discussion Blazing row.

[eddiesolo]

I have had a row with a modeler regarding the build from a young lad, this was at a small local meet-I tend not to go, now you see why.


The modeler was an older guy and he looked at this build this lad had made and he slated it-now the model was a Spitfire, 1/72 and it wasn't brilliant, glue blobs and paint thickly applied etc.


The guy sniffed and looked down his nose and said, "I don't know why you have brought this, this should be left at home and don't bring anything until you have practiced and have got a far better example to show." 


The lad's face fell and tears welled up in his eyes, so gobbo hear waded in.


"Actually, that model is mine." I said annoyingly.


"Oh, well, why did you bring it?"


"I brought it as it was my first ever build and as such was the start of a journey into model making." 


"Okay, I thought it was the lads."


"To be honest, it is the lads, I noticed how you instantly picked on him and his build but when I challenge you and say it is mine you back off."


"Look..."


"No, you look, how the hell is the lad supposed to get enthused and better when silly old farts like you pounce and slap him down? He isn't going to want to carry on building as his confidence will have been crushed by a bully."


"I'm not a bully!"


Lets just say a slagging match continued for a while and he then wee weeed off. I told the lad not to listen to him and other modelers came around to support him and his build. 


Some folk make me so angry...

 

[Guest]

well said mate.


scott

 

[grumpa]

You did absolutely the right thing and I must say in a much more polite way than I would have. Bravo to you, I can't stand pompous boors especially when a child is involved


Jim

 

[Guest]

That guy should remember we all started somewhere & I'll bet his first effort wasn't anything to shout about either!


Younger people are the future of our hobby, so they need to be encouraged & not scared off by pompous snobbery.


Well done Si for getting involved, not just to shame that idiot, but to rally the other club members to support the young chap.

 

[Guest]

Proud of you Si, tell the lad to join our lovely forum!! 

 

[tanktrack]

the hobby has pomp ass twits everywhere who should think before they engage their pea brain or say nothing Si , i hope the young man is not deterred form building .    

 

[Gwyn]

I must agree new young modellers are the future and should be encourage. 

 

[PaulTRose]

well said Si


way more polite than i would have been


i hope you went and viewed his work and picked fault with it...............or was he one of those that likes put others down but never lets any one see what he can do?

 

[Guest]

Well said mate. I hope the lad hasn't been put off by this experience.

 

[Gern]

Good man Si!
​

 

[Guest]

Good on you Si.


The good thing was that the lad brought the model to display in the first place.


But for someone to do what they did is deplorable.


I don't think anyone who starts to model makes very good models to start with,it is done as a fun thing to do.Anyone who says otherwise and I'll show you a liar.


We need young people coming into this hobby and whether young or old everyone deserves to be given all the help they need.

 

[eddiesolo]

Just got me so angry. If that was me as a young lad I would probably pack it in, we all talked to him and said to ignore the comments. 


Funnily enough, most folk there said that their first models were worse...mine still are at times  

 

[Snowman]

That is why my best mate quit the IPMS years back, because of "rivet counters" like him.


There should be a national / international guide for assessors.


This will educate them in constructive critisism and mentoring rather than just shooting participants down in flames because a model does not achieve some arbitrary level of perfection.


Alternatively only vetted builders can assess for similar reasons and guide lines.

 

[Guest]

I disagree that the problem lies with 'rivet counters', or indeed that such a person should be thought of as wrong or unhelpful.


We're all seeing, building & enjoying numerous modern technically accurate kits. Where does the impetus for such kits come from? The seemingly despised rivet counters! 

 

[zuludog]

Yes, I go along with the comments made


One of the attractive things about making plastic kits is that you don't have to be very good to get a lot of satisfaction from it


Interestingly this compares with one of my other hobbies - hiking & backpacking


In the past I have joined 2 or 3 mountaineering and walking clubs, and found them cliqueish and unwelcoming, with one-upmanship about clothing and equipment, or the things you could do. It's fair enough to have standards of performance & ability, but sometimes this was put across unpleasantly; and it does, of course, make things very difficult for a beginner or young person


But now I have found the Backpackers Club, which is the opposite - friendly, helpful, and with the emphasis on enjoyment rather than acheivement for it's own sake

 

[Bigfoot57]

Like everyone has said well done for backing the lad also as previsusly stated eveybody has to start somewhere my 1st atempt was a airifx 1/72 f4j phantom in which get this i cut out the transfers and glued them in place complete with paper backing but i got encourgement for this from my mates at school after they stopped laughing etc even though i made a complete hash of it and that started a lifelong hobby which i still do now nearly 50 years and counting


Regards


Colin

 

[Snowman]

Where does the impetus for such kits come from?

The simple joy of creating or desire to build an object of beauty and possibly "perfection" if it can be reached.


Maybe I'm harsh in terming the individual as a "rivet counter", but a bit of tact would have gone a long way in preventing the situation from having occured in the first place. Senior builders, regardless of their personal level of expertise should know how to talk to the juniors without being condesending or otherwise.


My apologies for preaching to the converted, but this is one of the elements that make this site so friendly. Critisism is offered, but typically it is pointed and constructive.

 

[zuludog]

I've been thinking about this while I had a cup of tea. There's criticism, and criticism.... It could have handled much better -


'Well, when the glue blobs have dried you could have removed them with sandpaper or a sharp knife. Oh, and I've got a better paintbrush I can let you have.


What's your name? well Steve, I'm Geoff, and I was probably making kits before even your parents were born! Come and have a look at some of the other models.'

 

[Guest]

The simple joy of creating or desire to build an object of beauty and possibly "perfection" if it can be reached.

Well actually I meant that the impetus came from model makers who wanted technically accurate kits - those who might be called rivet counters


But if it came from simple joy, hopefully that'll be enough for me to win the lottery

 

[eddiesolo]

This type of behavior is seen in all walks of general life and in most, if not all hobbies. Most folk probably do not mean it the way it comes out and so ingrained in what they have achieved in the many decades of building, techniques learned etc that they seem to forget that when they started they probably made worse than laddo did.


I do not like confrontation but sometimes folk need to be taken down a peg or too just to get them to see that what they said was wrong and could have been more constructive, maybe the person who was rude may, just may think before opening his mouth.