The Little World

I should rephrase that; should I tell the truth? You probably tell it all the time.

I would too, if it were a good idea. I used to practice strict honesty when I was in professional work, and quite good honesty when in trade. Now I am retired and writing about scale model making I can to adjust the mechanism…

Do I tell people how good or bad a kit is? Would they believe me either way? Am I flattering myself that I could have any influence on them as they walk the kit aisle at the hobby shop?

Well, I suspect I cannot tell someone to buy something they don’t want or avoid something they do. It would be as foolish telling them what to order in a restaurant. Tastes are peculiar to the tongue, and all you can do is please yourself.

Should I tell people to thin expensive paints with cheap solvents? Or vice versa? No – All I do say is get some bottles of each and a spare piece of kit plastic and do some experimenting yourself. Others have done so and surprised thenselves.

Do I admit my errors? That’s probably a good idea, even if it is only to myself. Mistakes and fumbles are part of the game and telling another of your own may save them from doing the same.

Do I castigate others for failings? Shouldn’t. Give in to it occasionally, but if I am wise I trash the post before it is published. No-one dies in the scale model building hobby from using the wrong colour green.

The only place where I really should be dishonest, and brag about it, is the production of Photoshopped pictures of airfields and tiny towns. I’m good at that and can often make good visual bricks with very little straw. I will always leave some clue that it is unreal – the viewer can pick that up for themselves.