Good for you

[Johnson]

Posted on the TSR2 FB page.

 

 

For those of you with complaining spouses...

 

Not sure about the 'keeps stress at bay' bit though.

[PhantomBigStu]

“Can Combat depression” not if you are staring down the barrel of your 5th binning of this nascent year edit or indeed in the post binning it period

Edited February 6 by PhantomBigStu

[Karearea]

I’ve seen the positive effects in my own mental well-being (as has my spouse, I think). It’s the solvents I worry about.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

4 minutes ago, Karearea said:

It’s the solvents I worry about.

Do or can you wear PPE ? Or can you use something like a window mounted fan to pull the vapors away from you ? 

Edited February 6 by Corsairfoxfouruncle

[brianthemodeller]

Mental health is superb but we all have emphysema from the dust and chemicals 🤣

[Karearea]

4 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Do or can you wear PPE ? Or can you use something like a window mounted fan to pull the vapors away from you ? 

Yep I wear PPE and take it very seriously. I’ve started wearing a mask while I’m gluing and sanding rather than just while painting. I do sometimes wonder about long term exposure even with protection though.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

25 minutes ago, Karearea said:

Yep I wear PPE and take it very seriously. I’ve started wearing a mask while I’m gluing and sanding rather than just while painting. I do sometimes wonder about long term exposure even with protection though.

I am happy to hear that. Now I will give you a bit of my background, maybe it will help maybe it wont. I started building kits in 1979. Mostly slap them together and poor if any paint jobs. Then I was guided by an older friend to get better. In 1988 I received my first airbrush. I only used enamel's and hardcore chemical thinners until 2002. In 2002 I switched to Gunze chemical lacquers. Used these until I took my hiatus in 2005. I came back to modeling in late 2014 and all that was available was water based acrylics like Vallejo, Ammo, and Tamiya’s X/ XF paints.
        In 2019 Gunze lacquers re-appeared locally and since then I have pretty much exclusively used Lacquers. The entire time I have modeled I have never ever had an issue related to inhaling fumes. Now If I haven't been effected after all that time not using anything (PPE), then you should be ok using it. I think you will be fine. Just keep a lookout for headaches or nose/throat feeling funny. Those will likely be your first signs. 
        Do you wet sand or strictly dry sand ? Wetting the sanding film/file will keep the dust down considerably. I use toilet (loo) roll to wipe the model down every 30-45 seconds so as to keep the muck from collecting. 

Edited February 6 by Corsairfoxfouruncle

[Johnson]

16 hours ago, Karearea said:

It’s the solvents I worry about.

 

16 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Do or can you wear PPE ?

 

This is very true. And something I take a lot more seriously now, though probably a bit late in my case. I have a spray booth with extractor for the really potent (leveling thinners, alclad etc) paints. And wear a professional 3M vapour mask, the old paper masks we used to have are about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

[Nocoolname]

In regards to the article above I find it the hobby can be a bit of a double edged sword, but by and large I find it more beneficial than not. Ironically the difficulty for me is the requirement for concentration which I can really struggle with and which has led to a few disasters and binned builds and which in turn can really hit the mental health. But when it works it really works. 
 

I just tried out my airbrushes for the first time in about a year, zapping a WIP with a coat of AK primer. Brand new extractor spray booth on brand new hobby desk out in my new conservatory plus a Force 8 full-face mask but despite all that, the fumes… blimey! 
 

Then I pranged the needle on my Ultra 😡

[Ed Russell]

I showed that clipping to a psychiatrist friend a few years ago and she laughed. She quoted my own words - "all modellers are somewhere on 'the spectrum', it's just a matter of where!"

[ArnoldAmbrose]

G'day All, modeling allows me to be a bit creative, and also keeps the grey matter ticking over.

 

       Model warships in 1/600 scale, generally about WW2 vintage are my interest, and as the range of ships is extremely limited (for me anyway) I do a lot of conversions, plus I'm now branching out into total scratch-builds. I don't buy PE or AM stuff, I make what I need. They're not as good as the bought stuff but a lot cheaper, and for me rather satisfying in making them, plus thinking about HOW I'm going to make them. As I said, thinking and being creative a bit.

       And a benefit of modeling forums such as this one is the sharing of ideas and knowledge - the networking with you lot. 😁 I'm somewhat anti-social by nature, and part deaf into the bargain. So the forums help prevent me from becoming a total recluse. Thank you everyone.

       Regards, Jeff.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

5 hours ago, Ed Russell said:

"all modellers are somewhere on 'the spectrum', it's just a matter of where!"

Mind you, to include us all, the spectrum might need to be extended a bit. Or a lot. 🤣  Self included. 🙂

 

Regards, Jeff.

[Neil.C]

Anything that requires concentration can shut out depressive thoughts for a while. Modelling can be good/bad for it IMO. Great when all going well but the opposite when it all goes wrong.

 

I find playing the guitar/learning new music is better for me in that respect.

[Mr T]

6 hours ago, Neil.C said:

Anything that requires concentration can shut out depressive thoughts for a while. Modelling can be good/bad for it IMO. Great when all going well but the opposite when it all goes wrong.

 

I find playing the guitar/learning new music is better for me in that respect.

Which is the point of a lot of the results of the research studies. If you have a hobby that exercises your brain and develops uses motor skills etc., it will help your mood. I have a number of different hobbies and what gets done can depend on how I am feeling. 

[John Tapsell]

On 2/10/2025 at 7:10 PM, Mr T said:

Which is the point of a lot of the results of the research studies. If you have a hobby that exercises your brain and develops uses motor skills etc., it will help your mood. I have a number of different hobbies and what gets done can depend on how I am feeling. 

Agree 100%. There are days/months when I can generate a significant amount of modelling results and then I'll go for a similar amount of time being non-productive as a modeller. I just swap to photography or doing archive research, or maybe just getting lost in books. I think that pretty much any craft-related hobby can generate really positive results. It's when you try to force the pace and become focused on getting results (I'm guilty of that at times) rather than enjoying the process, that the positives can tail off.