One wintry day when I was about 12, my brother Peter invited me down to his house for a 'boys' day'. We settled ourselves around the dining table in the kitchen whilst my Sister-in-law Paula cooked up a storm in the corner. Peter was in the Army Reserve and was quite potty about all things with a military bent.
The plan for the day was to paint model soldiers, those tiny plastic replicas of men, injection molded into fine detail ready to accept Humbrol model paints (tiny tins designed to part a young boy from even more of his pocket money). I suppose it was a way for him to pass on his wealth of knowledge in military history and enjoy his little brother's company.
Thanks to Peter, thus began many years of teenage enjoyment, assembling and painting aircraft, tanks and military figurines from all across the world and throughout history. Sometimes I needed a brush so small you couldn't see the tip that painted the irises of plastic men not much longer than your fingernail.
Most of my high-school buddies shared the same passion and fortunately for them, all were far more talented. 30+ years on and the only souvenir of this time is the tiny French cavalry officer you see above. He stands around 35mm high and reminds me of many hours of fun and frustration in trying to paint almost impossible details on these little guys (probably why I need glasses today).
Craig is the only friend that continued with the passion of scale modelling and he expanded this interest into a one-man business supporting those who may have accepted growing old, but are refusing to grow up. Christine and I made a surprise visit to say hello to him at Sandown Park, where he has a stall at the yearly Model Expo.
Having paid ten dollars each for the privilege of seeing him for a quick cuppa, we decided to get our money's worth by walking around the trestle tables and photographing the 3D artworks on display.
The plastic models of my day were still there: ships, tanks, cars, aircraft and those little men coated in Humbrol paints. They probably made up 80% of the exhibits; but there are new generations of modellers that have been entertained their entire lives by manga, anime and countless incarnations of Treks and Wars on the large and small screens. I think I saw all of the Starship Enterprises, Ripley in that machine that beat the crapper out of the nastiest of Aliens, and more Star Wars figurines that even I, a part-time Sci-fi fan, could name. It is the natural progression of a most satisfying hobby.
The one thing I did find odd, was the amount of boobies offered for ogling in miniature minutiae. Most were clad, some were bare, but none were flat chested. In true Japanese fashion, the manga/anime inspired characters were endowed well enough to set Pamela Anderson to tears. Being a bit of a perv' I did find this quite fascinating and offer you my favourite below. She was in the Fantasy section, although I think she was more in the teenage boy fantasy, rather than Tolkien fantasy genre. With the syringe she was toting I would have put her in the Horror section instead.
Given the fact Peter is laid up in hospital at the moment, I trust things haven't turned Twilight Zoney and he is tended by a Nurse Alice armed with a horse needle (sneaking around in a bikini on all fours, ready to jab him somewhere unpleasant).
Yassou!
Tony
