Airframes
Benevolens Magister
When I was a kid (many years ago!), I probably learned quite a lot about aircraft; their shapes, aerofoil sections, dimensions, and so on, by building and painting Airfix 1/72nd. scale kits. As the years passed, and my knowledge increased, the 'educational' side of the hobby probably waned slightly.
Having been 'involved' in aviation at various levels since then, I can fully appreciate how models in, for example, museums, can be an educational aid for younger people, by illustrating, in 3D form, artefacts that are not available, conveniently, in full-size form for whatever reason, and this can be particularly helpful in, say, the reinforcement of a particular history lesson from school.
Nowadays, apart from still enjoying the modelling hobby, and still building models for display at home, the main use of my modelling skills is to produce, literally, a 'model' to 'pose' for my aviation paintings. Mostly, these paintings, commissioned or not, are of aircraft types that I am very familiar with. I will have flown, or flown in, the type, I will have seen them and been around them often, and will probably have previously built numerous models, and produced a number of pictures of the type. I'm sure many of you will know what I mean when I say "I have a 'feel' for (aircraft type)."
However, I am curently working on a 1/48th. scale B26 Marauder, and I suddenly realised that I am learning something!
Although I obviously know a little about the Marauder, it is not as familiar to me as many other WW2 types, perhaps, in the U.K., being overshadowed by other U.S. types, such as the B17. I have never even SEEN a 'real' Marauder, unlike most of the WW2 types still extant. Consequently, the research required in order to produce the model has been a little more involved than usual. It was during this research when I realised I was learning; the photographs and diagrams studied came to life when compared to the kit components, giving me a sudden, clear understanding of particular parts of the aircraft.
It made me think; will future generations learn from modelling and, more importantly, will these same generations learn from OUR models, built with the benefit of either first-hand, or related experience/descriptions, from aircrew still surviving? Let's face it, sadly, in the not-too distant future, WW2 aircrew veterans will be no more, and the 'information bank' they hold will be lost. Therefore, will our models help to educate future generations, and, do you think modelling is educational?
Having been 'involved' in aviation at various levels since then, I can fully appreciate how models in, for example, museums, can be an educational aid for younger people, by illustrating, in 3D form, artefacts that are not available, conveniently, in full-size form for whatever reason, and this can be particularly helpful in, say, the reinforcement of a particular history lesson from school.
Nowadays, apart from still enjoying the modelling hobby, and still building models for display at home, the main use of my modelling skills is to produce, literally, a 'model' to 'pose' for my aviation paintings. Mostly, these paintings, commissioned or not, are of aircraft types that I am very familiar with. I will have flown, or flown in, the type, I will have seen them and been around them often, and will probably have previously built numerous models, and produced a number of pictures of the type. I'm sure many of you will know what I mean when I say "I have a 'feel' for (aircraft type)."
However, I am curently working on a 1/48th. scale B26 Marauder, and I suddenly realised that I am learning something!
Although I obviously know a little about the Marauder, it is not as familiar to me as many other WW2 types, perhaps, in the U.K., being overshadowed by other U.S. types, such as the B17. I have never even SEEN a 'real' Marauder, unlike most of the WW2 types still extant. Consequently, the research required in order to produce the model has been a little more involved than usual. It was during this research when I realised I was learning; the photographs and diagrams studied came to life when compared to the kit components, giving me a sudden, clear understanding of particular parts of the aircraft.
It made me think; will future generations learn from modelling and, more importantly, will these same generations learn from OUR models, built with the benefit of either first-hand, or related experience/descriptions, from aircrew still surviving? Let's face it, sadly, in the not-too distant future, WW2 aircrew veterans will be no more, and the 'information bank' they hold will be lost. Therefore, will our models help to educate future generations, and, do you think modelling is educational?
