Howdy, again!
I've heard from some people about my latest post:
"Why are you so against new kits"?
"If we didn't get new kits, we'd still be building wood models!"
Don't misunderstand me. I love seeing new kits--from any manufacturer, of any subject, in any scale--whether it falls into my wheelhouse or not. I hope they sell boatloads of them. Why, if a new kit isn't my cup of tea, do I care?
Let's use the new 1/48th scale Airfix Westland Sea King as an example. It looks to be a neat kit, but being a 1/48th scale kit, it doesn't fit in my rotary wing collection--I build helicopters in 1/72nd scale. But my take is this--if the kit sells well, it puts money in the bank for Airfix. With that money, they can later produce other kits. At some point in time, they will produce something I will want to buy and build. Its as simple as that. It goes for any manufacturer--keep producing kits that sell well, so you can invest the money in even more new kits. Sooner or later, there will be something I'm interested in.
Another comment--"I don't like to wrestle with ancient kits, I'd rather build a State-of-the-Art model!"
What makes you think I find wrestling with a rough kit fun? I know where this person is coming from--they're "kit replacers". For example, they had several Otaki P-51's in their stash when the Hasegawa kits came out in 1991. So, they sold off their Otaki kits and replaced them with Hasegawa kits. A few years later, they repeated the exercise when Tamiya's P-51 came out in 1995. The scenario was repeated again with the Meng kit, the Airfix kit, and, most recently, with the Eduard kit. And look, I'm cool with that--your model, do what you want.
I still have at least one each of the Hasegawa and Tamiya kits hanging around here, but that did not stop me from buying a couple of the Airfix kits and the "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" version of the Eduard kit. And I'll probably buy more, as the need arises. But at some point, I'll probably still drag out a Hasegawa or Tamiya kit and build it. Why? I have it in my possession--I don't need to spend more money to get a decent Mustang model. Same goes for the Grumman Wildcats and Focke-Wulf 190's (a few Tamiya and Tri-Master/Dragon kits rest in the stash, but I have one or two of the Eduard kits, too) and Mitsubishi Zero (Hasegawa, sure, but I also have the new-ish Tamiya kits. An Eduard version isn't outside the realm of possibility, either...)...
Quite honestly, a new kit doesn't always make an older kit obsolete. I give you the Trumpeter F-105's in 1/72nd and 1/48th scale. They may not fill a magazine rack, but they still have issues. Frankly, I still find the 1/72nd Revell and Monogram kits (I divested myself of all my 1/48th scale Thuds) to be better in all aspects than the Trumpeter kits--raised panel lines and all. And again, here we are--yo' pays yo' money, yo' takes yo' choice. Some people will do anything to avoid a kit with raised panel lines, and will opt for Trumpeter, warts and all. And again, that's cool. As I've said before, there are as many different ways to enjoy the hobby as there are people enjoying it...
Whether a newer kit is "better" than the "ancient" kits of the same subject is a personal matter. I say the same thing about modelers who brand people "rivet counters". Without the "rivet counters" (and I loathe that term, by the way), we wouldn't be seeing these wonderful new kits. Whether or not you personally buy and build them, or stick to the older kits is your choice. Whatever you do, enjoy the ride.
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If you've paid attention, the 2023 IPMS/USA National Convention was held in San Marcos, Texas last week. Two items of note:
1. Apparently, there has been a rash of Covid infections amongst the attendees. While I hope everybody affected gets well soon (I am just over a very mild case, myself), I have some heartburn here. We all saw the same thing play out after last year's Convention--no sooner did people get home, reports of Covid infections started to hit the forii. This year, as the photos from San Marcos started to roll in, I noticed that there was nary a mask in sight. Didn't we collectively learn anything from the Vegas show? C'mon, guys and gals...
2. "Cell Phone Guy" has probably become a popular meme. In case you missed it, a photo of a judge holding an armor model over his head while examining the underside using his cell phone light is making the rounds. It has spawned bushels of debate. So...
I get it--the IPMS/USA Competition Handbook says clearly that judges will be allowed to pick up a model. However, Cell Phone Guy had to do some fancy juggling to get the model in the position shown in the photo. Plus, he was bare-handing the model--no gloves, just his naked meathooks. I don't think this meets the "greatest care" clause in the CH. Apparently, this guy was also absent from the Judges' Meeting. Why he was allowed to judge is a mystery. Why no other judges called him out is even more curious.
In all the comments, it has been also brought to the world's attention that several (I've seen as many as a dozen or more) models were damaged during judging. One had a prop sheared off when a judge dropped his flashlight. One figure fell off the base when the judge decided to see if the modeler painted the underside of something. A few aircraft had landing gear or landing gear doors sheared off.
If I were a modeler walking in to the display room on Saturday and found my model damaged with a Post-It note that only says, "Sorry", I would be livid.
All of this could be avoided by two changes:
1. Contest staff members do not touch the models. At all. Ever.
2. Judge the model as presented by the modeler, i.e., as it sits on the table.
There is no reason at all for any judge at any model show to touch a model. None whatsoever. Never. Ever.
You can try to debate me on that all you want, but you will be wrong.
"But we're trying to find that one thing that separates 1st from 2nd..."
Of course, this stems from the IPMS/USA "triage, 1-2-3" judging system. The judges have to compare the models to each other, and if they can't find anything on the readily visible areas of the model, they have to dig. Upturning models, sticking those million candlepower TactiCool flashlights up exhausts and down inlets, using 20X magnifiers, measuring wingtips with a caliper--that's why these stupid methods are employed. Heaven forbid there ever be a tie in the IPMS squared circle...
This is yet again being used as an argument for juried exhibition style shows. But the IPMS Purity Posse won't budge:
"It says 'Contest', what part of that don't you get?" I dunno, I don't understand the bloodlust some modelers have to get some trinket that proclaims that they are Number One on that day for something they do as a hobby.
"We've always enjoyed this healthy competition!" Healthy? I've told this story before, but when a modeler threatens to beat six shades of s*** from a contest judge because "My model shoulda won!", that's "healthy"?
I like the Shep Paine approach. "Wanna compete? Go play tennis..."
At our show--a juried exhibition--judges are reminded that if a model needs to be moved, we will find the modeler and let them move their own model. We do not pick models up during judging. We allow flashlights to illuminate the visible areas of the model--face it, most venue lighting is piss poor. We do our best to judge the undersides and hidden areas, but the mantra is "if you can't see it, leave it be". We do not allow magnifiers (reading glasses, yes, if the judge requires them), we don't allow judges to measure anything--either with a measuring gauge of some sort or the old "finger ruler" or "pen gauge". Why? Because we don't see the need.
All participants are reminded to be careful of camera straps, hanging jewelry, and hats. We don't use lanyards for ID badges. All that dangly stuff can wreak havoc on a table full of models in a nanosecond. We also remind judges not to hold lights or pointers (we prefer laser pointers or bamboo skewers) directly over a model--if they drop is, it has less chance of becoming a missile.
I can tell you this--I've been judging model shows (of all types) since 1989. In that time, I have never picked a model up, turned a model over, or damaged a model. Why? There's simply no need to do so. If you don't touch the model, the chances that you'll break something are minimized. There's never a 100% guarantee, because stuff happens, but the danger is minimized.
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On a positive note, I am overjoyed to see the Madison guys working to have dedicated space for non-competitive groups--Special Interest Groups, Group Builds, and Display Only--at next year's show. It just might get me to go to the show next year.
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As I said above, we're getting over a few mild cases of Covid at the house. My wife got the fever, headache, sort throat, and cough. I got the mental fog and lack of energy. I'm just now, two weeks later, starting to regain a little spring in my step.
I shudder to think what it would have been like had we not boosted our immunity via vaccines...
Covid is still with us, and a new variant is making the rounds. Please be careful. It might not be as deadly as it was in 2020, but it'll still knock you in the dirt. I don't know about you, but I don't like being sick.
Thanks for reading. Be good to one another, and, as always, I bid you Peace.
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