When I took pictures of a recent display at the downtown public library, I did not realize what a Big Thing modelling had become. However, shortly thereafter, the Sson arrived, spending nearly an hour every night perusing the model kits on eBay and talking about the ins and outs of the world of scale modelling. Like everything else, it has been transformed by the Internet from a local, ideosyncratic pasttime to a international activity (and marketplace).
In olden times, retired seamen might spend their declining years creating one beautiful schooner inside a glass jar. When I was young, my brother made balsa wood and tissue paper airplanes from kits. Before long, model railroading became a major passion for overgrown boys, culminating in layouts that occupy entire backyards (or more).
Today, apparently there are kits for almost any kind of vehicle, though military equipment predominates. Understandable -- I suspect that it's a lot more challenging to model a lean and mean aircraft carrier, as compared to one of Princess Cruises' posh floating hotels.
Military certainly predominated at the Yavapai Scale Modelers exhibit, tho there were the racing machines above and even some classic autos below. Even a nod to the more mundane -- one SUV pulling an motor boat, likely headed to the nearest lake.
Plus this robotic guy, there to let everybody know that I haven't seen the latest important SF movie or otherwise I'd know his name/serial number. My first guess is that he's a Transformer. If you are an incipient scale modeller, you can connect to the local club by
clicking on this link and scrolling to the bottom of the page. There were far too many modelling blogs for me to pick the best two or three; if you're interested, go to The Google and see for yourself.
When I took pictures of a recent display at the downtown public library, I did not realize what a Big Thing modelling had become. However, shortly thereafter, the Sson arrived, spending nearly an hour every night perusing the model kits on eBay and talking about the ins and outs of the world of scale modelling. Like everything else, it has been transformed by the Internet from a local, ideosyncratic pasttime to a international activity (and marketplace).
In olden times, retired seamen might spend their declining years creating one beautiful schooner inside a glass jar. When I was young, my brother made balsa wood and tissue paper airplanes from kits. Before long, model railroading became a major passion for overgrown boys, culminating in layouts that occupy entire backyards (or more).
Today, apparently there are kits for almost any kind of vehicle, though military equipment predominates. Understandable -- I suspect that it's a lot more challenging to model a lean and mean aircraft carrier, as compared to one of Princess Cruises' posh floating hotels.
Military certainly predominated at the Yavapai Scale Modelers exhibit, tho there were the racing machines above and even some classic autos below. Even a nod to the more mundane -- one SUV pulling an motor boat, likely headed to the nearest lake.
Plus this robotic guy, there to let everybody know that I haven't seen the latest important SF movie or otherwise I'd know his name/serial number. My first guess is that he's a Transformer. If you are an incipient scale modeller, you can connect to the local club by clicking on this link and scrolling to the bottom of the page. There were far too many modelling blogs for me to pick the best two or three; if you're interested, go to The Google and see for yourself.
To add to you list of things there are models of--my BIL, who visited us recently, is one of many who spend time creating lifelike GIJoe dioramas, and going to GIJoe conventions. There's a group for everything!
ReplyDeleteAs indicated in your text, I did build genuine balsa and tissue flying models (most of mine crashed).
ReplyDeleteOver the years the urge would come upon me to construct one. Usually the urge would dissipate(sp); however in 63/64 I purchased two Cleveland Models (the acme of the business in them days) both of which I still have in their boxes.
They're just too damn difficult for me to justly build, so I guess I'll flog them off--if any of your correspondents are interested in a Curtiss P-6 and a Boeing F4B-3/4, give me a hoy.
Hermano
Thanks for the commercial space
Growing up, my dad got REALLY into model airplanes. He'd spend 60-100 hours on a single model, painting dirt on exhaust outlets, coloring individual buttons on the cockpit's dash, etc. He won a few of the local competitions (which used to be held at ponderosa plaza, back when it was the only mall).
ReplyDeleteEven now when I see the few that he kept, it blows me away.
Thanks for a walk down memory lane granny j!!
dotter -- the GIJoe is one niche I had never heard of; I'm sure that there are a lot more...
ReplyDeletebro -- wow! Are those models in their original boxes? Have you gone on eBay to see what they might fetch up -- quite a tidy sum, I'll bet.
tombo -- apparently today's kids will grow up with similar memories of their dads. BTW, I love those few things left that still tie the past to the present...
Not all modeling is of things mechanical - there's a world of animal, dino, insect, houses,comic characters, you name it, out there. I preferred the dino and human. Never did much though. However AW was a great "make your own lead soldiers" including melting down scavenged water pipes. I think it's something in the human genes that makes us want to make miniatures of what's out in the real world.
ReplyDelete... a modern major general!
ReplyDelete(Sorry, couldn't help myself.)
~Anon in AV.
jean -- never knew about the lead soldiers, though melting down the scavenged water pipes certainly ring true.
ReplyDeleteanon av -- thanks. I couldn't figure any way to work that modern major general into the story line...