New generations…..new modelers
By Mario Covalski
Since several weeks ago, an idea has been striking my mind over and over: What did I do in behalf of modeling?. Well, I could adduce that Modeler Site is in fact, a contribution, with the articles we usually publish…and so forth. However, as it happens to any modeller, manufacturer or retailer, I’ve received much from this activity, and here, I’m considering all the time devoted to this hobby.
Over the last four years, I’ve exchanged many emails with more than 3000 modelers around the world, and there’s a common feature among us, we always expect something from modeling. Maybe, that a manufacturer releases that model we wish to get…or the decals sheet we anxiously looked for…an aftermarket, or why not? a good article that will enlighten the job we are going to achieve over our model.
All this, without mentioning our expectations when we hope to come out a winner at a contest or when one of our articles has been published in a well known magazine…in general our self-esteem grows…and everything thanks to modeling.
Modeling, is more than a hobby, it fills certain hole in our soul and plays the role of bringing to life that dream from our childhood… to get a replica of the car we will never be able to buy…etc. What’s undeniable, is that somebody who starts constructing plastic scale models, receives a lot, and many times his family also takes this benefit, as he is in a good mood that is the result of performing a pleasing activity.
Even those who earn their living, or intend to do so by means of modelling, such as, large or small manufacturers, publishers…etc, actually owe quite a lot to scale models.
With regard to this point, I’ve received much from modeling, and, in spite of thinking that my contribution throughout my articles and the Modeler Site issues, is important…I feel I owe much too, and this debt is not possible to be paid by buying kits or magazines or aftermarket.
Have you ever thought about what would it happen if 1000, 5000 or even 10000, new and young modelers suddenly appeared asking for that kit… which Tamiya can’t release because sales are not the expected or because it’s not profitable?
On the contrary, what would it happen if there were no new generations of modellers?, where would modelling be in 20 years onwards?.
If you found the answers to these two questions, you must think as me, that newcomers need to be introduced to this hobby, people with fresh ideas. A good way to return everything we’ve received from this activity, is by trying to draw new members near it.
Consider this editorial, and think about whom you could “convince” to enter this hobby, speak to him, explaining how wonderful is to build scale models, maybe that young people or teenager, we are looking for, is close by you, perhaps your own son, daughter or a relative of yours.
Here’s my message for this month, let’s suppose that everybody of us could bring somebody to start developing this activity, Who knows, maybe within a year or two, that so magnificent kit we dreamed of seeing on the shelves, can turn in a new release from any manufacturer…..IT’S A GREAT TIME to be a modeller, isn’t it ?
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