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Have you thought about the reasons…?

By Mario Covalski  

Have you thought about the reasons why you build scale models?. I’ve been asking this to myself since some time, and this month I wish to share with you my thinking.


For certain, there are as many distinctive characters of persons as human beings, but every one is an universe, different from each other and probably irreproducible, nevertheless, at least when speaking about modeling, it’s possible to find out different behaviours that make modelers assume a singular way.

What’s really amazing about this, is that most of us, in general, assume some of those behaviours, along the development of our hobby.

I can see that some modelers devote all their effort to enter and be the contest winner, or to increase their collections, to represent a real subject as faithfully as possible, to gather references about the history of the models that probably will build, to achieve a real finishing to the full extent….and so forth, the list could be longer.

Who oneself doesn't feel identified with any of the above behaviours? Nearly everybody, in some way makes something that involves every one in such behaviours. However, I refer to that modeller whose target is, for instance, just to gather the references about the history of a vehicle ….or just to win in contests….etc.

Are these kind of behaviours inherent to modelling? I don’t think so, I’d better believe that they are wrong interpretations of an activity that should have to be to calm and allow us enjoy our time having fun, perhaps to “exorcise” certain wishes that had not been fulfilled when we were young or children and, basically, to give us happiness.

Nevertheless, I think that happiness largely depends on the fact that everybody makes what he/she wants and in the way he chooses, so neither can nor should I criticize anybody, as long as this doesn't affect other people.

But sometimes, these extreme behaviours are managed to the utmost and besides led by influential modelers, institutions or even by means of communication. There you’ll have that other modelers, mainly newcomers might result affected.

Let’s agree that in 2008, to start modeling with no previous knowledge, is hard, a long road should the beginner have to travel over, to get the “high standards” that nowadays, modeling imposes around the world. Most will become discouraged before ending, simply, intending to copy utmost behaviours….or just following a systematic way, becoming from a particular style of modeling.

Since time ago, I decided that Modeler Site should have to be especially devoted to those who were less acquainted with modeling, showing and explaining everything as far as possible, opening the doors to everybody, without fatherly or haughty explanations, consciously that it’s just an entertaining activity….that’s all.

If you’re reading this editorial, and are a newcomer to this activity, or you consider yourself inexperienced, think about your own motivations, let them and your instinct guide you, and you’ll get the best from this wonderful hobby….a little of happiness within such a complicated civilization.

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