The Little World

That is the sort of question that makes us sound greedy…when we ask it in the wrong circumstances.

Yet it really is apposite in some modelling affairs.

We can ask it of ourselves when we look at a new kit on the hobby shop shelf. The box art may be fantastic and the reports from the internet modelling sites super-enthusiastic. The manufacturer may be promoting it as hard as they can. But if the box contains something we can’t use, we need to be able to admit it to ourselves. Few of us have enough spare money to just stash-buy every kit on the market.

If we are joining in any activity we can also ask the question. Club days and gatherings are valuable to us if we get something from them. They are also valuable if we can give something as well, but we need to be in charge of what we volunteer. Being ordered to do things is fine if you are under Queen’s Regulations but you are only there if you have sworn an enlistment oath. Club fees are not an enlistment oath.

Sometimes the benefits we get are entirely mental…we feel better with fellowship or showmanship. Occasionally they will be financial or technical…if we get paid or are taught a new technique. But whatever they are, we should be able to recognise them.