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The versatility of the modeling world is
entrancing. And I don't just mean the range
of topics like aircraft, AFVs, dioramas,
figures, SCI
-
FI or looking through scales.
I'm referring now to the way modelers can
come together, have fun, argue, admire, enjoy.
Modeling communities are about friendship,
nudging each other, sharing experiences,
teaching beginners, camaraderie but also
overscaled rivalries and therefore animosities,
resentments, betrayals, words fulfilled or
unfulfilled, diligence and laziness. Art and
clumsiness. In short, scale modeling is
a reflection of the real world, not only in the
scaled-down reproductions we try to create,
but also in all its essence.
The point of view is of course different if
you are a modeler or a manufacturer. Whether
garage based or one with a big company and
worldwide distribution. Yes, certainly our
industry is seen differently by a person for
whom it is a hobby that they sit down to two
nights a week or by someone for whom it is
their daily bread and who is an element in
a system that has to provide work for dozens
or hundreds of employees. And because, as
we have said, modeling is a reflection of the
real world, there is no shortage of rudeness,
backstabbing, theft large and small, parasitism
on the work of others and deception. Of course,
it's up to us to decide how we feel about it,
whether we turn a blind eye to such things or
stand up to injustice.
One of the most striking elements of
modeling diversity is competitions. And
they're not just an opportunity to compare
your skills, they're places to meet, to discuss,
to form communities, and a place to explore
new things, practices, and ideas. For us as
a manufacturer, it is important, even our moral
obligation, to support model competitions. This
can take many forms, the most common being
sponsorship with prizes for competitions.
And to highlight the fact that we and the
organizers focus mainly on junior competitors
would be just “carrying coals to Newcastle”.
Every year we support several dozen
competitions in the Czech Republic and abroad,
some of which we also participate in as
vendors and some of which we organize. Either
as a company or our employees, as members
of some model clubs. Unfortunately, we have
to refuse a similar number of requests for
support of competitions - we do not have the
possibility to support all national competitions
of district level, for example. Concerning
the foreign ones, we mainly support those
where there is some personal connection
or historical experience. We don't ask much
for our support, we have a few fairly simple
conditions, the most demanding of which is
probably the participation of the organizing
club in E
-
Day in the form of a club show
(which of course we don't usually require from
foreign competitions organizers). Participation
in E
-
Day also involves accepting our rules for
club presentations and thus keeping it fair for
all. During last year's E
-
Day, one of the clubs
turned its display table into a sales corner,
which not only led to an unpleasant situation
during the event itself, but also to not receiving
support, in the form of kits, from us for their
fall contest.
If you are an organizer of a modeling
competition, especially in the Czech or Slovak
Republic, do not hesitate to contact us.
We will be happy to support the competition.
Not only with kits and accessories for the
winners’ prizes, we will also publish for free
your competition leaflet in our Info magazine.
We will clarify the rules and conditions in
subsequent communication. However, I want to
mention one of our rules now because it is new
and many contest and exhibition organizers
may not know about it. We have decided NOT
to support such competitions where there
will be any direct participation of AZ model,
Admiral, Kovozávody Prostějov (I do not mean
the original, real ones) companies, or any other
brand associated with Mr. Petr Muzikant.
We believe that dishonesty must be
confronted and things must be called by their
true names. For those who may not know
exactly what I am writing about, what was the
last drop in the proverbial cup in this decision,
I recommend the article on pages 34-36 of the
previous issue of Info.
We will therefore not support those
competitions and exhibitions that are
supported by these brands in any way, or at
which one of Mr Muzikant's companies has
a sales or promotional stand. Please
accept this. We do not prohibit anyone from
cooperating with these companies, we only
define the conditions of our own support.
If any of you have the impression that the
above is related to the reasoning in the first
half of this column, I want to assure you that
your impression is correct.
We look forward to seeing you over the
diversity of the modeling world and at future
contests and model shows!
SCALE MODELS COMPETITIONS AND THE COLORS OF THE WORLD
Text: Jan Zdiarský
INFO Eduard
145
May 2024