Large Scale Central

Why?

Modeling
#1

This is supposed to be a hobby and not generate stress but relieve it. Same thing for my firearms related stuff. But there are days when stuff happens that just tends to throw a wrench ithe whole works.

I first noticed it when I started working on firearms as an apprentice for an old master 'smith. People would bring in cobbled firearms butchered elsewhere and we would get the “opportunity” to restore them. Now most weren’t anything other than previously sporterized military stuff or older commercial models. But now and again we’d get some NICE stuff that some one had thought they should “custumyze”.

I remember the pained look in the boss’s eyes when they came in. After working for a while you got the same feelings. Some of those projects almost made ya cry when you saw what some ignorant B@#$&TArd had done to them.

Twas a mighty fine feeling when we would return them to the best possible condition in the shop. Now mind you most of the time they came in by way of someone that had acquired the piece and not directly from the butcherer. These guys understood what had been done, knew they weren’t capable of correcting it properly and wanted the gun restored to its proper conditon, if possible.

Fast forward to trains… I just acquired a set of heavyweight cars off ebay. Got them cheap and knew about the condition before I bought them so I can’t complain about the deal. But as I disassembled them I couldn’t help but wonder.

WHY?

Why the godawful, poorly done paint scheme? Why the sticky tape embossed lettering? Why the cobbled wiring? Why the butchered floors in an attempt to mount power blocks?

We did our learning on small projects and developed skills as we went along before we tackled major projects. Often we redid those little tasks several times to get them right.

I look at this and know my kids could have done a better job at painting. While I can appreciate wanting something of your own creation, but jeeze. No matter when these were purchased they lost their shirt on the cars. I really don’t know how he could have been too proud of it all. Even a 20 foot rule wouldn’t help.

Sigh…well back to the cars.

Andre’

#2

I guess they just don’t watch “Antiques Roadshow.” (I need a shrug smiley)

#3

Andre ,
I sympathise with you over the firearms , they are generally incapable of being cannibalised . (I assume we are still allowed to say “cannibal” , or is it “homomuncher”) so you are stuck with making a silk purse out of a sow’s wotsits .
The poor modeller , however , has the dreadful trap waiting for him when the seller or giver shyly says
“This any use to you ?”
And you have a quick look and unthinkingly reply
"Well , I could use the wheels "
which promptly invites an accusing look and
“Wosswrongwithit ?”
Been there , done that , got the tee shirt , and the bills to prove who was the idiot who didn’t want to upset someone .
Oh , yes , and I have a lot of spare wheels , and bits of car bodies melted by wrong paints , marred by scratch marks and gouges where he just wondered what was inside , unspeakable sticky finger marks in strange places , and other things too disgusting to contemplate–where has he had his fingers ? --and one day , I swear I will be able to use them .
I shall build a layout with a scrapyard as a centrepiece , spray it all brown and rust , and you will all think I spent loadsamunny on it .
I wish
Mike M

ps --why ? us artists have to suffer , that’s why .

Come to think , it’s the same mentality as the bloke who , seeing you working on your car sidles up and says
"er , my car won’t start "
“Yes , I noticed you under the bonnet (yes , hood , we invented them , it’s a bonnet ) ,so what have you been fiddling with ?”
“Me? Nuffin’ , jus’ cleanin’up .”
"Well , you must have touched something "
“Nah , nuffin’.”
“Look , mate , it’s your bleedin’ car , you can do what you like , what did you touch ?”
“NUFFIN”
"Right . I will come and look . "
So you go to the errant machine , and there on the top of the radiator is the rotor arm. And you quietly say to the bloke
“where’s this from ?”
And you see his face go very red , even under the oily stains worn for effect . Recognise the type ? Philistine .

#4

Rotor arm? Wassat? Part of a helicopter?

My friend replaced the entire electrical system of his motorcycle at huge cost, and it still would not start. He asked me to take a look at it.

“Did you check the kill switch?” I asked.

“Of course,” he said.

“Oh,” I said, throwing the switch.

Vroooooommmmmm.

Uh huh.