The masters
By Mario Covalski
Dear Friends, this is the last editorial for 2002... Another year has quickly gone by while learning and sharing our know-how on our hobby. This month I would like to focus on a topic of my personal concern, both as an editor and as a member of the modelers' world: the "Masters".
As a magazines reader and frequent Internet surfer, every now and then I see that "top" modelers pop up both in our forum and others, to give some "tip", but not to truly share their know-how with us and the 8,000 regular, mortal readers who visit Modeler Site.
This magazine has always followed an editorial line based essentially on assisting those who know less by sharing our experience, and allowing free access to readers. There are many first line modelers who have helped us within these guidelines.
However, I have the feeling that there are more "masters" than apprentices in the modelers' world and many others who are a make-belief, since reality shows there are thousands of eager modelers who wish to learn and very few who can teach them.
I believe that in our community, the term "master" does not mean that we are the best one ("how good, talented and arrogant I am"). It means only that we are skilled enough to teach, an activity that brings about a responsibility too. In my opinion, a master cannot build a model to satisfy his own ego and accumulate medals, in general speaking the masters are anonymous heroes which don't' have medals
Could it be possible then that the word "master" has been misunderstood in the modelers' world?
I do believe that the time for sharing has come, whether in Modeler Site or wherever. So, please, stop it with professional secrets and gorgeous hidden models that can be seen for just a couple of hours in a contest…while we are left with a strong desire to know how they were made.
I would like the "masters" to be reminded that modeling is greatly nourished by children who do not build models today, and newcomers who deserve our time and respect and our blessings too if they turn to be better than us!
The ultimate purpose of modeling is happiness, which is the ultimate aim in life. The act of giving without expecting anything in return generates a feeling of happiness that proves to be much more important for man than any won title, medal or contest.
In this sense, I, who have not taken part in any contest or won any medal, feel closer to the term "master" as defined before…and you?
I wish all Modeler Site's readers and contributors as well as their families, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May 2003 show the world a path of peace where all of us are allowed to develop the activities we have chosen to survive and be happy, free of anxiety.
Keep up modeling!
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