12 July 2011
A word about the Northern Model Show first
I have just returned from the very good Northern Model Show (NMS) in South Shields with Jamie H – it has to be one of the friendliest shows in the calendar so a big thanks to Graham, Rob and the team for all your practical support and friendly approach – superb. A full show report will follow very soon from Bill C who made a big detour with Jen to come across while on holiday and support SMN and of course the show.
Jamie and I had really positive conversations with many scale modellers who were there and I am sure that of course includes some of you guys reading these words, so thanks for the opportunity to demonstrate on the big screen just how far SMN has developed and come on since our last visit to South Shields a year ago. Also to Chris and several others of you who currently subscribe to SMN, I really appreciated your strong support and positive feedback – thank you…)
The NMS also gave me the opportunity to present a 12-month Gold subscription to the winner of the SMN Award to the modeller/model from the competition that demonstrated the most realistic and varied level of weathering techniques (M. Davies – many congratulation on your stunning German loco with flatbeds and tanks in 1:35, your attention to detail and ability to tell a story through the project was superb in my opinion – as was that great oasis ‘Exchange’ diorama – really impressive).
What’s holding you back?
My question that leads this editorial follows on from yesterday’s show and a lengthy conversation I had with a modeller who stopped by to look closely at and admire a couple of Bill’s figures on our SMN stand. Spotting this we got chatting and I think it’s fair to say that he has a difficult time in his life and scale modelling; in particular figure painting was about the only think that gives him a break and allows some pleasure into his life – wow! (…makes you think, doesn’t it…) He went on to say that for a few years now he had left modelling alone because he’d been struggling with the fact that his usual Humbrol paints (old and new) just wouldn’t ‘work’ anymore in terms of being able to be painted with a flat finish and despite trying many different flat varnishes none would brush and give a flat finish either. This was so exasperating him he was thinking of throwing the whole lot on the fire and being done with the hobby – no, really he was!
So, obviously I spent some time trying to suggest possible solutions, but, and this is my point here, he just would not consider trying anything else at all, i.e. new paint manufacturers, oils, water-based acrylics or alcohol-based acrylics (like Tamiya and Gunze paints).
Ultimately, I’ve no idea what he’ll decide to do, but I have thought a lot about his mind-set and can see he’s got real stuff to deal with outside the hobby but because he just won’t look at other options and media any enjoyment he is getting is rapidly evaporating. In effect he’s backing himself into a corner that will surely end in further unhappiness and I think this is genuinely really sad.
Try new techniques and approaches, new materials, new types of paint, think about getting an airbrush, consider joining a club, buy some new paints and discard really old tinlets, consider investing in a compressor – there are several available now that are great value for money (try The Airbrush Company as a start) the list goes on and on…
Listen and share…Try something different and you will get something different
Do you see my point? Try something new you will get something new.
I love talking to modellers at shows, finding out what they do, how they do it, sharing what I do and how I do it and in that way extending and sharing my knowledge and the possibilities, opportunities and greater success and satisfaction with the end result. A model that I like, one that I know I have tried something new on – a technique, a new tool, a new type of paint, a new level of detail, a different area of the hobby – something new. Try something new and the possibilities here are endless; it brings greater success and satisfaction in the long-run – I’m convinced of it. Sure there will be disasters along the way, but definitely happier times as the years go by as you look back at the models on the shelf and see how your modelling has got better and better over the years (even if it has been two steps forward and one step back!).
Les V, Bill C, Jamie H are amongst the greatest innovators and most creative modellers I have ever met; I have learned so much from them, but they are not alone. With these guys come all the SMN Review Team who share their techniques, approaches and ways with all of you, month in and month out – across the 144 completed projects we have in SMN to date – how lucky are we! But it doesn’t stop there… by getting out to shows, talking to the guys behind the stands, doing the same thing at a local model club and more recently going onto Facebook and connecting up with many ‘Friends’ the world literally is your oyster.
Don’t you just love this hobby of ours? I do…
See you very soon
Geoff
