What Makes a Good Model Engineer?

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What Makes a Good Model Engineer?

This topic has 45 replies, 32 voices, and was last updated 20 July 2016 at 07:26 by Bob Rodgerson.

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3 July 2016 at 10:19 #34699
Steve Withnell
Participant
@stevewithnell34426
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3 July 2016 at 10:19 #245219
Steve Withnell
Participant
@stevewithnell34426
I'd propose the following characteristics:

1. Patience – and lots of it

2. Thoughtfulness – thinking through the consequences of the next series of operations and activities

3. A desire to learn – why did that happen, how do I …

4. A delight in the finished article – I made that? wow!

5. Sharing what you learn freely with others – being a teacher & mentor

What do you think?

Steve
3 July 2016 at 10:22 #245221
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
One who can make a PIG out of a Sous Ear ?
3 July 2016 at 10:38 #245222
MW
Participant
@mw27036
Necessity is regarded as the mother of all invention so goes the popular saying, for me, the main desire I could sum up with a simple sentence "what happens if i?" – It's the excitement of fulfilling possibility. The ability to use technology to solve your problems.

The rest i will probably learn the hard way through setbacks and failures, but i remember none of it would happen without the former desire.

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 03/07/2016 10:40:03
3 July 2016 at 10:39 #245223
Gordon W
Participant
@gordonw
A sense of humour ?
3 July 2016 at 11:03 #245227
Phil P
Participant
@philp
A massive workshop crammed full of all the best tools money can buy.

And yes I do have a sense of humour.

Phil
3 July 2016 at 11:21 #245229
Ajohnw
Participant
@ajohnw51620
In some cases a hefty bank balance seems to be essential. Real ones manage with what ever they have or can afford but often buy more than they need and lust after even more.

John

–
3 July 2016 at 11:22 #245231
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Willingness to join a club and participate not just do it to get a boiler certificate. What is it with retired people who can't do Saturdays 'cos they have to go shopping and expect people who spend all week working to do everything for the club.

Actually having brain cells helps. Those who need the written instructions in the Meccano manual and ask what size screwdriver to use should perhaps take up sofa testing.
3 July 2016 at 11:51 #245235
Anonymous
Posted by Michael Walters on 03/07/2016 10:38:03:

The ability to use technology to solve your problems.

If the technology is later than the 19th century that would entail instant disbarment?

As to the original question I don't know, and to be honest I don't really care (sorry Steve). All I know is that I'm not a model engineer; far too many vices to be a model anything. I'll stick to plain old engineering.

Andrew
3 July 2016 at 12:00 #245236
Ady1
Participant
@ady1
What Makes a Good Model Engineer?

A little bit of madness and a lot of patience.
3 July 2016 at 12:01 #245237
KWIL
Participant
@kwil
Home workshops are of necessity a lonely place of work, self reliance etc.

Why spoil all of that by being "told" what needs to be done at the club?
3 July 2016 at 12:14 #245238
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
The ability to find a baked bean tin on the hard shoulder, approximately 4 miles short of Milton Keynes and make a first class model out of it.
3 July 2016 at 13:27 #245251
Anonymous
Posted by John Stevenson on 03/07/2016 12:14:13:

The ability to find a baked bean tin on the hard shoulder, approximately 4 miles short of Milton Keynes and make a first class model out of it.

Only counts if it's been run over first.

Andrew
3 July 2016 at 14:41 #245260
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Is there such a ting as a bad one, or are we all just 'improvers'?

Neil
3 July 2016 at 16:27 #245274
KWIL
Participant
@kwil
How do you "improve" a squashed bean can?
3 July 2016 at 16:55 #245280
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Posted by Neil Wyatt on 03/07/2016 14:41:26:

Is there such a ting as a bad one, or are we all just 'improvers'?

Neil

Judging by this afternoon's iffy efforts I'm a confirmed recidivist. Today I starting by failing to read the instructions and finished by losing a part. At one point I drilled a hole in the wrong place after failing to divide 38 by 2 with a pocket calculator.

A sense of humour has got to be one of the essentials.

Dave
3 July 2016 at 17:21 #245283
Anonymous
Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 03/07/2016 16:55:41:

At one point I drilled a hole in the wrong place after failing to divide 38 by 2 with a pocket calculator.

That's where you went wrong, should have done the calculation in your head. Never mind all this high falutin technology, leave that to industry.

Andrew
3 July 2016 at 17:34 #245286
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Posted by Andrew Johnston on 03/07/2016 17:21:47:

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 03/07/2016 16:55:41:

At one point I drilled a hole in the wrong place after failing to divide 38 by 2 with a pocket calculator.

That's where you went wrong, should have done the calculation in your head. Never mind all this high falutin technology, leave that to industry.

Andrew

Too late, I've got my slide rule out!
3 July 2016 at 18:22 #245289
Steve Withnell
Participant
@stevewithnell34426
Posted by John Stevenson on 03/07/2016 12:14:13:

The ability to find a baked bean tin on the hard shoulder, approximately 4 miles short of Milton Keynes and make a first class model out of it.

Does that count as road kill down your way

S
3 July 2016 at 18:22 #245290
mechman48
Participant
@mechman48
The ability to sit down, heave a sigh, say to yourself… Oh sh1t, 'FUBAR ! have another sigh, say 'ah well I won't do that again'… I have learned something… have a night cap & start again tomorrow.

George.
3 July 2016 at 19:50 #245305
jimmy b
Participant
@jimmyb
In my case, a good wife…..
3 July 2016 at 19:57 #245307
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Having thought about it over a glass of wine, it's clear that a good model engineer will need to commit all seven deadly sins:
- looking for easier ways to do things (sloth),
- getting cross with mistakes (anger),
- showing off the model (pride),
- wanting tools you don't need (lust),
- wanting that other blokes workshop (envy),
- generally wanting more and more stuff to play with (greed),
- ignoring the budget when buying tools at shows or on the web (gluttony).
Cheers,

Dave
3 July 2016 at 20:10 #245312
V8Eng
Participant
@v8eng
I would suggest:- The ability to learn from our mistakes, so that we can make them even bigger and better next time.
3 July 2016 at 20:21 #245314
Geoff Theasby
Participant
@geofftheasby
Having an understanding wife…
3 July 2016 at 20:55 #245319
NJH
Participant
@njh
Dave ( not so silly!)

Excellent ! The glass of wine obviously had a lubricating effect.

I will attempt to be a better " sinner" in the future!

Norman

ps.

About the only thing that "makes" me do anything. these days is my wife ! ( ….and I can't remember her insisting on anything………. however she does seem to have some secret way of influencing my actions. In 50 years or so I've not quite figured out just how she does that )

Edited By NJH on 03/07/2016 21:00:54
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