The Little World

Or not, as the case may be.

I view a great many internet YouTube postings on a variety of topics. Many of them are concerned with making or doing things, including the Little World activities. Many of them are valuable, even if the presenters are not professional speakers – they show techniques actually being done in front of the camera. I suspect that a number of them are re-takes and that there is a pile of failed models down the bottom of the garden that were used in previous  attempts. Never mind – I give the presenters credit for getting it on the screen eventually.

The most valuable of these shows go at a pace that allows one to see the paint being sprayed, the decal being positioned, or the weathering taking place in real time. Of course there are periods of time when something is setting or curing and you needn’t see them, but the wise presenters make their productions over a long enough period of time that the processes are not rushed.

The photographic presentation can be anywhere from Hollywood Set to Mom’s Basement. I find myself, as a photo professional, wishing that the expert modellers that are showing the complex techniques would spend a couple of weeks and take a TAFE course on small video production. And also spend a few bucks on decent lights. You don’t have to be George Lucas but it would be nice to clearly see what they clearly know how to do. Thank goodness most modern digital cameras have some form of video recording capability within themselves and equally thank goodness that the cheap ones have settled upon interchangeable industry protocols and standards that let the videoing be done and seem easily.

All this said, it is still more valuable to speak face to face with someone who participates in Little World activities and to see their workspaces. Everyone has and does something different and you really only advance in your knowledge when you discover this for yourself.

Hint: Put down newspapers over the velour upholstery of the living room couch before you spray matte black paint onto your next build. The model will look the same either way but if you put the newspapers down you don’t go deaf from the screaming.