and half-build things!

I've become more organised and yesterday I had to clear the dining table yet again (because apparently it's meant for sitting and eating at). I feel I acheived a lot, I might even go as far as labelling bits so I know why I bought them and what project they're meant for, just so they don't get lost!

[moffman]

I've been reading this very interesting topic that beefmuffin started and there is one thing that most if not all of us have in common (and its not just UK or USA by the look of the broad spectrum on the forum!) Its how moden day work now spills over to our private family lives we can't (and in some cases not allowed to!) Leave it at works door! If this is the modern working world no wonder people are stressed and can't be bothered!

[mr crispy]

Just thought I'd add, when I'm feeling low and need a quick cheer up this Bill Bailey clip does the job nicely. Maybe it's to old rocker in me 🤘

[beefmuffin]

Thanks you guys - it's nice to know how many of you go through the same ups and downs. As for being depressed, I don't want to overstate that point - relative to the long term scope of my condition I'm doing fine. Actually I got back into Tamiya and reconnected with a long forgotten part of myself during the worst period of depression in my life a few years ago. It helped give me something meaningful and positive to hold onto when my father passed away right in the middle of my already bad state. Being part of this group and connecting with you guys and the rest of the TC family really helped a lot... gave me a branch to grab onto and still does that for me.

I've dealt with major depression since I was as young as I can remember, so despite the good mix of meds I'm on and generally being relatively in good shape sometimes the lows still surface; nothing to be done about it, and it's definitely not helped over the past few weeks in making headway in all my Tamiya and Kyosho projects. But at the same time I'm confident it'll be the urge to work on them that pulls me out of it too... maybe this coming weekend or the one after. I don't see this lasting all that long. I really do appreciate the camaraderie and support tho. You guys rock!

[Percymon]

Sometimes Beef it pays to have a nib kit, even if its the cheapest of models - when you hit that brick wall on resto projects, its a welcome relief to just open those new parts sprues and build something that just goes together like it should , with no hassle !

Anyway we're all friends here, so keep logging in - there's always something on here to make us smile, whether it be my mis-fortune buying barn finds, or matman's banter

[Wooders28]

I am currently having a break from Tamiya. I think it is because all my vintage cars are now complete and they are just sitting on a shelf collecting dust. I get let's of enjoyment form restoring the cars but once they are complete i do lose interest in them somewhat. I am currently thinking about selling a few of them and buying some new project cars to re-ignite my interest.

Need to organise a day to get out for some bashing!!

[beefmuffin]

or matman's banter

LOL I have to admit sometimes I can't help picturing him spinning around while saying his comments out loud in the style of the Tazmanian Devil.

[matman]

LOL I have to admit sometimes I can't help picturing him spinning around while saying his comments out loud in the style of the Tazmanian Devil.

I see your back Beef , That we all know ..

*%^&**&% i'm not like that .. < OH!!

[Indetrucks]

I easily have 8 - 10 Tamiya RC's that need building or restoring. I keep buying and putting them aside.

The buying part is easy, it's the time to repair and restore that I'm having a hard time mustering up.

[taliesin]

I like Percymon's idea about just having a NIB kit to assemble - something with no muss, no fuss, no hunting for elusive resto parts or period upgrades, etc. Just a nice relaxing straight-forward build it like you bought it experience (except for bearings and a steel pinion of course). Just to put a smile on your face. Sounds delightful.

Hmmm, excuse me gents, I think Tower Hobbies is calling my name.

[beefmuffin]

I like Percymon's idea about just having a NIB kit to assemble - something with no muss, no fuss, no hunting for elusive resto parts or period upgrades, etc. Just a nice relaxing straight-forward build it like you bought it experience (except for bearings and a steel pinion of course). Just to put a smile on your face. Sounds delightful.

Hmmm, excuse me gents, I think Tower Hobbies is calling my name.

Actually gonna be doing just this soon with a couple kits: Heavy Dump and Optima re-re... figure the Heavy Dump with its 4wd will be a good ride for my 5yo son to practice with. Might even stick a crawler motor in it to keep it nice and slow.

[taliesin]

Oh Gawd, will the Admins even allow another Heavy Dump build thread from you...? My sides still hurt from the last one.

[beefmuffin]

Oh Gawd, will the Admins even allow another Heavy Dump build thread from you...? My sides still hurt from the last one.

If I promise to be a good boy it shouldn't be a problem LOL.

[Wandy]

It's scary to see how many people suffer with mental health problems in the 21st century. It truly is the curse of the modern age, but if there is one reassuring thing about this then it's the fact that people who suffer do not have to do so alone, thanks to internet forums such as this one.

My way of preventing fatigue within this hobby is to have a wide range of other interests and passions outside of it. In that way, when your interest goes through a waning phase in one of your pursuits you can focus your energy, enthusiasm and, yes, cash, on one of the others.

For instance, from about October to the end of last year I found myself going through a "meh" phase with regards to Tamiya stuff. But at the same time I was absolutely buzzing with excitement whilst anticipating the new Star Wars movie. So the last quarter of 2015 for me was simply focused on that film and how it would pan out. Luckily for me I have a close friend who shared that passion and we spent that whole 3 months discussing what might happen. Now that I have seen the movie and loved it I have found that it has completely re-awoken (pun intended ) my love for the franchise and I have since bought novels, artwork books, dictionaries, games and of course, static models and figures connected with the films.

Then by the time all of the hype had died down and I had seen the movie multiple times it was the end of January and it just so happened that Kyosho re-released the Optima and Tamiya had announced a raft of exciting forthcoming releases. The result? Bam! My love of this hobby was recharged yet again.

I am actually developing ever more passions and interests as I get older, and....unlike when I was a teenager when I got bored with the hobby and just moved on...I find my other interests merely compliment my enthusiasm for RC. Those other interests include, in no particular order, 1980's VW cars (Golf, Corrado, Jetta etc) Electronic/House Music, Politics, Watches, Clothes (my sneaker collecting is becoming Tamiya-like), gaming and football....although that particular passion is fast on the slide with each passing year as the game that I grew up with is almost unrecognisable, and not for the better.