The Little World

The two basic divisions of the world. You are either one or the other.

This is a precise and exclusive border and easy to police. You either show your kits, builds, or stash, and are admitted to civil society, or scorn models and are pushed into the cultural wasteland to be forgotten.

There is a grave responsibility on the part of the civilised model maker to uphold the standards of the art. Respect and interest are to be shown to other modellers and to the shops, manufacturers, publications, and clubs. Learned societies that study paint shades are to be consulted. References for builder’s decisions are to be scrupulously sought – even to the extent of digging up long-dead designers and shaking their bones. Awards must be sought and honoured when given.

The rest of the world may breed and die in the mire of sports, television, and mindlessness – the scale modellers do not feel any desire to look at them.