The Little World

I admire determined and steadfast people.

As I write this there is a Mort Kunstler print of Ulysses S Grant on the wall facing me. He is raising his hat to celebrate his victory at Vicksburg. The accounts of his trials and his character have always been an inspiration, though I would not follow his personal habits.

I am also admiring of modellers who can persevere through terrible kits until they either succeed or die. By the time the things are finished I have a feeling that many of these stalwarts are not fussy either way.

A friend was on a mission to complete two kits for the last two years, and seemingly picked the worst materials available to join and finish them. Every stage of the build was protracted painfully as either the fillers, paints, or adhesives went wrong.

The chap is not without skill…his other models are delightfully finished. But these two albatrosses hung around his neck.

He was long ago advised to bin them. That might have been a bit harsh, but I would have stripped them and refinished with conventional Gunze lacquers just to get them done and out of the barn.

His experience has aided me materially…I shall pass by all recommendations that mention the paint that crucified him. Should I ever lack for a poison, it might do admirably.