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Question: Why do some people feel model ship building needs a wider audience?

Rob Wood said:
I think what matters most is personal satisfaction. That's going to be purely a matter of individual standards. I was 10 years old when I built my first model ship - a plastic kit of the USS Arizona. I think I got more glue on my fingers than on the parts. But I was wildly thrilled with the finished product, even with all of its flaws. All I can say is that my second ship was better than the first, and so on. And I'm still building and restoring model ships, 67 years later. Everybody starts somewhere, and gets as far as they get. But all effort should be lauded, and support offered. My 2 cents.
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I agree, but a 3D ship on a computer screen is no more a model ship than a photograph or painting of her!
 

“Why do some people feel model ship building needs a wider audience?”​

We seem to have drifted into “How (why?) can we get more people doing the hobby?”

Is it the case that the only reason for having a bigger audience is to recruit more modellers?

Do I want a bigger audience for my models? I’m not sure.

I definitely need an audience of at least one person. I know this because when I finish a ship/aircraft/figure I usually show it (or give it) to those of my friends who I know are interested. I don’t want to put them on display to the general public though. What would be the point?

On line, I show my wares to fellow hobbyists but I wouldn’t want to go on TV with a model for my 15 seconds of fame.

Would you ever build a model, or anything really, and not show it to someone who you know will tell you it’s great? The approval of others is something that most of us crave, maybe all of us.

Hm, perhaps a bigger audience leads to more modellers leads to more forum members leads to more ‘likes’.

I’m just thinking out loud really. This thread certainly provokes that. :D
 
Rob Wood said:
I think what matters most is personal satisfaction. That's going to be purely a matter of individual standards. I was 10 years old when I built my first model ship - a plastic kit of the USS Arizona. I think I got more glue on my fingers than on the parts. But I was wildly thrilled with the finished product, even with all of its flaws. All I can say is that my second ship was better than the first, and so on. And I'm still building and restoring model ships, 67 years later. Everybody starts somewhere, and gets as far as they get. But all effort should be lauded, and support offered. My 2 cents.
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2 cents?? that was worth $2.00:cool:
 
I agree, but a 3D ship on a computer screen is no more a model ship than a photograph or painting of her!

i agree with that but it is not about the model real or Virtual Reality it is more about the creative process a painting or drawing or a model or a computer generated 3D model it is all a form of creative art.
 
shipbuilder said:
Why was it depressing? And why was it not entirely accurate? It never depressed me, and I just accepted low prices in the same way I accepted ridiculously high prices at auctions. The last model I sold, I told my client how much it was, and he actually complained it was not high enough. I just said that was what I was asking for it, and if he wanted to pay more, I would be grateful. He paid me 1 1/2 times more! (on top of my asking price). I sold this one privately in the late 1990s for £400. It showed up years later in a London auction house where it sold for just over £3,800. That didn't bother me either!

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I think the comment 'if not entirely accurate' was in the sense of 'It's depressing, but, it is entirely accurate'. The phraseology being intended to emphasise the accuracy.
 
Roger Pellett said:
Advancing participation: A while ago Model Expo ran an ad in Smithsonian Magazine. It was tasteful and avoided the more annoying aspects of the commercialized end if the model ship building hobby; pirates, yo ho heave ho, etc.

More importantly Model Expo obviously spent their money introducing model to the demographic who might actually buy model kits; mature well educated people with disposable income.

If we need to increase participation, and I still see no reason why we should or need to than it’s companies like Model Expo who are best equipped to do it.

Gold Standard: I generally enjoy Dave Stevens’s posts, but in this I think that he’s describing the Elephant by only touching one leg! The dockyard type model might be the gold standard for the Seventeenth Century Warship genre but does that mean that a highly detailed, historically accurate steamship model will always be second class?

Modeling Stuff: Thanks to the internet, quality tools and materials have never been more available. Sadly, tools aimed at ship modelers often don’t measure up to those sold to other trades; jewelers, watchmakers, etc. Do we need to increase participation in order for someone to invent tomato - animes download an improved Loom a Line?

Roger
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Do we need to increase participation?
 
Jimsky said:
Really?
I appreciate your point, but I must respectfully disagree. It’s not about simply pointing out mistakes in kits — it's about how the attitude is often presented. When some scratch builders repeatedly emphasize the "shortcuts" and "lack of research" in kits, or even compare kits with " paint by numbers," it can unintentionally come across as dismissive toward kit builders, even if that’s not the intention. There’s a fine line between offering constructive advice and giving the impression that kit building is somehow a lesser form of the craft. Whether someone builds from scratch or a kit, we should recognize the skill, dedication, and passion involved in both paths, each with their challenges and rewards. Check out this post:

an idea to reach more audiences

What do you think about the idea of making a TV program to spread modeling to a wider audience... The masters who are here and have free time can give lessons and practices about modeling... It can also be a source of income for this forum that we are members of... What are your thoughts?
shipsofscale.com
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you are so right. sorry that I have lost the good contact i had with you a few years qgo, but this is now apperenly lost- el capi
 
Why do we need a bigger audience?

Like many other hobbies, that are hands on building skills, they are being forgotten and overlooked by todays youth who want to play games on screens and don't want to take time to get involved in old hobbies that "dad liked."

This is but one of multiple hobbies I enjoy are seem are all but slowly dieing out from lack of new young blood.

Look at how many new members are "old farts" getting back into the hobby.

Getting a bigger audience helps to keep the hobby growing and business and industries that support it in business.

Just my nickel worth of thoughts, as they stopped making pennies in the USA.
 
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