What is Modeling ?

Good points.

Well written, Gary.

LOL you didn't expand on that third direction in modeling. When I first started including the internet with my other modeling resources, I was amazed how much sort of related to that came up in my searches...

One thing you talked about that struck a particular note is the discrepancy between presentation of a true miniature compared to a miniature that looks like the true thing. There are similar considerations in two dimensional art. I draw quite a bit because it was the foundation of my education, both technical and artistic. At this point I teach others more than I draw on my own, and I often have a conversation with an employee or student that goes like this:

GM- This needs more work. It doesn't really sell the idea or come across as particularily attractive.

Drafter-But I can assure you that everything is absolutely correct, to scale and in the right color.

GM- perhaps (doubt it), It doesn't look like something I'd want to be in/ around.

Drafter- If I make the changes you describe, we would be lying.

GM- We can deal with that problem later.

Hello!

I like it a lot, a pure philosophical question...

There are a lot of models - architectural models, mathematical models, 3D models.

A model is a representation. And this representation is at the same time, out of necessity a simplification. If there wasn't any simplification then we would have a duplicate, and not a model. So a model is a representation, focusing on a chosen aspect of the real thing. A scale model if focusing on the looks of the real thing, letting go on the function, or the physical properties of the real thing - like we don't require our tanks to have scale weight.

Or the mannequin is a model of a human focused on the fit of the clothes, while the crash test dummy also represents a human, but focusing on the behaviour of the body during the crash. Both types of models don't need and don't depict realistic facial features.

And when we build our models we get to choose what simplifications we do in our models. Do we concentrate on the function of the machine, or on the paint scheme and historical background? Do we make shaded seam lines, or interior? It's up to the builder and what he is trying to convey.

A museum as described by TB sure would be a cool thing to see.

Thanks for reading and have a nice day

Paweł

When I was young, my dad did a lot of weekend shifts at the airport. He worked in the engineering department at UAL. Sea of workstations. We'd be the only people there.

They all had little aircraft models on bases, giveaways from manufacturers sales reps.

One Saturday morning, with nothing else to do, I went around and collected 50-60 of the things. I took them into the largest conference room and made a model airport, using bound manuals for terminal buildings.

When i showed Dad, his eyes got pretty big, but then he laughed.

Your post is good reading TB, and also reminded me of a couple childhood experiences. Growing up in the Hampton Roads area, there were plenty of military subjects at hand - Armed Forces Day was a very big deal! One of my favorite school field trips was the Mariner's Museum; the model ships were just incredible to my young eyes and they probably would still be just as impressive.

The other standout memory is the wind tunnels at NACA Langley AFB. My dad was an Aero Engineer there and I remember seeing lots of models there for testing, including the Bell X-1. As Pawel said, they were purpose built, but seeing them mounted up in front of the huge fans was a something I'll never forget. Amazing how powerful our modelling memories can be.

I seem to recall, that waaaaayyyyy back in time,  An Inventor had to make a "Working" miniature of whatever he wanted a Patent for. Some of those "Patent Model's " were truely Jewel's of enginering. FULLY FUNCTIONAL !!

There were also "Salesman  sample's ". If you wanted a  Case  Threshing machine, you first had to have a look at the miniature machine (  which, in this case, was over 4 feet long and about 20 inch's tall.)

 A few more example's ....( just cause I "KNOW" you wanr ro see em... )

One last one..... just for you "Artillery Guy's".

It's a patent model of a  U.S. Navy Howitzer.

As a USCG Controlman 1st Class ((E-6), I served aboard USCGC CONFIDENCE (WMEC 619) in Kodiak, AK; USCG Base Milwaukee, WIl and USCGC VIGOROUS (WMEC 627) in New London, CT.  CONFIDENCE and VIGOROUS were sister ships.  When I was stationed at Base Milwaukee, I purchased some plans to make a model of the CONFIDENCE.  After I received orders to the VIGOROUS, I cut out keels and frames to make a pair of models in 1/96th scale. Shortly after reporting to VIGOROUS, I started working both models when we were under way on patrol.  After about a year, I had the hulls planked and some of the superstructure built.  During one of the patrols, I had to give an all hand's lecture on the ship's watertight compartments - so I marked all the water tight decks and bulkheads on the hulls of my models and passed them amomg my ship mates.

My F-in-L left the military after VE day. His last overseas posting was the Piaggio airfield at Pontaderro in Italy.

Industrious Italians made sand cast molds of USAAF aircraft from the rubber identification models used to teach the AAA crews what not to shoot at. Poured melted aluminum into the molds.

I have a box of the things, it'd take a lot of work to make them presentable.

Oh My Gawd !Little Timmy ,

 Where'd you find all those ? Were they taken at the U.S. Patent museum ? You are right though .To get a patent you had to submit the plans , notes and a working model ! T.B.

We formed a new modeling club about twenty years ago.  We wanted to cover all genres.

We tried to contact model railroaders and miniaturists in the new club, with personal contacts and flyers.  We didn't generate much interest from these groups.  There is a shop in the area that specializes in miniaturist stuff, and I check out their stock every so often.  And, I certainly frequent the model RR isles of my LHSs.

 And, if you are ever in the Chicago area, check out the bottom floor of their art museum, where they have an exhibit by an ace miniaturist of buildings of an English town.  Superb!