On a Wednesday;
I got to spend time doing something I really achieve a lot of satisfaction in the doing . That was teaching someone one of the skills we as modelers have in some cases just forgotten we know , or just don't do , or when we do , we don't share .
There was a disabled Vet sitting with a curious looking expression at a Model Car he had been given . This was at Audie Murphy Hospital rec . center . I asked him what the problem was .he simply stated ." There's no way I can get the trim on this model to look like the pictures ."
I then told him I would be back in two weeks , Go paint the seats and engine and chassis and I would come back and teach him how to solve that problem . I walked in on the day I promised and he lit up like a brand new lightbulb .
In my hand I had a package of " Bare-Metal Foil " and my personal X-Acto knife with a new blade .I sat next to him and he wanted to know again how we were going to solve his problem .After making sure he was going to build the model in the molded color ( Medium Teal ). This was a thing I had to know .
When he assured me he was I took the package and gave it to him ." What's this ? This is the answer to your problem .I explained to him what the material was and while I was talking, I cut and peeled off a strip for the first Chrome strip on the car .
When I put it on the car the next quiry was " How does it stick " ? I then burnished it down while he watched and I explained and proceeded to burnish the foil down and prepared to trim it .He never took his eyes off me .
His hands were shaking , After I trimmed and finished the first strip he asked " Can I do it ? " When I handed him the knife and foil he again lit up like a very bright bulb .He not only did it he , did it exactly the way I did . Not that my way is the best , but it works for me . Remember , I have shaky hands too .
He did the vent window after I explained how and then the rest of the trim on the car . When I had to leave I left with him showing the rest of the folks how he " Chromed" the car . He was so proud .The feeling of satisfaction ran through me like a wave of the warmth you get from fine Brandy .
That's what teaching , and seeing the results can be . Satisfying ! Try it , You'll like it ! T.B.