The Little World

I hope that’s right – I tried ” Hysterical Friends ” and the auto-correct passed that as well…

One of the groups I belong to is called ” Historical Modelling Friends “. We meet either at the Cambridge Public Library in Floreat or at my studio in Willetton. The sessions are always modelling afternoons – food and drink are consumed and nonsense is talked. Once a year we take tables at the WASMex show and put out what we’ve done.

Some people do individual models on small bases – some dioramas. Photo backdrops are possible and there is often a sales table to dispose of unwanted kits. There are enough of us to man the stand for two days.

This year one member scored a major prize in the raffle, and we will be gigging him for months over that…

What does the group have as a special super-power? Three things: we don’t have a formal constitution, we don’t have a treasury, and we don’t wear capes.

By these means we are safe from being sucked into state regulation, financial scrutiny, or jet engine intakes ( ” The Incredibles “…) The lack of a command structure also compels people to be responsible for themselves, and that in turn means they have to be gentlemanly.

Most of us manage the feat, though in some cases it is sleight of hand. A three-card monté game played with two cards…

People in other organisations may feel that this sort of loose confederation is dangerous – that we will be committing modeller’s suicide. So far we seem to have got away with it. We’re going a bomb…