Just for beginners
By Mario Covalski
Every month, Modeler Site has an editorial note as part of its contents. Editorials are the way for us the publishers of MS to express our ideas and opinions about certain modeling subjects. At this point, I must say that literature and writing is not one of my strong points, but I've been reading magazines, books, and almost all kinds of publications dealing with my likes, since I was very young. I'm saying this because, for what I know, editorials, signed or "anonymous", are not compromised with any idea, except when there is a political intention.
Now, when it comes to modeling, I haven't read a single editorial, and please correct me if I'm wrong, that fully compromises itself, or the editor's ideas, about certain subjects; they always tend to treat all the themes in a superficial manner, leaving a "maybe"… or a "hope everybody is happy with this"… in the air, as a final message.
Unfortunately, whenever you dare to express your personal opinions out loud, whether that opinion is a compromise, or you are pointing out a well defined idea, you will get encouragement… and criticism.
This month I'd like to call our readers attention to a subject that, although well covered by modeler groups and associations all over the world, barely "treated" by paper magazines, has never been treated extensively enough in the Internet environment… that subject is: modeling for beginners.
I'd like to point out that a few years ago there were very interesting initiatives about this subject, and of course, we counted on the good will in forum participants, who were always willing to explain, share, and collaborate with the newcomers.
During the last year, I've received dozens of e-mails from modelers with little or no experience, asking elementary details. The general comment is always the same "I've read this or that somewhere...but I can't understand it". And this is real, when we modelers reach a certain level in our building techniques, we usually forget about the "beginners", and forget about our days when even the most simple kit, was a real challenge for us.
We tend to speak in a technical language very familiar for us "seasoned" modelers, but absolutely unknown for the novice; in other words, "they get lost in the way".
Obsessed by superdetailing, the notes that we publish are more and more complicated every time and, of course, more and more difficult for the beginner to understand. The "hi-tech" level in current modelers is really amazing, but...what about the beginners?
I remember that a few years ago, there was a great deal of literature for those modelers who were taking their "first steps" in our hobby; but today, there is a great competition among us trying to get out the most from a plastic kit, and here again…we forget about the beginners.
As a summary for this editorial, I'd like to "rescue" some concepts
The technical article (and I'm aware that we should have more of those in Modeler Site), saying things known by most of us, but very useful for everybody. I'd like to invite our readers to collaborate with their "secrets" or techniques; I'm sure that they would enrich all of us.
The step-by-step notes, but with explanations about the basic details so nobody would be astonished asking themselves…"how is it that they did it?" Sometimes I read building notes about airplanes or armored vehicles, I'm not a specialist in these fields, so I read them trying to learn…and I get lost because the author "took for granted" that I was a master in that subject. I'm aware that maybe I've made the same mistake in the past, but I promise that in the future, I'll give a lot of attention to my words when I'm writing a note. Maybe it will be enough if I make clear the "knowledge" level necessary to understand the text…and where can the reader find it.
Lastly, I would like to rescue the "out of the box" model. Not all the modelers who are beginning in the hobby will be capable of building a superdetailed model, maybe due to a lack of ability, time, or money, or maybe because they are only looking for some amusement with a low compromise level.
Lets not lose something that made us happy when we were kids, the out of the box model, so common forty years ago. Lets encourage our newcomer friends to build simple models, with only the elements within the box. Lets encourage them to enjoy what the manufacturer offers in their kits, and help them discover the passion for superdetailing.
We in MS, will follow trying to encourage this idea, so more and more beginners will enjoy this beautiful hobby…no matter the level.
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