The Little World

A casual discussion overheard at my modelling club about an upcoming Big Local Modelling Exhibition revolved around which club exhibit would win the coveted “ Best In Show “ award.

It’s decided by a public vote amongst the paying attendees. Everyone gets a twiddly wink as a counter and places it in a box at the stand of their favourite. I got a few last year but nowhere near enough to beat out the ever-popular science-fiction models stand. It has colour, lights, movement, and popular models from the cinema and television to attract the younger viewer. It has won on a number of occasions.

This seems to peeve some club members, though really it shouldn’t. A participant in the modelling competition or just a person showing off their year’s work can still get recognition and satisfaction in spite of whoever else takes home a medal.

The same might be said of the successes of other sorts of Big Local Modelling Exhibitions – like the cars, trains, doll houses, etc. A fixated person might begrudge them their audiences and sales because it takes attention away from some other aspect of the hobby. This would be a shame if it were widespread. Modellers need to support each other and their shops to promote the wider interests of the Little World in an increasingly screen-dominated world.

As far as possible in a virally-affected world, I am going to visit all the exhibitions I can. All I ask is a coffee van and not the horrendously expensive in-house catering of some venues. That and cheap parking are all I need to draw me in.