WWI Digest 430 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) RE: Eduard News/Propaganda by bshatzer@orednet.org (Bill Shatzer) 2) Obit: Cecil Lewis (forwarded) by homanger@host.dmsc.net 3) Re: Obit: Cecil Lewis (forwarded) by barrett@iplink.net (barrett) 4) Shops in London by Charles_A._Duckworth@notes.up.com (Charles A. Duckworth) 5) Re: Scale by "Bill Ciciora" 6) RE: Scale by Sandy Adam 7) Re: Shops in London by "Bill Bacon" 8) Re: Scale by mbittner@juno.com 9) Re: Scale by mbittner@juno.com 10) Re: Scale by mbittner@juno.com 11) Eduard & MPM forecsated releases by SOPWITH@worldnet.att.net 12) Re: Shops in London by "Shelley Goodwin" 13) Photos by barrett@iplink.net (barrett) 14) Re: Eduard News/Propaganda by mnelson@compusmart.ab.ca (Mark K. Nelson) 15) RE: Eduard News/Propaganda by "Rob " 16) RE: Scale by NPWE28A@prodigy.com ( KENNETH L HAGERUP) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 22:30:31 -0800 From: bshatzer@orednet.org (Bill Shatzer) To: wwi Subject: RE: Eduard News/Propaganda Message-ID: <199702110630.AA26475@ednet1.orednet.org> Shane wrote: >David, > >>Admittedly, I would love to see how Monogram would do a 1/48 Staaken RVI. > >Oooooh. My favourite dream scratchbuild project. But the wingspan is about 4 feet, and the cheese und kisses says I do it, I die. Sigh. > >Shane Heck, what's the wingspan on a 1/72 B-36? Monogram did that 'un! Hey, we can dream, can't we? Cheers, -- - Bill Shatzer bshatzer@orednet.org - "Oh, what sad times are these when passing ruffians can say 'ni' at will to old ladies." ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 02:32:47 -0500 From: homanger@host.dmsc.net To: wwi Subject: Obit: Cecil Lewis (forwarded) Message-ID: <199702110732.CAA11756@ns1.dmsc.net> forwarded from the WWI history list: Cecil Lewis CECIL LEWIS, who has died aged 98, led an astonishingly diverse life; a veteran of aerial combat over Flanders in the First World War, he was one of the first four members on the staff of the BBC, wrote 20 books and plays, and founded a quasi-religious community in South Africa. In addition he won an Oscar, lived in Tahiti, flew across Africa, and seduced literally hundreds of women. Even so, he accomplished rather less than he promised. His uncompromising zest for experience meant that he was doomed to what he described as a "weather-vane life, swinging this way and that", content to taste, dabble and move on. Cecil Arthur Lewis was born at Birkenhead on March 29 1898. His father was a Congregationalist minister whose preaching brought him a fashionable West End pulpit, from which he eloped with a rich member of his flock. Precociously intelligent, Cecil Lewis was educated at Dulwich, University College School and Oundle, from where, in 1915, he joined the Royal Flying Corps. A stringy beanpole of a boy, 6ft 4in tall, he celebrated his 18th birthday in France, and had flown only 20 hours (without any map reading, Morse or formation training), when he was posted to No 9 Squadron. He flew BE2cs and French-built Morane "Parasols" in preparation for the Somme offensive. "If ever there was an aircraft unsuited for active service," Lewis wrote, "it was the BE2c." As for the Morane, he remembered how bullets crackled through its spruce and linen frame. On July 1 1916 Lewis saw the mile-high fountain of earth thrown up by the detonation of two mines beneath the German positions. As he related in his classic account of those experiences, Sagittarius Rising (1936, fifth edition 1993), the life of a pilot might be more comfortable than that of the men in the trenches, but it was no less dangerous. Life expectancy was three weeks, and in an era before parachutes a disabled plane could take five minutes to plunge 10,000 feet to earth. Lewis had a series of narrow shaves; his wings were shot away and engine failure brought him down on the front line. Yet he survived eight months before being sent home during the winter of 1916-17 for a spell as a test pilot. He was twice mentioned in despatches and in 1916 awarded the Military Cross for "continuous bravery". He returned to France with No 56 Squadron, equipped with the new SE5 fighters. Lewis had been specially selected to outfly and outfight Baron von Richthofen and his "Circus". In May 1917 Lewis led the squadron over the Channel to fight the world's first mass air-battle. He recalled: "The enemy, more than double in number, greater in power, and fighting with skill and courage, gradually overpowered the British, whose machines scattered, driven down beneath the scarlet German fighters." Lewis was one of the five in the 11-strong squadron to survive. He was also the last to see Albert Ball, VC, as the Allied ace disappeared into a cloud bank during the dog fight. After a raid on London by 20 Gothas, Lewis and the squadron were brought back to protect the capital. The Gothas never showed up again, and Lewis enjoyed 10 days of parties before returning to France, where he managed to survive a German attack which left him with a crippled aeroplane and a bullet in the back. He ended the war leading 152 Squadron, equipped with Sopwith Camels to be used as night fighters. At the Armistice, still only 20, he was credited with the destruction of eight enemy machines. The experience left Lewis bitter. The war, he reflected, "deprived me of the only carefree years and washed me up ill equipped for any serious career, with a Military Cross, a Royal handshake, a #600 gratuity and, I almost forgot to say - my life." Subsequently, as Lewis recorded in Never Look Back (1974), the best of several volumes of autobiography, "I should always have the opportunity to be in at the start of new things, never lead them and never remain long enough to draw any real profit." On demobilisation Lewis and two fellow pilots formed a flying circus that toured Britain and gave joy rides in redundant Avro 504Ks. The enterprise failed to prosper, and in 1919 he joined Vickers Civil Aviation and went to Peking as flying instructor to the Chinese government. The pilots he was teaching wore long black silk robes which concealed their hands, and small black satin hats with red buttons at the crown. Lewis's task was further complicated by there being no room for an interpreter in the aircraft. In 1922 Lewis answered an advertisement for a job as deputy director of programmes at the BBC. There were only five applicants, and Lewis, though he knew nothing about broadcasting, was successful. He thus became the youngest of John Reith's three employees. Versatility was essential, and Lewis found himself producing the BBC's greatest initial success, Children's Hour. His role as its "Uncle Caractacus" was not one that he particularly relished. >From 1922 to 1926 he was Director of Programmes. Lewis pioneered the techniques of radio drama, adapting two of Bernard Shaw's plays himself. He also organised the first simultaneous transmission of the news on the various regional stations, an event introduced by a drunk but word-perfect F E Smith. In 1926 Lewis resigned from the BBC in typically impulsive fashion, irritated by the growth of bureaucracy and the dilution of quality necessary to a mass medium. The microphone, he wrote later, "clamoured daily to be fed. At first it was satisfied with simple fare and a little of it," but it became "a most terrible and insatiable monster". After an abortive attempt to interest America in radio drama, he turned to writing himself, encouraged by his friend Charles Ricketts, the artist and aesthete, and by Bernard Shaw. "Your literary age I take to be about seven", observed Shaw of one effort; nevertheless he allowed Lewis to film, disastrously, Arms and the Man. Lewis retreated to a villa he had built on a beautiful site above Lake Maggiore on land paid for by Ricketts. There he wrote Sagittarius Rising; its evocation of the thrill and beauty of flight revived his career, helped by a full-page eulogy from Shaw in the New Statesman in 1936. He was then appointed the first Director of Outside Broadcasts for BBC Television, which was starting up at Alexandra Palace. Lewis quickly threw it up for a lucrative writing contract with a Hollywood studio, where his slender contribution to the script of Pygmalion brought him a share of an Oscar in 1938. "For the only time in my life," he remembered, "I had more money than I could spend." He celebrated this predicament with a spell of beachcombing in Tahiti. On the outbreak of the Second World War he rejoined the Royal Air Force. His first assignment was to test hare-brained ideas such as trailing cannon balls on cables from the hatch of a Wellington in order to intercept incoming bombers. Later he became a flying instructor, teaching his own son to fly, and served in Transport Command. Soon after the war Lewis became powerfully influenced by the writings of the mystic Georgi Gurdjieff, who taught that man must learn to observe himself in order to wake from his living sleep. Lewis's several attempts to explain Gurdjieff's teachings in print did not make for easy reading, but he had finally found an enthusiasm of which he did not tire. It dominated the remaining half of a hitherto directionless life, prompting him to set up a community in South Africa to preserve the philosophy against the expected Armageddon of the next war. The venture was a failure, and Lewis returned to a routine of briefly promising openings. From 1953 to 1956 he made radio programmes promoting the United Nations, then returned to England to help launch commercial television with Associated Rediffusion. As losses mounted he was sacked, but was retained by the Daily Mail, which partly owned the company, to organise its Ideal Home Exhibition. In 1966 Lewis retired to Corfu. Although he continued to write, little of his output matched the quality or panache of his early success. He retained his attractiveness to women, and even at 95 might have passed for a spry 70. Yet he believed that Gurdjieff had cured him of conceit, and acknowledged that "a successful seducer never makes a good husband". His non-fiction titles included Broadcasting from Within (1924), The Trumpet is Mine (1938), Farewell to Wings (1964), Turn Right for Corfu (1972), A Way To Be (1977), and Gemini to Jo'burg (1984). He also edited Self Portrait: The Letters and Journals of Charles Ricketts. All My Yesterdays (1993) was a further volume of autobiography, As fiction Lewis wrote Challenge to the Night (1938), Yesterday's Evening (1946), Pathfinders (1943, revised edition 1986), The Gospel According to Judas (1989), and The Dark Sands of Shambals (1990). Cecil Lewis married first, in Peking in 1921 (dissolved 1940) Eudoxia Horvath, daughter of the White Russian leader General Horvath; they had a son and a daughter. He married secondly in 1942 (dissolved 1950) Olga Burnett. He married his third wife, Fanny, in 1960. [Image] <---- End Forwarded Message ----> ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 08:59:09 -0500 From: barrett@iplink.net (barrett) To: wwi Subject: Re: Obit: Cecil Lewis (forwarded) Message-ID: > > On July 1 1916 Lewis saw the mile-high fountain of earth thrown > up by the detonation of two mines beneath the German positions. > As he related in his classic account of those experiences, > Sagittarius Rising (1936, fifth edition 1993), the life of a > pilot might be more comfortable than that of the men in the > trenches, but it was no less dangerous. Life expectancy was > three weeks, and in an era before parachutes a disabled plane > could take five minutes to plunge 10,000 feet to earth. > I'm half way through Sagittarius Rising right now. An excellent book. Kevin. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 11:51:07 -0500 From: Charles_A._Duckworth@notes.up.com (Charles A. Duckworth) To: wwi Subject: Shops in London Message-ID: <1997Feb11.114448.1155.1213865@uprr-internet.notes.up.com> I recently found out that I will be making a business trip to London on 2/16 for two weeks. I have been to Motor Books and picked up several books on our favorite topic what are the really good WWI modeling/book shops in the city I should hit? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 97 11:53:36 PST From: "Bill Ciciora" To: wwi Subject: Re: Scale Message-ID: Matt stated: > What I would like to see is younger blood getting initially > into 1/72nd, as well as some of the "older" folks go back to > this scale. I assume you mean with WWI subjects. In that case, it's going to be tough on both counts. Given the other thread talking about the cottage industry taking over WWI subjects, young kids are not going to have the resources to buy many WWI kits and become interested. When I was originally building 1/72 WWI kits, Revell subjects cost $0.50 each and Testors paint was $0.10. It was still a stretch for my allowance, but I was at the Ben Franklin or Al's Hobby Shop the day after I completed a kit, ready to buy a new one. That's not going to happen with kits costing $20 and up. Also, with Advanced Modeler Syndrome driving the inclusion of more and more fiddly bits, we have yet another reason kids don't want to bother. They want to complete the kit in a day or two (at least I did). As for this older folk getting back into 1/72, sorry, no can do. I have enough trouble as it is with 1/48. This is just a hobby, a way to relax, for me. In 1/48, the frustration index is tolerable, so that overall, building a WWI subject is a positive experience. I'm not prepared to add frustration working with parts that are even smaller, even easier to lose. Bill C. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 18:37:12 +0000 (GMT) From: Sandy Adam To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: RE: Scale Message-ID: IMHO the reasons for the present popularity of 1/48 goes back to the origins of our hobby when Frog Penguin in the 40s & 50s and then Airfix, Revell and many others helped to establish 1/72 as the most prolific scale for aircraft models. Obviously Monogram and Aurora etc did offer many 1/48 aeroplanes, but in 1960 or 1970, if you wanted a Lancaster or a Sunderland or a Liberator or a Fortress you modelled in 1/72. Now just about every conceivable variant of aircraft has been done to death in 1/72 and anybody planning a new Spitfire or Bf109 has to compete with the cheap reissues of old kits for the pocket money market which probably does not mind accuracy TOO much, leaving only the serious modeller to be tempted to buy your new offering to add to the 43 othe Spits he already has in the attic unbuilt. BUT 1/48 is virgin territory - you can still be first to market with a Beaufighter or a Wellington or a Hawker Hunter for God's Sake. Airfix are about to launch a Lightning jet - they did it in 1/72 at the same time the plane was entering squdron service in 1960-odd. It makes sound commercial sense - if the 1/72 market is dominated by old cheap kits, you create a whole new market - 1/48. Now whether you prefer 1/72 or 1/48 does not enter into this, I model only in 1/48 but most people will dabble in either and I must admit a Beaufighter would tempt even me in 1/48. As a postscript I find it fascinating that my sons (9 & 6) prefer 1/72 as they can play with planes, tanks, soldiers etc all in the same scale - as I did myself as a kid, and I think 1/72 will probably always be preferred by youngsters. Of course now unfortunately, the kits have to compete with Nintendos and every electronic gadget under the sun rather than the 1960s when the pocket money choice was a tin car or the new Airfix B17 with ten zillion guns and moving control surfaces.... Sandy ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 13:56:01 -0600 From: "Bill Bacon" To: Subject: Re: Shops in London Message-ID: <20032966603682@netjava.com> Charles, I envy you. Try Foyles, they have damned near everything and more. Enjoy your trip Cheers, Bill Bill Bacon wbacon@netjava.net ---------- > From: Charles A. Duckworth > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: Shops in London > Date: Tuesday, February 11, 1997 11:55 AM > > I recently found out that I will be making a business trip to London on 2/16 > for two weeks. I have been to Motor Books and picked up several books on our > favorite topic what are the really good WWI modeling/book shops in the city I > should hit? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 17:58:25 EST From: mbittner@juno.com To: wwi Subject: Re: Scale Message-ID: <19970211.170103.13950.3.mbittner@juno.com> On Tue, 11 Feb 1997 12:59:40 -0500 "Bill Ciciora" writes: > Given the other thread talking about the cottage industry taking > over WWI subjects, young kids are not going to have the > resources to buy many WWI kits and become interested. When I was > originally building 1/72 WWI kits, Revell subjects cost $0.50 > each and Testors paint was $0.10. It was still a stretch for my > allowance, but I was at the Ben Franklin or Al's Hobby Shop the > day after I completed a kit, ready to buy a new one. That's not > going to happen with kits costing $20 and up. Also, with > Advanced Modeler Syndrome driving the inclusion of more and more > fiddly bits, we have yet another reason kids don't want to > bother. They want to complete the kit in a day or two (at least > I did). Well, get them started with Revell or Airfix then, if you're concerned about cost. Heck, most 1/48th jobs aren't cheap - unless you're talking about the Glencoe re-releases. Matt mbittner@juno.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 17:58:25 EST From: mbittner@juno.com To: wwi Subject: Re: Scale Message-ID: <19970211.170103.13950.4.mbittner@juno.com> On Tue, 11 Feb 1997 13:43:12 -0500 Sandy Adam writes: > Now just about every conceivable variant of aircraft has been > done to death in 1/72 and anybody planning a new Spitfire or > Bf109 has to compete with the cheap reissues of old kits for the > pocket money market which probably does not mind accuracy TOO > much, leaving only the serious modeller to be tempted to buy > your new offering to add to the 43 othe Spits he already has in > the attic unbuilt. Not true about "every conceivable variant". Maybe if you're talking about those that are currently "most wanted" (for whatever reason), but I can think of a ton (okay, maybe half-ton ;-)) of kits that still need *good* kits in 1/72nd. In the non-WW1 realm, you 1/48th folks are lucky with Classic Airframes (even though they're still getting things wrong); they're bringing out some kits not yet done. Even for 1/48th. ;-) Well, I'm going to let this 'un die. I've said too much already. Sorry if this thread bored too many. Matt mbittner@juno.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 17:58:25 EST From: mbittner@juno.com To: wwi Subject: Re: Scale Message-ID: <19970211.170103.13950.1.mbittner@juno.com> On Mon, 10 Feb 1997 23:05:40 -0500 Shane Weier writes: > Matt carefully places his ass (US) in the griddle: > It gets worse. Fewer people are building those that are released > == even less incentive for the companies. Understood, and agreed. However, the scale problem is the reason why those being released aren't being built. > Despite my apparent position in the 1/48th modelling brigade, I > still build some in 1/72. Enough to remember that Rosemont, > Pegasus and many others aren't Eastern European. I suspect taht > what you mean is that the Japanese companies and Revellogram > have moved heavily towards the larger scales. Yes, that's what I mean. ;-) > However, I definitely don't want to see 1/72 go under either. > It *still* provides by far the widest range of subjects, it > still has pocket money kits to start kids on (in fact, I > presented 4 to various nephews at Christmas), it still allows > big collections within the confines of a normal home etc. True. Although not as cheap as when they first arrived, the Revell WW1 subjects provide wonderful value for the money. > I'm a committee member of the Queensland Model Hobby Expo, which > is, if you like, our equivalent of a "Regional". The > competition held at QMHE had a drop off in aircraft models in > 1996, despite a 20% rise in total entries. *Most* of the drop > off was in small scale aircraft. Again, it's a "size" thing. > At our committee meeting last Saturday, the competition steward > broached a change in categories which would *eliminate* the > small scale aircraft classes and merge 1/72 aircraft with 1/48 > in competition. We had that same situation with small scale armor. If you think small scale aircraft are few and far between, you should see the smale scale armor selection, or rather lack there of. > This to save money to allow expansion of popular classes (1/35 > tanks that never were, 1/35 tanks that no-one even drew on a > napkin, 1/35 german soldiers pissing on a lamp-post, that sort > of frequently moulded stuff) The same is happening with a/c: all those dang German paper projects. As far as I see it, who cares? > But IMHO it would kill off 1:72 stone dead. Given that many 1/72 > entries were from folk who enter both sections (which are > restricted to one entry per person per section), and that others > would doubt being able to compete fairly, I expect we'd see NO > 1/72 models :-( A true shame. > This was averted only because one member of committee gave QMHE > a private sponsorship for the 1/72 classes > > The same person also sponsored a (new) split of the Junior > aircraft awards into small and large scale classes. Unfortunately, that's what it's going to take. > Aww heck, after agreeing with you an all.... Which I'm still shocked over! :-) Thanks, Shane. Matt mbittner@juno.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 23:11:25 +0000 From: SOPWITH@worldnet.att.net To: wwi Subject: Eduard & MPM forecsated releases Message-ID: <19970211231122.AAA347@LOCALNAME> Eduard has listed the following WWI kits for 1997. Hopefully they will make good on their schedule 1/48 Pfalz DIII Albatros DIII Nieuport 17 early Nieuport 17 late 1/72 Fokker EV Strip down Sopwith Camel Fokker DVIII MPM Hansa Branderburg W29 SOPWITH HOBBIES sopwith@worldnet.att.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 97 17:27:22 PST From: "Shelley Goodwin" To: wwi Subject: Re: Shops in London Message-ID: <9701118557.AA855717970@mx.Ricochet.net> Hannat's and the RAF museum gift shop, both at Hendon. Not 'in' London but not far. Both are very near the Underground station. Lovely 1:1 examples of WWI aircraft at the museum and all the Datafiles in print at the gift shop. Riordan ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Shops in London Author: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu at Internet Date: 2/11/97 9:52 AM I recently found out that I will be making a business trip to London on 2/16 for two weeks. I have been to Motor Books and picked up several books on our favorite topic what are the really good WWI modeling/book shops in the city I should hit? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 00:11:47 -0500 From: barrett@iplink.net (barrett) To: wwi Subject: Photos Message-ID: There were list members who were interested in copies of photos I took at the Canadian National Aviation Museum last weekend. Most of the photos (happily) turned out OK. I have an extra set of prints to disperse, and here's where they're going: Joseph Boeke: Black Maria Triplane Joey Valenciano: Be2 and AEG G IV (*sorry*, night lozenge didn't reproduce on film) Erik: You have first dibs on the others. Just send me your snail-mail addresses, and I'll post these to you. Would anyone else like shots of a Snipe, Avro, Camel 2F1, or Spad VII? They are available: first come, first served. Kevin. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 21:13:53 -0700 From: mnelson@compusmart.ab.ca (Mark K. Nelson) To: wwi Subject: Re: Eduard News/Propaganda Message-ID: >I know VLS listed the Sopwith Tripe as available 2-3 months before they >actually had it so this may be pure speculation on their part. It is >however, nice to see actual >that the kits have had serial numbers assigned to them. Maybe the test >shots are back. Interestingly enough, there is no Hanriot listed in 1/48 >and the Voison seems to be a very dead thought. Last time I "bugged" the folks at Eduard M.A. about the Pfalz the guy told me that "I have a test shot about five feet away and boy it looks nice." He wouldn't send it to me though. . . _____________________________________________________________________ Mark (An Employee at Kites & Other Delights in West Edmonton Mall) ------------------------ mnelson@compusmart.ab.ca ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 22:20:52 +0000 From: "Rob " To: wwi Subject: RE: Eduard News/Propaganda Message-ID: <199702120524.AAA24019@newman.concentric.net> Shane wrote: >>Admittedly, I would love to see how Monogram would do a 1/48 Staaken RVI. > >Oooooh. My favourite dream scratchbuild project. But the wingspan is about >>4 feet, and the cheese und kisses says I do it, I die. Sigh. My 1/35-scale WACO CG-4A Hadrian is over three feet in span (I think--it's in a friend's garage at present, so I can't check). It's big, but not ridiculously so (though, as I said, it has to live in a friend's garage). And think how much easier the Zeppelin-Staaken would be to rig in and detail 1/48th scale!. It's definitely on my list. Of course, I have also tried to convince my IPMS club to build a 1/32-scale USS Macon (aircraft-carrying between-wars Zeppelin) complete with a complement of Williams Brothers' Sparrowhawks. We even had a guy in the group that had a couple of airplane hangers. But, men of vision are few and far between in these degenerate days. ------------------------------ Date: 11 Feb 97 From: NPWE28A@prodigy.com ( KENNETH L HAGERUP) To: wwi Subject: RE: Scale Message-ID: <199702120225.VAB101446@mime2.prodigy.com> -- [ From: Kenneth Hagerup * EMC.Ver #2.5.1 ] -- Shane wrote following Matt's missive, > Matt carefully places his ass (US) in the griddle: > > >We came to a *grim* realization > >that there are only a few announced 1/72nd kit releases from the > >"big" companies. This is a crying shame. > > It gets worse. Fewer people are building those that are released == even less > incentive for the companies. > > >I know people have their reasons for building 1/48th, but I do > >*not* want to see the demise of 1/72nd. Do you realise that if > >it wasn't for the "Eastern" European and Russian companies, us > >1/72nd guys would hardly have anything? > > Despite my apparent position in the 1/48th modelling brigade, I still build > some in 1/72. Enough to remember that Rosemont, Pegasus and many others aren't > Eastern European. I suspect taht what you mean is that the Japanese companies > and Revellogram have moved heavily towards the larger scales. > > However, I definitely don't want to see 1/72 go under either. It *still* > provides by far the widest range of subjects, it still has pocket money kits > to start kids on (in fact, I presented 4 to various nephews at Christmas), it > still allows big collections within the confines of a normal home etc .. > > >I do not like this trend. What I would like to see is younger > >blood getting initially into 1/72nd, as well as some of the > >"older" folks go back to this scale. > > I'm going to inflict an enecdote on you all at this point. > > I'm a committee member of the Queensland Model Hobby Expo, which is, if you > like, our equivalent of a "Regional". The competition held at QMHE had a drop > off in aircraft models in 1996, despite a 20% rise in total entries. *Most* of > the drop off was in small scale aircraft. > > At our committee meeting last Saturday, the competition steward broached a > change in categories which would *eliminate* the small scale aircraft classes > and merge 1/72 aircraft with 1/48 in competition. > > This to save money to allow expansion of popular classes (1/35 tanks that > never were, 1/35 tanks that no-one even drew on a napkin, 1/35 german soldiers > pissing on a lamp-post, that sort of frequently moulded stuff) > > But IMHO it would kill off 1:72 stone dead. Given that many 1/72 entries were > from folk who enter both sections (which are restricted to one entry per > person per section), and that others would doubt being able to compete fairly, > I expect we'd see NO 1/72 models :-( > > This was averted only because one member of committee gave QMHE a private > sponsorship for the 1/72 classes > > The same person also sponsored a (new) split of the Junior aircraft awards > into small and large scale classes. > > I think it's way too soon to declare 1/72 dead (it is still very popular in > the UK, and with kids here) but it's rare to see them in competition because > many modellers nowadays expect their masterpieces built for them. They won't > enter a comp without the latest Tamiya kit, Errormaster decals, Jaguar resins, > Eduard brass etc And that combination scarcely exists in 1/72 compared to the > plethora in 1/48 > > >I know all too well the > >cries of lesser dexterity, or failing eyesight. How about > >getting a younger person into our hobby by showing them the joys > >of building first, and what one can do with a 1/72nd job? > > Well I put my money where my mouth is. My brother in law hates me (because my > nephew wants the "right" paints, just like Uncle Shane, and it's costing him a > fortune) but I don't care !!! > > >Okay, fire away. I've got my asbestos underwear on. ;-) > > Aww heck, after agreeing with you an all.... > > Shane Apologies for not pruning this, but I couldn't figure out what to snip. Good points, all. The simple answer is, of course, that companies will manufacture what sells. Leaving aside any further economic theory, I would like to add my own defense of 1/72. I think that the scale is ideal for those of us more interested in the airplane than the model. Matt's and Hustad's masterpiece's aside, 1/48 is a better scale for superdetailing than 1/72. While even a 1/72 cockpit can boast an accurately arranged instrument panel, only in 1/48 and larger can the instruments be read. Switches are usually too small for 1/72, and the best detailed 1/72 cockpit is a balance between what details to include and what to leave out. I tend to go in spurts of interest on related subjects and would be happier with several related subjects competently (subjective, I know) completed than a single, superdetailed replica. As a kid, I too enjoyed the fat that my airplanes, armor and vast armies of Airfix men were all more or less the same scale. A small fleet of boats can also be added with a variety of PT, MTB, E, and tugboats available. Our club, too, has a curious schism as far as scale is concerned. We sponsor a "National Standards" contest once a year with about fifteen categories. There are factions which insist on raising the issue that we ought to combine 1/72 categories because "there are so many more 1/48 modelers in the club". Unfortunately for them, the last two years of the contest have seen hardly any 1/48 aircraft, either because all the modelers so busy superdetailing the cockpits with the correct version of the APN-154 radar beacon control panel and never get them completed, or, everyone assumes there will be a wealth of 1/48 entries and consequently decide not to compete. 1/72 armor is even worse, as poor second cousins to our 1/35 compatriots .. I definitely agree that combining small scale with larger scales in contest is giving an unfair burden to the small scale entry. Even at otherwise well judged contests, size seems to impart a quality all its own. This is especially true at popularly judged contests such as the one in which I saw a 1/32 Tomcat complete with gaping seems filled with tube glue and seemingly painted with a Q-tip (cotton swab to our non-US types) triumphed over very well executed smaller planes. I would much rather see 1/72 categories merged with each other than lumped in with 1/48. After all this whining, I still have to admit that there are more new 1/72 kits announced for 1997 than I'll have time to build. :-) Apologies for the above tome, Ken -- Kenneth Hagerup 11419 South 43rd Avenue Omaha, NE 68123-1073 USA npwe28a@prodigy.com hagerupk@j5.stratcom.af.mil ------------------------------ End of WWI Digest 430 *********************