Model Forum / General / Models / November 2007

Well, it consumes an hour or two almost every day, usually after a
little work on a model while the paint/glue/putty dries. I get most of
the model magazines, haunt the web sites and go through the catalogs.
When we did the original book there were a few thousand aircraft kits
with far fewer vehicles, figures, etc. Now there are over 16,000
aircraft and tens of thousands of other subjects. Most difficult are
figures. While there are more than 4300 entries in the database, many
are sets including as many as fifty pieces. Mark Levine has helped
tremendously over the years.

Over the last few years there has been a rise in the release of new
kits that is just astounding. In spite of the doomsayers this is
truely a golden age of modeling. The only serious problem has been the
aging of the modeling community while we see few youngsters entering
the hobby. The IPMS Make-and-Take program has been an inspired idea.
Our local chapter has seen scores of kids take part in the program
with several new members and more kids showing up in the hobby shops.

All things come to those who wait. What I am hoping for is a multiple
kit from Academy in their vehicle series. A 1940 Ford staff car with
whatever the hell they want to go with it. I'm good for a half dozen
to modify. If that happens the after-market folks should jump on the
conversion kit bandwagon and I can fill my shelves with '40 Fords. :-)

Tom