Now, About Some Concern About The Future Of The Hobby…

[Exotics_Builder]

As part of the IHobby Expo, Revell Monogram, Xuron and Testors supported a Make and Take. One of the Model Car Clubs I belong to here, Lake Michigan Model Car Club, ran the event and I was privileged to help out for a few hours Saturday.

The primary model was the Revell Wheels of Fire 63 Corvette Stingray Convertible. It was a fun build, with the exception of a lot of broken steering wheels needing glue fix.

Here are some pictures from the event. I think the last picture kind of summarizes the satisfaction. The young girl was in the “section†I was covering and I helped her Mom get her through the build. Her brother (supported by her Dad) was building next to her. Although starting later, her brother started looking at the mini-catalog by his place and allowed her to just squeak out completion before him (Not that they were really in competition).

Let’s hope they’ll keep the thrill going and do more!

[VictorSmalls]

I think its great to see young people involved in this hobby. Although I am on the young side (26), I learned from my father. Those memories are some of my fondest between us. I don' think alot of young people have that strong relationship created by sharing a hobby like modeling.

Great pics.

[FloridaBoy]

I look at "Make and Takes" as a miracle in our hobby. To get newcomers at all ages to conect with our hobby is a need to survive. I am also involved in model railroading, and the members of clubs down here not only ignore newcomers and youth, but level some real scorn and judgement on them which discourages them. The result is that not only is membership down, but so is participation in club events and meetings as well.

I am 60 and have seen the hobby take a suicide dive in the early seventies, only to be reborn in the eighties. Back then I grieved like I lost a relative when I saw the direction of the hobby, the cars, and that mine were no longer in vogue. Now we are faced with decline in hobby shops, decline in department stores carrying models, fewer model car contests, fewer model car clubs, all of which personally us to the hobby. I don't think what happened then will happen now, but we need not to be complacent. I think every model car contest should do something friendly for newbies and for juniors, if for any reason for the sake of legacy. Remember the more modelers there are, the greater demand, and the more new issues will hit the market.

I love the computer and the internet, but we all know it is very impersonal. I also love die-cast models, but I prefer to build my cars, as the real joy is in the build and not the finished product.

The last one is a very touchy subject. I used to meet fellow modelers at model car contests and in the aisles of hobby shops and department stores. Now that I am 60 if I see a kid who is a potential modeler, I do not invite him to my place like I did when I was a teenager. Nowadays that act by a grown man is taken a way different interpretation, and I want no part of that. But what it does is prevents people from sharing this great hobby. Even if I invited the kid to my club, it is 18 miles from where I shop.

So, at a model car contest or any model car event, or at a LHS, promote the hobby, stick around, bring work in progress, you just might inspire a youth. My hats are off to Mike Alvarez, who is a gifted modeler in his own right, as at our last contest, he sat with a group of teens and gave an impromptu seminar. By the time he was into it, you couldn't see him, he was crowded with so many. He was sharing the hobby and not protecting his skills. Way to go, Mike. I try to follow suit to show kids workmanship techniques. Of course they are most interested in shiny paint.

I hope the next time you see a kid that could use some help, be there. Remember, they teach each other how to operate and win at video games, we should teach them to win at model car building.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[MikeMc]

no kit bashing ?? Directions ??? What are we teaching!!!!!!

Edited October 29, 2007 by MikeMc