Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

I wonder what other hobbies we have messed around with along with the engine obsession?

In turns, I’ve built a handful of small boats, including one RC outboard and half a dozen full sized.  I’ve built, flown, and designed rc airplanes, up to 1/3 scale gas. Played a bit with engine modifications, built a supercharger, etc.
RC airplanes led me to learn machining, taught myself lathe and mill work, built and sold landing gear, as well as made parts for obsolete stuff.

Got way sideways in competition shooting, gunsmithing, and target ammunition development at one time. That led to a business, created a new cartridge and other inventions, manufacturing consulting work, way too much fun for a hobby.  At one time I had the price of a beemer in reloading equipment, bullet casting machines, and assorted gunsmithing gear.

Ham radio, and antenna design and construction.

Gun collecting and fly fishing took a toll on the bank balance. Flytying, not so bad, but ya know…..

Dabbled in wheel thrown pottery.

Made custom knives.

Built a few cigar box guitars, including a couple of original designs. Learned how to play guitar with my own homemade instruments.

Oddball one off projects like a wooden combination lock bank vault type safe, with a coin sorting bank, a wooden gear clock, built and fired miniature cannons…..

I’ve got the attention span of a flea at times, but other times I can immerse into a new interest for years, every day.

Anyway, what kinds of things do miniature engine fans get into?
Curious to see trends?

Many shared hobbies.  Reading 20th century history has aways been interesting,
and some childhood collections like comics had a 40 year run.  Gardening for
several dacades, too.  Of course, rock collecting and associated tumbling and
lapidary work for decades.  And, I love WW2 aircraft.  60's and 70's motorcycles.
Model rockets.  VW beetles and 1960's Volvo's (love those 122's). 

I also have collected coins since the early 60's, maybe inspired by my great aunt
who was collecting coins starting in the 30's, including uncirculated, and when they
started, mint sets.

Now, here in the U.S., 1964 was the last year for silver coins.  My father had a
coin-operated business which my aunt used to go thru, and the silver coins were
snapped up within a year or so.  No more walking liberty half-dollars by the roll.
Same for Franklin halves.  Liberty quarters and Mercury dimes, too.  And the silver
price runup by the Hunt brothers in the late 1970's brought the rest out.  Now, you
are lucky to get a silver coin at all.  Last one I received in change was 5 years ago.
Believe it or not, I'm more likely to find a marble in the dirt next to a sidewalk.
If anyone knows of a bank that runs even a bit of silver on a regular basis, let me
know.

Now, the coins are in a box, but I'm still gardening and since retirement MARX trains
and now Steam Engines top the list.  Movies are up there, too.  And the NY Mets and
baseball are in action.  So far, things look up. 

Now, I need to get the nerve to solder a Weeden end-cap.  Pretty thin brass.  Not there yet.

Good Luck,
Wayne

Scuba diving for 42 years. Antique tinplate toy trains collector and operator. Amateur Extra Class ham radio operator. Had a coin collection once but the burglars got it. Always had pets: dogs, cats, fish. Don't know how I ever found time to work.

I have several of the ones posted, plus a few.

-balsa stick and tissue rubber powered airplane kits.
-build and fly model rockets
-both dirt and road motorcycles
-air cooled Volkswagen's and GTI
-air and water cooled Porsche (had 4 total
-build and shoot black powder muzzleloader's
- build and try to play mountain Dulcimers
-build and try to play native American flutes
- building a Harp
-archery hunting
-Falconry
-blowgun hunting
- build and throw boomerang's
- hit and miss engines
-build kites
-RC sailplanes
-ultra micro RC airplanes
-reloading
-hunting with adult airguns
-target shooting with Olympic grade airguns
-hunting game birds with a bird dog.
-keeping racing pigeons.
-target throw spears, tomahawk and knives.
-build wood gear clocks and collect a few mechanical weight driven clocks.
-collect and use oil lamps.
- built a cedar strip canoe from scratch.
-looking for trinkets with metal detector
- collect, modify and shoot old bb guns.
- built a couple full size swords from scratch.
- built a few Atlatl to throw lighter weight spears.
-restore old mopeds and mini-bikes.

I wonder when I had time for going to work....

I currently have 2 main hobbies (pickleball & steam stuff) with a temporary indulgence in truck driving competitions. I have always wanted to dabble in metal detecting and nearly bought a real nice detector last Christmas , but decided that will be my retirement project/hobby. I did buy a nice specialized brand bike last year ,but don't ride it much.

Bruce,
I had to Google pickleball!
Crazydoug

Fastest growing sport in the USA

I watched a video where a guy with a waterproof metal detector takes a trip to the Bahamas or big beach resorts where wealthy folks play...he goes out in the water and finds most items in chest deep water, claims he finds enough watches, rings and jewelry to pay for his trip, but admits he spends a minimum of 8 hrs per day using his metal detector. Does not sound like a super relaxing vacation.

I think I could be that guy in a few years,  probably relaxing to him. 😄

I have enjoyed a litany of hobbies over the years...several have faded into the past, others still excite me:

- RC airplanes...fun, but past/not active
- Bicycling...died 4 years ago after knee replacements...unfortunately as I love my recumbent bike
- Coins...sold off most 10 years ago, but kept my large cent collection which I love
- Guns and shooting...still active, still love the smell of gun oil/cleaner after a day of shooting
- Small blackpowder cannon collecting...have a handful of favorites, fire them off on occasion just for enjoyment
- Motorcycling...not a hobby really, but 26,000 miles on current 2006 Honda and going strong
- Boating...living on a lake this is a natural, I have a solar powered stern wheeler that gets me around with no fuel or plug in required
- Steam...unfortunately on the down swing...sold off most a couple of years ago, but keep my Jensen 51 replica and have expanded accessories run off it
- Electric Trains...revival of my youth...love my O gauge Lionel, especially those of the 1950's.  Built an aerial railroad around my den ceiling and happily watch my trains encircle the room from my recliner!
- Clocks...15 wind up clocks I keep wound daily or weekly as per the clock...most older Seth Thomas.  Crazy, but I sleep with the sound of 5 ticking in a small bedroom.  I buy and sell them regularly

That's about it...finding less is more as I get older...unless I find a particularly interesting old clock

Rog