[metalman]

I have given up any pretext of living a conventional life and am building an airplane in the main living area of my house, which is massivly relaxing, and feels right/normal, which it didn't without the airplane.Which is to say that I suspect building X/pinball machines is the same.

[orthoxerox]

"Massively relaxing and feels right/normal" instantly reminded me of hobby tunnelling.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobby_tunneling

[King-Aaron]

There's a woman on Instagram who's documenting her process of building a deep mine/tunnel under her house, and shows the various form work and construction methods she's using, quarrying skills she's picking up, etc etc. Absolutely fascinating use of free will.

[ForOldHack]

Pinball machines are great entertainment, but a plane? Wow. Someone next door to me, when I was growing up, built a boat in their driveway. It was amazing, and they took a long time to both get it right, and to make it seaworthy and comfy. After launch they sailed it around the world. Amazing.

[mwigdahl]

Wow, that's fascinating! What else can you tell us about the boat? How big was it? What was the rigging? How long did they take on the circumnavigation?

I've always dreamed of doing something like that.

[teddyh]

This might interest you: The Builder by Philip K. Dick (1953): <https://archive.org/details/Amazing_Stories_v27n08_1953-12-1...>

[jakzurr]

I'd completely forgotten, but this brought it back. In the 70's, the father of a friend in high school was building a plane in the basement. I remember there were pieces spread all over, and my friend was telling me how much easier it was, as his father was using all metric system measurements.

[dgritsko]

This sounds fascinating, are you documenting this in any public way for those of us that are inevitably curious on the details?

[toast0]

I hope your living area has a big door.

[bluGill]

Most of the parts should fit through a normal door. It is common to build an airplane in your house for years, and then for the last 2 years rent a hanger for final assembly. (Most people don't get to the point of final assembly, but those who do...)

[rsynnott]

> It is common to build an airplane in your house for years

... Define _common_!

[bluGill]

I think everybody knows at least of 'friend of a friend' who has started the project at some point. Maybe one in 500.

Started is different from finished.

[athom]

A friend of a friend building an airplane?

How about a flying saucer? https://enjoyer.com/an-alien-cult-built-a-spaceship-in-a-mic...

I first learned about this from a friend in Detroit, MI, who told me about it when he learned my mom grew up in that village. When I asked HER about it, she knew exactly who/what we were talking about. It was an interesting conversation.

Needless to say, this one remains firmly in the "started" category, but looks like it got closer to "finished" than one might likely expect.

[majorchord]

I can honestly say I have never heard of this hobby being a thing in all my long years.

[Frenchgeek]

How often have you used your hobby as an excuse to quote the movie?