Professional modelers
By Mario Covalski
The world of scale models, is, in certain aspects confusing and there are different points of view. Here, as the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This month, I want to refer to professional modelers, hoping that my opinion, may throw some light on the topic, especially for the newcomers… or at least, to start a serious discussion.
Thanks to my wallet for the last kit I built!!, a phrase seen many times on the internet, indeed!!, meaning, no more no less, that kits cost money, and I assure you that, up to that time, when I began to receive “samples” in Modelersite, I had never seen kits offered for free.
This is quite an important point to begin a discussion and arguing on the topic, because modeling was born like a spare time hobby ending for some people in a full time activity.
Usually, the result of this full time that “somebody” devotes to the hobby, is what lets us enjoy most of the models which make our life a little bit happier.
Think that in some way, the kits we purchase come from modelers’ creativity, inventiveness and talent who have spent much time of their lives on the hobby, and it’s obvious that if they are not rich, they have to live on something…to be clear, they have to earn their living.
More than once I’ve heard: “I don’t want money”, and is praiseworthy when you devote just a couple of hours a week to your hobby, and I understand this point of view; but think of those who spend most part of the day and life on creating plastic, resin, …metal kits…or aftermarket or even paper magazines or virtual ones, as we do.
I believe that if you call professional modeler to the one who devotes his talent and full time to the hobby…you will be right, and nothing has to do with money. Let’s think about sports: becoming a professional (in general) means a huge amount of money, whereas here, it involves time, money investment…and usually, backache as result of working for 12 hours close to the desk.
Lately, I’ve heard some comments criticizing modelers that have accomplished real masterpieces during years, and though you were not able either to purchase or reproduce them, just to see them encourage and arise great enthusiasm, and they’re criticized just for trying to live from their works and the job they involve.
Reflecting on this, next time I purchase a kit or read a modeling technical article, I’ll think that they entail those modelers, who have devoted part of their lives in order that we can enjoy a model we expected…and that they deserve a grain of love from all of us.
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