Cookie;
Regarding your comment in last months issue about the dieing art of scratchbuilding and modeller skills in favour of drop in, add on aftermarket products.
It is not dead! I scratchbuilt a Terrapin Mk I amphibian (British/Canadian DUKW) and entered at the Scale Modellers Contest in Ajax, Ontario this past weekend. For my efforts I was awarded a Silver in the Scratchbuilt 1/35 scale category.
I have been out of modelling for a number of years while serving with the Canadian Army. After I fractured my spine and my subsequent release from the army I needed to find something to do in my spare time as I was no longer allowed to run (Long distance was my hobby, sick I know but it was fun) so back to modelling I came. I picked up my references and old kits I had in storage and started reading all the issues of FSM I had bought years ago and started from there.
So long story short. It paid off and I just wanted to say thanks and to let you and all here know that the original skills are not dead, just not as readily used as they should be.
Cheers;
Gregory