Friday 15 November 2013

Go Big or Go home?


This weeks post of go big or go home has really got me wondering if I would like to take on a large project. I must admit that the idea of a long term "Big Build" depicting something like Sword beach on D Day or perhaps the town of Arnhem with the paras and Germans in the thick of battle really appeal to me. The only problem that I have is that I fear I would get bored quite early on in the project as my modelling tastes change from project to project. I have been known to switch from a WWII vehicle to a Sci-Fi project and then to a present day figure sculpt in the space of one month! I fear that a long term big build no matter how well intentioned would never get completed and would only serve as a constant annoyance to my fickle modelling tastes. I think in terms of large scale dioramas I am happy to look and marvel at others work and spend a very long time looking at the smallest detail the modeler has painstakingly reproduced in the pursuit of creating a true large scale snapshot of history.

I will however let you all into a secret of mine. A few years ago I was astonished to see the work of a retired Japanese Dentist who has faithfully reproduced a number of WWII war birds in aluminium. I can quite honestly say that I have never before or since seen something as beautiful and accurate as these models. I am fortunate in that I work in a University teaching aerospace engineering and have access to all of tools and materials required to do something like this one day. To date I have accumulated a large folder of information on a Photo Reconnaissance Spitfire that I would love to reproduce in the fine detail that this man has. Of course this would be a very long term project as I don't think I could ever dedicate all of my free time to just one project as he has. You never know, one day I might start it? I have included a selection of photos of this mans work if you have never seen it before below:

If you enjoyed reading this then why don't you click on this LINK and see what the other members of the union have to say on the subject.












3 comments:

  1. I agree it is hard to keep a focus on one project with so many distractions to draw us to other builds etc. Now the model shown here is more a work of art and highlights the true skills of a master modeller....I am in awe of the mans work.

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  2. I guess we never know for certain where embarking on a new project will take us, huge or otherwise. But it's nice to dream...

    ...and those pics are incredible.

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  3. The most astonishing thing for me is that everything on the aircraft (except the engines) actually move and work correctly!

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