'Bring Models!', I was told - So I DID!
by Scott Kruize

I took nine entries to the Vancouver Contest-&-Show a couple weeks ago... and brought home five ribbons.

WAIT!  Wait!  Before you toss this article aside with an irritated 'What a BRAGGART!', read a bit into my details, and maybe you'll stick around till I have a chance to get to my main point:

•	My set of de Havilland Mosquito Multi-roles won 3rd Place in the 'Collections' category... which had three entries.
•	My formidable Navy Jet child's pull-toy didn't win anything, in the category of 'Scratch Builds, Vacs, and Conversions', which had seven entries.
•	My Phantom Flash classic balsa-stick-and-tissue replica of an old design took 2nd Place in its category, which had two entries.
•	My air-ambulance Learjet didn't win anything in its 'Civilian' category, which had four entries.
•	My 'Minutemen' F-16 jet and Airfix Boeing Clipper won 2nd and 3rd Places in 'Aircraft in Flight', which had three entries.
•	My 'deRosia Rocket Rehab' service equipment set didn't win anything for 'Space and Fantasy Dioramas', which had six entries.

Do you begin to detect a pattern here?  Well, to finish:

•	My XP-GB1 interceptor fighter plane didn't win anything in 'What If ? – Aircraft'... not even with its stunningly realistic 'retractable' landing gear - much like on the Grumman Wildcat - that I simulated at great difficulty and expense. Its category had seven entries.  Still:
•	My ancient Monogram 'Wright Flyer' build did get an Honourable Mention ribbon in the 'Biplanes' category, within a field of eight entries.

You probably know Warwick Wright, Vancouver's Club Prez for several years.  At our recent meeting he brought a new club officer, Helmut Vorlaufer. Ostensibly, they were here to introduce Helmut to us. Of course we're all very worldly and recognized right away they were actually here to recruit foreign slave labor to exploit as judges. Which, by the way, seems to have been a big success: as clipboards were being handed around at the Judges Meeting, it looked like half their judging strength came from our Seattle Chapter.

But I mention Warwick as an example of a master modeler. I'm not him; I can't be him. His approach is to devote such diligent time and skill to crafting each detail of a single model that it almost invariably wins 1st Place in its category, often 'Best Aircraft', and even sometimes 'Best of Show'.  How can anyone help being awed by his skill and efforts?

This does have a price that may not be obvious: his build speed is approximately one model per year.  Count 'em... one!

I won't pay that price. At any given moment, I've got a dozen or so models in various stages of completion, some recently started, some begun years ago, but which I work on, from time to time and as the mood hits me, resulting in an effective production rate of approximately one model per month. This pace I've maintained since  first getting back into plastic modeling with you guys, in the 'Now', around the turn-of-the-century.  Such a rate and its implied limited amount of time that can be spared to each one, is how I want to pursue this hobby.  We all make such choices... but whatever our preferred 'modus operandi', it IS only a hobby!

So I'm not a master craftsman like Warwick and some of you. I accept that.  But that's not to lurk humbly in corners to avoid letting anyone see my builds. Shortly after becoming acquainted with Emil at Skyway Hobbies, I made some self-effacing remark about not being able to build as well as many of our skilled club members. He cut me right off by saying that at least I'm busy building things and putting them out to be seen, whereas lots of models he's sold go directly into stashes and maybe get discussed at bull sessions, but never get taken in hand and actually built.

I note in passing, along those lines, that lots of kit reviews are 'in-the-box' type.  Not so numerous are actual BUILD-build reviews!

This leads me back to a portion of my essay title. Our former Prez, Andrew Birkbeck, has always said “People come to contests, shows, and displays to see models. It doesn't matter if they're ribbon- and trophy-winning material or not. You never know but that the model that only you put on the table makes the day for somebody who sees it. So bring your models!”

I do. I bring them, either completed or in progress, to our meetings' Show-&-Tell sessions. I bring them even if I think they're 'lightweight', knowing they'll never impress judges of a tightly-contested contest category. I belong to two modeling clubs because I want to see models.  It follows that I must bring my own models to be seen if I expect others to bring theirs.

And at a Contest-&-Show, my models are out. I'm gratified if people just look at them; more if they get favorable remarks.  As Andrew says about making the day for some visitor:  I know, first-hand, that happens.

The closest I come to actually seeking ribbons is to scatter a sampling of my eclectic builds among the odder, less-contested categories. I have models that could be put into, say, '1/48th Scale Single-Prop Axis, Eastern Front, Focke-Wulf 190 G- and F-series Fighter-Bombers'... but I know placement there would be next-to-invisible among the multitude of other entries.  In the more obscure categories, my models will get some attention.

Even if my builds are not master-class quality, they still can make a contribution to our modeling community's enjoyment and expertise.  The Learjet was the only model at the Contest-&-Show to represent the vital work modern air ambulance services give, with their converted executive jets, almost as fast as commercial airliners, but able to get into small fields near small cities, thereby able to whisk critical patients or priceless body transplant organs to the big super-hospitals in major cities.

I also wanted to show off at the Vancouver Contest-&-Show, as I did at our own, an F-16 all gussied up in Colorado's MinuteMen scheme, given out as the official decal set at the 2013 Nationals there.  I've done two, one in 1/48th and the other in 1/72nd, the latter of which showed in Vancouver.  This is much to the amusement of Prez Eric Christiansen:  “Scott, nobody actually builds models and applies those souvenir decal sets!”  Well, I did, and people at our contest, and in Vancouver, paid some attention to my models. So there, Eric!

Another part of my scatter-y approach is a determination to put out, at each Contest-&-Show, and the yearly Museum of Flight Great Gallery Display, at least one model made the old-fashioned way:  scratch-built of hand-cut balsa. 'Balsa Modeling Is Not Dead!' and I want our attendees to know that we know that… and that anyone may still be able to - and be welcome to - build such models.

Last year, I put out a stick-and-tissue build of an airplane flown (in listeners' imaginations) in a 1930s radio serial starring our stalwart teenage aviation superhero Jimmy Allen. This year, I brought to Vancouver the Phantom Flash. This also dates from the 1930s (1937, in fact) and related to radio serials. Its original designer admitted that while working for Comet Models, he took inspiration from spooky presentations like 'Mystery Theater' and 'The Shadow Knows'. Hence his original color scheme:  black tissue with skull-and-crossbone 'roundels'. My tastes are a bit different – perfectly 'legal' in balsa modeling – and did mine in orange tissue marked with jack-o'-lanterns.

I like building old 'Classic Plastic' kits. Now, I defer to no one in admiration for the quality, precision, complexity, and historical accuracy of kits nowadays, available in astonishing variety.  (And priced accordingly-!)  They're all nearly unimaginable from the viewpoint of modeling way back Then, in the mid 60s. I've built some of these modern gems, even writing build reviews – not 'in the box'-type, either!  But I can't help but like what I call a NABBROKE: a Nostalgic Aging Baby Boomer Real Old Kit Experience.  Rebuilding in the Now something I modeled back Then... or, closely related, building a kit now that I ought to have built back Then, if only I'd come across it and it was within reach of my allowance!

Monogram's 'Kitty Hawk' (Wright Flyer) falls under this nostalgia. The kit dates from 1958, and I was actually given one, for Christmas or my birthday, around 1959-60.  My modeling skill Then consisted mostly of watching my father put a model together for me.  Fatherly gestures:  he had no interest in modeling nor had anything like the skills required... but I treasure memories of his attempts back Then.  He bogged down in the Flyer's complexity and didn't finish it.  No surprise there; I found it a very challenging build, even after my hundreds of others in the Now.  Anyway, of course it had no chance whatsoever at a current contest in the 'Biplanes' category. How could it compete against exquisite Eduard and WingNuts Great War entries?  I judged that category, keeping quiet until it was obvious that the other members of the team had given it their polite once-over-lightly glance before settling down to selecting 1st, 2nd, and 3rd from among the GOOD models.  But after that critical task, with me once again falling dead silent, our lead Don Partridge commented about the effort involved in building old kits into respectable display, and acknowledging that although this particular kit was released 60 years ago, it's hardly ever BUILT and SEEN!  So he and the other team members gave it an Honourable Mention, only then finding out it was mine... and I was happy!

Monogram also produced the de Havilland Mosquito kit that was the basis for my Collections category entry.  The kit came out just about the time I packed up to go off to the University of Washington, so I didn't acquire one Then. More modern kits are available from Airfix and Tamiya... but I still admire how Monogram included parts and instructions to encompass many of the Mosquito's wide range of roles it fulfilled so well. That's why I still have more to add to my collection.

Airfix's Boeing Clipper (released 1969) is also related to my modeling back Then, in somewhat more convoluted ways.  I was almost exclusively into warplanes back Then... whereas Now, my tastes are allowed to wander around.  Besides, I feel obligated sometimes to follow a plea from our patron saint, the late Jim Schubert.  He urged us all to - at least sometimes - set aside military machines of destruction, and build something in honor of 'Wings of Peace'.  Another thing: nowadays, we get so deep into pursuit of modeling perfection, we seem to have lost the desire to do a casual build. Tuesday afternoon just before Vancouver's contest, I pulled out this kit (acquired quite by happenstance) and challenged myself to finish it in time to put on the table by noon Saturday. And so I did… and like other entries, it's unworthy of ribbons in heavily-contested lineups, but people did stop and look at it... it looks halfway decent… I would've been thrilled to have modeled something that came out this nicely way back Then. And lastly, the four little propellers spin readily at the slightest puff of air sent their way... proof positive that Jim Schubert is pleased as he watches over us!

Even my 'failed' displays - those that won no official awards - fulfilled their purpose - per Andrew's exhortation - of being seen by Contest-&-Show attendees.  My little interceptor fighter, converted from an ancient Hawk (later Testors) GeeBee R-1 racer, reminded people of the Golden Age of the 30s, with the colorful 'Art Deco'-ish  schemes our military aircraft wore before they had to visibly fade down into dull gray, non-specular blues, and the drabbest of olive drab, to go to war.

Unpopulated categories meld/melt into each other or disappear altogether. By entering my odd models, I help keep them open... preserving them against the day YOU might want to put some models there!  You're welcome!

My rocket-rehab equipment set oughta please Terry Moore, our former Prez-4-Life, since it reminded him, he said, into almost – right on the verge of! - remembering from his high-school Chemistry class the compounds in the refueling trailer's two tanks, namely Meta-Lyzicoxyglaudianeynne and Perfeurousmaxpetrochallide. And Andrew Birkbeck, who succeeded Terry as Prez... for when he first saw that equipment, shook his head and said “I'm gonna miss you guys...” [Presumably, while out in the remote wilds of New Zealand.]  And it should please Tim Nelson, who more-or-less gets 3rd billing, recognized by those of us 'in the know' about him as 'Rocket Man'.... and John Chilenski, because it exists because of his 'ModelFy' selection, and gives him second billing in the homemade decal set... and John deRosia because he gets TOP billing… and because it's ORANGE!!!  The set had its fleeting chance at superficial glory, and is now pleasing some poor kid who came with Mom, visiting the food-and-necessities charity bank at St. Thomas Parish.

Another toddler visiting there will by now have taken possession of the 'Navy Jet' pull-toy.  These toys will never again be seen by mortal grown-ups!

One of those old Monogram de Havilland Mosquito models represents an Australian-built fighter-bomber, and master modeler Warwick didn't know - until he saw my model and asked me about it - that during the Second World War, Commonwealth air forces engaged against Japan had to give up the red inner spot of their long-time national insignia roundels. Allied antiaircraft gunners tended to shoot at ANYTHING round and red – like Imperial Japan's Hinomaru  insignia:  the Rising Sun. “Jumpy? WHO's jumpy?!”

So... not a master modeler... unlikely to become one... not near Warwick's pinnacle of modeling mastery, which he shares with several you fellow Seattle Chapter club members. But see:  I taught even HIM something.  And 'made ya look!' at a balsa plane... and added interest, and grounds to preserve, obscure and sparsely-entered categories...  Hey:  between my 9 entries and Ken Murphy's 6 and Ed Pinnell's 3, our little Expotition accounted for 4 percent of all the models exhibited at the IPMS Vancouver Contest-&-Show...

I MADE MY PRESENCE FELT!  And I'll keep doing so:  look for my models at our Show-and-Tell tables every month, and at less-filled areas at our Contest-and-Shows.  And while making my presence felt, I won 5 ribbons!  SAAAAAAYYYY!!!  Does that justify your original impression: 'What a BRAGGART'?  Whether it does or not, follow my lead... follow Andrew's mandate... follow the essential purpose of our being members of modeling clubs:

	BRING MODELS!