One thing Ive noticed in the last year or so is how high the standard of aircraft modelling has become. Modellers are producing some stunning work and Ive been thinking about the reasons behind this.
We see the phrase "Golden Age Of Modelling" used quite a lot nowdays. Perhaps it is,,with the modern high pressure injection techniques being used and the vast amount of AM products coming onto the market.
Many people are coming back into modelling after long breaks, and using the patience that comes with age to build ( or rebuild) the models of their youth, that could be one factor.
Sites like this,Im certain, are making a huge impact on the way peoples skill levels are improving. Where else can a modeller find the hugh pool of resources available nowdays?,,Constructive critisism and advice from modellers of the Global Village available 24/7, and the enthusiasm that comes from sharing their builds within a world wide group of like minded people.
Another factor in this is the way that modellers show their work online.New digital cameras with their macro facilities allow precise close up photographs showing detail thats very hard to see with the naked eye, and modellers now use these close ups to learn from and develop their techniques.
New modellers are finding answers to questions about building techniques online that 20 years ago would have taken them months if not years to develop on their own or within one of their local clubs, and this has to be another reason why their quality of building is coming on in leaps and bounds.
One things for certain..all of these factors can do nothing but good for advancing the hobby, and its good to see a lot of younger modellers spending time building instead of being slaves to computer games.I wonder how many of them have been drawn towards modelling by the desire to build models of the planes/tanks etc on their computer games? Perhaps Playstations and XBoxes are now helping to bring youngsters into the hobby rather than taking them away from it?

It'll be interesting to hear peoples thoughts on this subject.

Whatever the reasons are,its a great time to be modelling!

Model on!!

Nige

Your right on the ball there Nige!
I got into modelling because my dad grandma was selling his house and he found a box of some of his old models, he showed me and i am into world war II tanks and planes so it inspired me that i could make models of these things, at the moment i do not play my game that i used to annymore (half due to computer issues) but some of the tanks and planes on there i am inspierd to build. and this is the best place i have found for resourses and info. i dont think the quallity of my builds would looks as good if i ahdnt received information of pro's Like most of the members here.

killer point Nige

I agree, granted I left modelling in my teenage years to do things a young lad does but now I'm somewhat more settled down and find telly (bar a good war documentary) highly boring I decided to pick up the plastic again and it really has bit me hard. I look on here pretty much everyday to see what people are building and if theres any techniques being used that I can try.
At this current time one model I am building I have tried the Jean-luc technique of spraying it silver and using a liquid mask before pre-shading for paint chips and I will also be trying the weathered camo look that yourself showed on your Down Low P47 build.
I try to use something new in every build but I'm still not the most confident person in my modelling.

H

Hi Nigel:

I´m also a modeller that stopped modelling for lot of years and then came back to the hobby with the patience that I didn´t have in my younger days.
Patience is a big thing in this hobby !!!
I also believe that the Internet and sites like this one helps a lot and are of a great importance in developing the modeller skils. The comunication nowdays are a revolution, everything is fast and learning from others is much easier than 20 years ago. I agree with you, where can you learn if not in sites like this one and without moving out from home, it´s fantastic.
And the high quality achieved by the major brands in their kits helps a lot, specially with the novice.

Speed and ease of comunications that´s the thing

My personal reflection on the “standard” of modeling today:

The “standard” has changed since I started modeling over 50 years ago, or has it? I think rather the “benchmarks” have changed. Many modelers do and have put their best efforts into building models, for as long as I have been interested in the hobby, as far as I can tell. Many have held, and do hold high standards to produce attractive and accurate models (that hasn’t always included me).

With the advent and availability of After Market items from custom decals, resin detail sets, to painted photo etch the efforts to enhance the detail of models has increased, thereby, moving up the “benchmark” as to what is a outstanding model. I don’t say this as if it is a bad thing, just a contributing factor in the movement of the “benchmark”. I do point it out because I see a great distinction between “benchmarks” and “standards”.

In a major way communication (the Internet and particularly this site) has influenced the “standards” I apply to my own work. I ability to discuss and review the work of other, and to receive feedback on my own efforts have been a blessing. Without Armorama and now AeroScale I wouldn’t seek out, or even know about, some of the products or techniques I now use.

Well I getting a little long winded. Just to wrap up, being able to share the modeling experience with others such as yourselves, has made my modeling all the more enjoyable, Thanks.

Just my two cents worth.

Since I have tackled this subject over on the Early Aviation title I won't repost here. But I do have to say that the views expressed here seem to have a good outlook on the general scheme of things.

Nigel leads the way with his comments. Most enlightening.

..can I sound a note of caution here ..some modellers are indeed producing stunning work ..most of us however are left floundering in their wake...to take up Chuck's point about 'benchmarks' - PE, resin accessories etc etc ..the scene is getting very complicated (if not to say expensive) and only the best (& richest) are able to exploit all these fancy add-ons. I look at some of the amazing work here - and yes, it is mostly inspiring, but equally it can be quite dispiriting....I mean I build to my level, for relaxation & escapism & while I strive to do my best I can't always be asked to get the airbrush out or mask a canopy ...at least the quality of kits has improved now with technology so that no matter how cack-handed you are a reasonable replica can be produced - life is too short to waste time messing about with old kits like the SMER Dr.1 or Airfix Fw 189 - two I've wrestled with recently... I'm not sure about video games harming the hobby any more either..its more likely to be the fabulous quality of the die-casts coming out of China or the Dragon pre-painted armor series that'll have an impact on how much modelling I do....in fact the Corgi Gladiators or Swordfish in 72 scale are far better than any plastic kit I've seen of these types..

Hi all.
All valid points that youve raised here.
Naturally,if budget is no object, it quite easy to accumulate enough aftermarket "bells and whistles" to make the beginner or perhaps the majority of modellers wince,and indeed back away.
For example,,take an off the shelf "modern" aircraft kit. It wouldnt take long to add a couple of PE sets, resin weighted wheels, resin cockpit, PE seatbelts,and aftermarket decals to the project. None of which guarantees a stunning finished project.
PE and aftermarket products dont appeal to everyone, and theres plenty of examples of excellently finished models on this and other sites that have been built without any extras at all, just OOB as the manufacturers intended.
I think that general standard has improved so much mainly to the huge amount of information available on what have become "basic" building methods.For example achieving the gleaming canopies I remember seeing when I was a teenager are no longer something to gaze in awe at and wonder how its possible to achieve such a polished look.Dipping canopies in Klear is a natural step in the building process now. No dark art or secret process at all.
I remember that my only access to "advanced" modelling methods as a teenager was waiting impatiently for Military Modelling to hit the shelves of the newsagent every month, and meeting at the local model club once a week to talk about what everyone was building and how they did it.
Now its all there with a couple of clicks of the mouse,how to achieve crystal clear canopies,seamless joins,rigged biplanes,decals that look painted on etc, all the information is readily available to be acted on as the individual modeller sees fit,and its there 24/7.
While I agree with Neils point about life being too short to wrestle with old kits that have been replaced on the LHS shelves by far superior modern mouldings, theres still something very satisfying about taking an old Airfix kit and beating it into submission,,LOL.
The hobby is all about enjoying yourself,relaxing(most of the time LOL), and producing models that please the only person that really matters,the one you see in the mirror everyday.
Happy modelling!
Nige

I have never seen these die-casts. Is it really the case that these mass made products are better than well made plastic kits??

Really excellent points Nigel, couldn't agree more,

Personally, the internet has had a huge impact on my return to modelling after a long break. when i was in my teens (won't say how long ago that was ...) it was very hard to find decent reference materials, authentic photos or even just examples of other modellers' work. Sites like Aeroscale have really made a difference for me as so many of the models here are really inspiring and motivating. Not to mention how many tips and techniques that can be picked up from more experienced modellers. I don't know if this is the Golden Age of modelling as i'm not sure how many of the playstation generation are really into it. Maybe when they hit thirty-something they'll see the light, who knows?
Mike.