That D.F. is part of modelling, it teaches you patience along with dexterity, planning, forethought and perseverence and goal setting. I, for example, (and this is not some sort ego trip) am an aircraft mechanic by trade or as I like to think of it, I get to play with the 1:1 scale stuff.Anyway a lot of times during my career I've been asked to do some task that my bosses know is difficult or requires a craftmans touch (READ artsy-fartsy) is tedious and easily frustrates many of my co-workers. I just finished one of these matter of fact. Why did they pick me? Because they know I have the "Touch". What is "The Touch" The patience and craft skills I learned from modelling, that's all. So hang in there and enjoy the challenges and end results. That's what modelling is all about!
I don't think money is really the problem--you people are forgetting to account for a factor which would otherwise go under 'politics'--the (always) government-created inflation. When I was young, and airfix was introducing their line of 1/72 plane kits her in the colonies, I could get a bottle of Coca-cola for the exchange of 1/10 of an ounce of silver, or 1/320 oz. of gold--troy wt., of course. If you average the two together, today, you get about $1, for which you can buy 1 can of Coke at most stores. About a buck. The Revel Lancaster 'dam buster' cost $2 in those days, the Hasegawa in the same scale is about $45 today, but it's way more than twice the kit. The very same Hawk SNJ kit I paid $.49 for as a kid, with better decals--and choice of color schemes--I recently picked up at a major retailer for $4.50--In real money, a slight reduction. Real problem? I don't know--heck, judging from the proliferation of Chinese kit manufacturers, I'm not sure there actually is one!--but I'd offer a few sugestions:
Availability--I used to be able to go into any supermarket and find one or two good kits. That might not sound like much, but there were a lot of supermarkets.
Expectations--If a kid goes up to an adult who actually models, he's likely as not to be subject to the kind of scrutiny that used to be reserved for IPMS Nationals. (And much I've seen is often at least partly wrong; i.g.: one case where a kid was faulted for using the kit decals on a Sabre because they had the "USAF" in insignia blue, instead of black. It happens that I've seen the plane in question, and it was painted in insignia blue!
And number one on my hit list:
Fun--With so much nit-picking, and factioning--why should someone else care if I model a B-49 E as it appeared during the successful "Linebacker III" campaign in 1976, causing thre Viet Minh to surrender to the Republic of Viet Nam (hey, it's my fantasy, which is the point, really), or a kit-bashed P-51 E (bubble canopy, Allison engine, cranked wing, 4x20mm + 4 bombs, mainly for the RAF) or even a canard configuration pusher Mustang? News flash for some: Unless you actually work for a museum--or a modeling magazine!-- or Hollywood--IT'S A HOBBY! I mean, if working on the interior of a model for 3 years getting every last detail floats your boat, fine, I'm happy for you. But if it doesn't work for you--DON'T DO IT!
Relax. Enjoy. Have fun....
pgf
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