Why Join a Model Club? And other thoughts.
If building a model is an individual activity then why join a model club or a chapter of the International Plastic Modelers Society (IPMS)?
I think most guys want to hang around in a group. Note the term “drinking buddies”. Note groups of guys getting together to watch a football game. And so a lot of us who engage in the hobby of building scale replicas of aircraft, tanks, ships, spacecraft, or automobiles like to meet up occasionally to exchange information. [Hum, is this a tribal thing?]
I know I enjoy the once-a-month Chapter get-together where I can see the works of others as they progress, ask questions and learn; and just be involved in a conversation on subjects I really am interested in. The topics range beyond just the models and building techniques. Most modelers have an interest in the subjects that they build be it military history, cars, or even science fiction so I can always count on a lively discussion concerning World War 2 or NASCAR to get involved in. In fact the highlight of my month is a small group of armor modelers who meet at our AFV guru's house. Here we have a "build session" which consists of sitting around a pool table (with a big piece of plywood on it), talking crap about each other and working on a model. And so last build meeting I started a Fujimi 1/76 scale M4A3 105 mm Sherman. Just what I need to do: start another kit when I haven't touched the P-51D for the group entry at the Nationals that I started back in December.
Oh, by the way, the P-47 for the Tuskegee Airmen project is finished. It is sitting with the rest of the aircraft models on display at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field (Dallas, Texas). I really didn’t finish it 100% on my own. I had it all built and painted by the night before the banquet (I didn't wait too long to finish up, did I?). That night I went to put on the decals and they disintegrated on the model. Luckily my friend Sean, who was ram-rodding the project, works close to where I do. We met for lunch and I turned over the plane to him. He was able to get a sheet of appropriate decals and finish it just before the banquet.
I think most guys want to hang around in a group. Note the term “drinking buddies”. Note groups of guys getting together to watch a football game. And so a lot of us who engage in the hobby of building scale replicas of aircraft, tanks, ships, spacecraft, or automobiles like to meet up occasionally to exchange information. [Hum, is this a tribal thing?]
I know I enjoy the once-a-month Chapter get-together where I can see the works of others as they progress, ask questions and learn; and just be involved in a conversation on subjects I really am interested in. The topics range beyond just the models and building techniques. Most modelers have an interest in the subjects that they build be it military history, cars, or even science fiction so I can always count on a lively discussion concerning World War 2 or NASCAR to get involved in. In fact the highlight of my month is a small group of armor modelers who meet at our AFV guru's house. Here we have a "build session" which consists of sitting around a pool table (with a big piece of plywood on it), talking crap about each other and working on a model. And so last build meeting I started a Fujimi 1/76 scale M4A3 105 mm Sherman. Just what I need to do: start another kit when I haven't touched the P-51D for the group entry at the Nationals that I started back in December.
Oh, by the way, the P-47 for the Tuskegee Airmen project is finished. It is sitting with the rest of the aircraft models on display at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field (Dallas, Texas). I really didn’t finish it 100% on my own. I had it all built and painted by the night before the banquet (I didn't wait too long to finish up, did I?). That night I went to put on the decals and they disintegrated on the model. Luckily my friend Sean, who was ram-rodding the project, works close to where I do. We met for lunch and I turned over the plane to him. He was able to get a sheet of appropriate decals and finish it just before the banquet.
I have found the secret to immortality. I have what I call a stash. This is my reserve of unbuilt kits. Now some people would call it a collection but I avoid that term since I always felt that a model collection was kits bought for their monetary value because they were rare. I have a plan to build all my kits - - not just admire the boxes. At last count I have 2,000 unbuilt kits, which I have piled in two big closets in my study. Since I have vowed to build every one of these before I die I am safe for thousands of years.
You may wonder at 2,000 unbuilt kits. Hey, I only have 1/72 scale (and smaller) World War 1 through World War 2 aircraft and armor kits. Think what it would be like if I did all scales and all eras! [But I'm not that bad. I know of a guy in California with 6,000 kits.]
I saw a funny saying once that has now been paraphrased to apply to model builders. “My wife told me either the models went or she did. I sure am going to miss that woman.” I like it. But actually my wife tolerates my hobby very well. She has never said anything about my mass of kits. The only kind of woman better than that would be one who builds models.
posted by the Mediocre Modeler | 9:56 AM
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