Hi all!
I've been living in the mighty Motherland (Moscow) for almost three and half years now working as a language teacher. Over the last year I've got back onto the modelling scene after a long break when almost cutting off my finger making a B-17 as a spotty teenager. My girlfriend presented me with a T-34/76 from Zvezda (Cringe cringe - the model not my girlfriend) and enthusiastically got back into it. My first attempt was what i would openly call "lame" but having spent loads of money on tools, learning from others on forums like this and forking out huge chunks of my salary on postage costs from UK to Russia, I feel i've finally made progress.
About four months ago i popped back to Blighty for the first time in three years and took with me an empty suitcase. I returned to Moscow with an badger Airbrush, compressor, about 30 brushes, 100 paints, tools ordered from Squires and lots of other bits and pieces i'll probably never need. It was great going into model shops and picking up everything i needed whilst getting expert advice. It was nice that i could also experience polite customer service once again and not being made to feel guilty for stepping foot into someone's store. I saw adverts for modelling exhibitions, local clubs etc.
When i came back to Moscow (as much as i love it here) i was faced with the prospect that i'm among a very small minority of model enthusiasts. Not only that, but when going to a model shop and leaving empty handed because they won't have any Humbrol paint replacements for another three weeks; it can all get rather arduous. Last week, i ordered some material for a diarama. All seemed to be in stock until the package was delivered to my door only to be informed that half of what i ordered wasn't in stock. I got my dust, rubble, water mix, but no glue and grass. Upon asking when the next batch would be delivered, i got a blank glare and a nice view of the assistant's back as he walked off.
Model shops here are few and far between and there are no such things as exhibitions although there are forums. It's often difficult to get hold of exactly what you need and quite often it's so hard to try and translate into Russian such things as "V-A-R-N-I-S-H please." I miss the scale of the hobby in England, the care, support and professionalism which can be seen on this website. However, there is one advantage of modelling in Moscow, though. Sometimes i experienced in England somewhat of a condescending attitude towards modelling by non-modellers; boring, freaky, time much better spent getting wasted etc. Here in Russia, they seem to appreciate anything creative and have had colleagues marvel at a model which looks as if built when i was blind drunk. The modelling hobby here is highly valued and honestly, it feels good. Just a shame that not many do it.
Just thought i would give a little insight into the modelling world from another part of the globe
:graduate:
I've been living in the mighty Motherland (Moscow) for almost three and half years now working as a language teacher. Over the last year I've got back onto the modelling scene after a long break when almost cutting off my finger making a B-17 as a spotty teenager. My girlfriend presented me with a T-34/76 from Zvezda (Cringe cringe - the model not my girlfriend) and enthusiastically got back into it. My first attempt was what i would openly call "lame" but having spent loads of money on tools, learning from others on forums like this and forking out huge chunks of my salary on postage costs from UK to Russia, I feel i've finally made progress.
About four months ago i popped back to Blighty for the first time in three years and took with me an empty suitcase. I returned to Moscow with an badger Airbrush, compressor, about 30 brushes, 100 paints, tools ordered from Squires and lots of other bits and pieces i'll probably never need. It was great going into model shops and picking up everything i needed whilst getting expert advice. It was nice that i could also experience polite customer service once again and not being made to feel guilty for stepping foot into someone's store. I saw adverts for modelling exhibitions, local clubs etc.
When i came back to Moscow (as much as i love it here) i was faced with the prospect that i'm among a very small minority of model enthusiasts. Not only that, but when going to a model shop and leaving empty handed because they won't have any Humbrol paint replacements for another three weeks; it can all get rather arduous. Last week, i ordered some material for a diarama. All seemed to be in stock until the package was delivered to my door only to be informed that half of what i ordered wasn't in stock. I got my dust, rubble, water mix, but no glue and grass. Upon asking when the next batch would be delivered, i got a blank glare and a nice view of the assistant's back as he walked off.
Model shops here are few and far between and there are no such things as exhibitions although there are forums. It's often difficult to get hold of exactly what you need and quite often it's so hard to try and translate into Russian such things as "V-A-R-N-I-S-H please." I miss the scale of the hobby in England, the care, support and professionalism which can be seen on this website. However, there is one advantage of modelling in Moscow, though. Sometimes i experienced in England somewhat of a condescending attitude towards modelling by non-modellers; boring, freaky, time much better spent getting wasted etc. Here in Russia, they seem to appreciate anything creative and have had colleagues marvel at a model which looks as if built when i was blind drunk. The modelling hobby here is highly valued and honestly, it feels good. Just a shame that not many do it.
Just thought i would give a little insight into the modelling world from another part of the globe
:graduate:
ostman:
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