So this past weekend I went to my first modeling event since returning to the hobby last year. I went to the annual APMS meet in Atlanta Georgia. While it was cool to see many of the builds on display being judged, and I did pick up some stuff to add to my stash, I also noticed somethings that kind of connected the dots on the some recent threads I’ve seen on here with talk about the younger generation and where the future of the hobby is heading. I myself am pretty young; I just turned 31 the beginning of this month, so I know for what seems like a large majority of the crowd in modeling puts me a good 30 or so years behind most. Now this weekend I witnessed why I think most of the younger crowd isn’t getting involved, and that is why would younger folks what to get involved in the hobby when the old timers act so rude? Now it doesn’t bother me, I have thick skin so I just brushed it off, but I mean quite literally the old timers were rude. I myself got a lot of strange looks because I was definitely one of the younger ones there. Instead of being greeted and welcomed, I got the cold shoulder by most. Literally when I walked in and was approaching the registration desk all I received was stern looks from the older gentleman sitting behind it, so let’s be honest, that’s not very inviting to younger folks thinking of getting into this. As I walked between the rows in the room with the vendors I was respectful as I could constantly saying excuse me, but time and time again all I received was grumpy looks from every old timer when it appeared i may have been standing in their way… again this isn’t inviting.
In the room with the actually builds being judged, I overheard two guys talking over a Bergpanther, that in my opinion was exceptionally done. The one thing they pointed out it was “lacking” the proper amount of suspension sag in the rear, they mentioned nothing of how well the detail work was, and how it was weathered beautiful. All I could think was if someone new to modeling, was to be standing their hearing this, it’d probably turn them off from ever attempting to get involved in a show.. I get it when it comes to shows, we strive for accuracy, but if this is what people are going to ding, I feel its splitting hairs.
The point of this is directed towards the older folks, and of course maybe this was just this area, maybe it’s not like this in other regions, but for the sake of the hobby, which I’d like to see grow, especially amongst the younger ones, let’s make sure we are inviting to the young ones! Spread the word, be inviting, make people want to be involved, don’t come off as cold and unapproachable!
I’m just a younger guy taking note of what I witnessed this weekend. Like I said I have thick skin and I don’t sweat it, but it doesn’t mean everyone else will. We wonder why the “millennials” don’t build models, maybe it’s because the old timers are making people shy away from it. The next time you’re at your LHS, and you see a youngin, make an effort to be inviting, engage them in a conversation! Food for thought fellas.. food for thought.
Millennial modeler
Air Force vet (2006-2012)
Recently completed: 1/48 Tamiya V1
On the bench: Hasegawa 1/8 Clerget 9B rotary engine, 1/35 scale Trumpeter SA-2 Guideline missle