Our club has a vast library of old model magazines and other publications. I’ve no idea what the oldest model magazine held there is, but I do know what it is bound to contain: a complaint from someone in the UK that a particular model has errors.
The writer may not have built the kit, but always says that they would have if not for the unfortunate dimensional error when compared to published plans. If only this was correct they would build it right away…
The genre of model makes no difference – railways, ships, vehicles, or aircraft are always wrong. I suspect the correspondents would be hard-pressed to build a fantasy model of a flying saucer because of dimensional errors that might possibly be…if only someone would come clean in Roswell.
In a way, I think it is a method of enjoying the hobby with very little expense – just complain about everything and then never spend a penny. With the added bonus of seeing your letter in print.
The other end of the see-saw is where I want to be – amongst the group of model builders who have a go, achieve something, and are not afraid to call it Stand-Off Scale in case it really doesn’t come out all that well. We win few prizes but have a lot of fun.
Stop peering at me. Stand off a little…
The Little World 
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