Category: Miniature Philosophy
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When Is Old Junk…Old Junk?
And when is it Invaluable Historic Resource? This thought was forced upon me as I sifted through the secondhand dealer’s goods at the Model Railway Exhibition this year. There were at least three dealers specifically dedicated to secondhand – perhaps there were more that I did not see. Their stock ranged from quite professional goods…
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Precision Need Not Be Prestigious
Nor need it be pricey.* I came to that conclusion each time I approached the Hobby Boss Brewster Buffalo kit – even at the wash and trim stage – where I got the mould-parting agent off the basic sprues and then air-dried them. And then started cutting parts from them and building subassembies. This was…
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The Myriad Of Little Worlds
In one holiday weekend – devoted to Western Australia Day – I found I visited five different Little Worlds. And in most cases the costs were under a sawbuck, including coffee. You can’t beat that on the international travel circuit. Day One: I appear as a cameo walk-on at a belly dance concert…the Little World…
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How Did They Do That? Vs How Would I Do That?
Well there you go. You are now officially trying to out-think the designers and manufacturers of the model kit in the box. You may also be about to transcend the thinking of the original equipment makers. It’s your 30 bucks and your tube of glue, so more power to you and keep out of the way…
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The Great White West Is Not A Great White Waste
What’s white and cream and arctic and matt and gloss and lives in an old Patak’s curry paste jar? My new model paint, that’s what. And I think the most expensive component was the empty jar. I was up to the paint stage with my Air World museum buildings and they were daunting structures –…
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The Intellectual In The Little World
Are you an Intellectual? Do you know any intellectuals? Can you define intellectual? I can’t. I can define intellect, but I’m darned if I know where to look for it in other people. If they essay to show it to me I am suspicious of the process, and if they do not show it I…
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No …. …. ….. .. Allowed
Well, that’s a bit of a blow to the people who like to have … … ….. .. in their Little World. If they thought that they were going to be able to show the rest of the internet community how carefully they had constructed a diorama with their models and how realistic they could…
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The Only One Like It
If you are contemplating a big win in next year’s plastic modelling contest, I should get started now. Pop down to the hobby shop and pick up a totally exclusive, one-of-a-kind kit like a Mustang or Spitfire. And a packet of photoetched scale rivets for the detailing… There’s a fine point for the competitive modeller…
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The Seven Circles Of Modeller’s Inferno
Dante was not the only person who made a journey to the lowest depths of Hell and wrote about it. I’ve been to the hobby shows myself. Apart from a little more sulphurous smell and uglier demons, they are remarkably like the underworld. And just as Dante found, there are distinct levels of the place,…
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” Paging Mr. Styne. Paging Mr. Styne “
I won two trophies today for a very minor achievement – a model diorama at a toy collector’s fair – but it will involve me in a major change to my life. I am going to have to become an entirely new man. My past life must be discarded. I started life as Richard William…
The Little World 