Psychology of a modeller

From time to time, I say to myself that

it could be interesting to see a well-made

psychological analysis of the animal known

as the „scale modeller “. I have never seen

such a work before, and I have no ability

to create it. So, all I can do is to look for

simple definitions and traits that are able to

describe the modeller.

When I sometimes read modelling forums,

reviews, and the writings of critics etc…or

when I get to listen to modeller’s discussions, I have the feeling that one of most

significant characteristics of a modeller is

to „know everything “necessary to press

his own opinion and perspective. Sometimes, it appears that the only good modeller

is someone who has a definite opinion on

what constitutes an error or mistake made

by his peers/fellow modeller. This isn’t just

restricted to other modeller’s work, but

also about the numerous manufacturers

of plastic kits and accessories (apparently,

it is a well-known fact that manufacturers

are the hobby’s own worst enemy!). Anyway,

I believe it would be unfair to tarnish all modellers by this giving them this label. More

than likely, the truth will be that it is a general human trait that you will see in every

type of hobby. If that’s the case, maybe we

just focus ourselves on that very common

trait, all too much. Who knows?

An interesting and sometimes funny point

of view (especially for the modeller who is

totally absorbed and takes themselves far

too seriously), is how the modeller sees his

own surroundings. Most of what a modeller

perceives is a result of his own interpretations only, yet they sometimes choose to impress that view on other modellers.

I think for most people, the predominant

image of a modeller is an introverted infant, sunk into his own world of paint and

glue. I try to look at these things tolerantly

and understand the unfathomable. Another

I always hear people comment on, is that

INFO Eduard - February 2021

the modeller in question just „sticks to the

little planes“ etc., or in a demeaning fashion that they are absorbed and in ‘their own

little world’. Another view is that every creative person has an element of infantility

about them, and the transformation of his

time and strength into „unnecessary things“

is a waste of time and energy. But most people do not want to see the world through

lescence, or during entry to adulthood and

the eyes of others, thus, a modeler can view

the building of a career or a family.

their own miniature world through their own

I myself returned to plastic modeling

eyes and their own personal interpretation.

some time ago in just this way. However, my

However, I don‘t think that this would be

return was not so straightforward. I have

the right definition of model making - be it

always remained very closely connected

plastic, railway, ship, RC. I estimate that

with aviation and especially aviation history.

behind this hobby will be an age-old male

During all those years, I observed modeling

desire to just build something. I don‘t want

itself as a kind of parallel, from a distance

to relate this to fellow lady-modellers, as

and with respect. In addition, when I bethat‘s not the purpose of this simple stucame part of the Eduard team more than

dy. I just believe that what I‘m describing

13 years ago, I fell straight back into it.

is a characteristic historically given more

Of course, I found myself on the other side

to men. Even in today‘s age of various diof the barricade, so to speak. I started to

gital technologies, from which many of our

deal with scale modeling professionally, but

desires can be filled with the virtual cotton

not as a modeler. Make no mistake, this also

wool of satisfaction, there remains a need

applies to most of Eduard‘s creative perto create something; to transform things

sonalities. Real „practicing modelers“ are

and ideas into something tangible. Not all

usually in the oppressed minority among the

of us can build temples or carve naval ships,

employees of a scale plastic kit company.

for example. In some way, we can turn our

Apart from lack of time, a simple thing such

desires into these small things, or to ‘scaled

as a being unsure of my own abilities, predown things’, for want of a better phrase.

vented me from returning to this hobby. This

However, the desire to create with our own

was because some real gems passed through

hands, an object that will have something of

my hands from our cooperating modellers

us in it, and that we can be proud of, will be

and builders of presentation models, the reable to measure of our art. With our fellow

sults of which I believed I could never hope

friends, this is a basic constant, and reto achieve myself. But in the end, what reamains undiminished. As well as the desire to

lly matters is the joy which modelling brings

transform our never-ending learning, plastic

to the individual; the joy of what we creascale modelling and our interpretation of

te. I didn‘t expect it, but my two sons, who,

a subject, is also such an example.

under the influence of a non-modelling dad,

I see plastic modeling as the essence of the fell in love with model-making and planes.

above, with a need to create, and an ability This brought me to timidly put my own head

to use technological processes, a knowledge above the parapet, and to „cut the plastic“

of various methodologies and their develop- again.

ment, as well as the knowledge and respect

At the same time, I remember the slogan

for the history the subof a British modelling club, which once fasject we are building, or

cinated me in Telford a few years ago, and

that specific era. Last

which is not only a perfect antidote to the

but not least, a senhardcore modelling individual that I wrote

se of both detail and

about above, but which is also an expressiart. Modelling is, in

on that the general modeller is a creature

modern terms, a multhat has a sense of humor and the ability to

ti-technological hobby

look at himself from the outside. I think this

which, if the result is

slogan says what I mean much better than

to be first-class, requiall of my previous chatter, even though you

res great skills, manual

have my respect for reading this far:

dexterity,

extensive

knowledge and the

ability/willingness to WE GLUE WHAT WE LIKE.

constantly learn. This WE LIKE WHAT WE GLUE!

is also perhaps the reason why a relatively

large percentage of

Jan Zdiarský

modellers return to

this hobby at a later

age, after they originally left it in their ado-

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