The use of the term 'model' in the context that we know it goes back at least as far as the British Admiralty in the 1700's (or possibly earlier, with the Dutch).

Of course, the models themselves have been found in places like ancient Egyptian tombs...but I don't know what they called them...and probably couldn't pronounce it, If I did.

Model is a common word in the English language. In the automotive industry, it can refer to the type of vehicle a company makes, i.e. Ford Mustang and Ford Taurus are two different models made by Ford.

In the fashion industry, it refers to a person who wears clothing for others to see. Tyra Banks or Niaomi Cambell are examples of these types of models.

Model trains are miniature working trains that ride on scale representation of train tracks.

In our hobby of scale modeling, models are representations of items that a builder assembles from a collection of parts. These model kits can be of various scales. Some vintage hand guns were released as 1:1 scale. Armor models are most commonly 1/35 scale.

Miniatures are represenations that are smaller than the original. In candy bars, Hersey Miniatures are small, bite sized candy bars that are smaller than full sized candy bars.

In scale modeling miniatures are small figures that are painted.

Also there are architectural models. Scale representations of a planned structure, complex, or facility.

Hello!

The way I understand it model is something you work with when working with the real thing is impossible, impractical or undesirable, so you work with a model instead. It's this way with mathematical models, architectural models or even with fashion models! Our display or RC models are this way too - putting a collection of real WWII tanks in your home might be undesirable in many ways, so you work with models instead.

Then again real tanks (and jet fighters, and aircraft carriers) have also been called toys by some people, so maybe it's not that bad...

Have a nice day

Paweł

  People who call models "toys" are folks who in my opinion have no interest in the greater world around them.

    Modeling helps people understand math, tech drawings, ratios,...yea also math oops..., hand eye co-ordination, and many other things. Models also can bring history to life, as well as the unimaginable into reality, science fiction to science fact.

     Yes some of our models look like toys so what.....atleast we built them ourselves, developed skills, and maybe made a few friends along the way. Plus learned alittle about the greater world along the way.

A model is a very beautiful lady who you can wake up next to every morning for the rest of your life.

WARNING!

Beauty is skin deep. Ugly goes to the bone!

Yeeech!  I've never used any sort of math in any of my plastic kits.  It was my escape from classwork back then.  

armornut

  People who call models "toys" are folks who in my opinion have no interest in the greater world around them.

You do realize model kits have long been considered toys with many beginner kits basically being toys that a child assembles and then can play with? Revell Star Wars kits from the Force Awakens, the Last Jedi and Solo have sounds and go together in just a few minutes. Push a button and the ship makes the pew pew sounds.

 No sir I had not thought of that when I made my post. I will return to just reading now verses being an active member. My sincerest apologies for being misunderstood.

armornut

 No sir I had not thought of that when I made my post. I will return to just reading now verses being an active member. My sincerest apologies for being misunderstood.

 

Even a model of the Millennium Falcon, there's simple snap together toys by Revell for $20, high end ones by Bandai and Fine Molds worth around $100 and even the perfect scale model subscription by DeAgostini ($20 per issue, 100 issues, so I guess $2000 for the complete kit).

They are all model kits of the exact same subject, but some are toys and some are definitely not.

Rob Gronovius

 

 

armornut

  People who call models "toys" are folks who in my opinion have no interest in the greater world around them.

 

 

 

You do realize model kits have long been considered toys with many beginner kits basically being toys that a child assembles and then can play with? Revell Star Wars kits from the Force Awakens, the Last Jedi and Solo have sounds and go together in just a few minutes. Push a button and the ship makes the pew pew sounds.

 

stikpusher

When I was a kid, my friend's older brother had Renwal armor kits, a whole lot of them. To me they were awesome. He took a couple down to show me, but I couldn't touch them. The one that caught my eye was the Ontos. I wondered why he didn't play with them in the sand box with us, or at least let us use them. We'd give them right back! lol

I was probably under the age of ten, he was either in high school or just out of high school, so early 70s. I bought that Ontos in the Revell box during my freshman year in college (82-83). I still have it, but have never played in the sand box with it.

A German Field Marshall in WW2.

This post really bugs me, because I've heard this alot.  Models are not and will never be considered a toy by me.  A toy such as a rc helicopter is only for recreational fun, where as a model is for a realistic representation of a historical or famous subject or object.  A toy only needs a toystore and a couple of dollars.  On the other hand, a model needs years of experience, patience, and plenty of skill. (And maybe a couple of drinks;) And finally, a toy is meant to be played with and destroyed, where as a model is meant to be on a shelf to display it elegance and not to be played with.  I could go on this for days, but I just wanted to show a little bit between  a toy and a model.

-Noah

Noah

A toy only needs a toystore and a couple of dollars. On the other hand, a model needs years of experience, patience, and plenty of skill. (And maybe a couple of drinks;)

What has always amused me is that people who find 'collecting' entirely rational...whether it's old stamps, Beanie Babies or ceramic figurines...somehow see the 'experience and skill' part added to the equation, and suddenly think it's descended into something juvenile.

I guess it falls into the category of "If you have to ask me to explain...then you wouldn't understand the answer, anyway."

[And Noah, don't let it bug you. Get the best revenge of all: build something!]

The difference between men and boys is the difference in the price of their toys.

I would say that not all toys are meant to be destroyed, although they are meant to be played with. And not all models are scale models of serious representation. 

And lastly I’ll put forth another type of scale model, the “working” model. In this case, the wind tunnel model used to observe aerodynamics of a design under scientific conditions.

I can think of very little about which I care less, no offense. Yes, my first really in depth hobby was toy trains, and that certainly is a category.

I'd spend time at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair if ever given the chance.

I suppose the translation of spielware is gaming piece.

And to be honest sometimes they go the other way, the model isn't always smaller than the real thing: aka an atomic model is much, much bigger than the actual thing. Same though less so with a model of a cell. 

Sorry, guess it's neither here nor there but I had to toss it in... 

Excellent point.

And in fact a model of a molecule is not a true scale model at all.

Gamera

 an atomic model is much, much bigger than the actual thing. 

 

Nobody thinks if an atomic model when you say you build models.  Just sayin :)

Rob Gronovius

Model is a common word in the English language...

It can also be an abstract thing, too, a description of a system, a process, an idea.  A model can help to teach people about something.

Noah

 

 

Gamera

 an atomic model is much, much bigger than the actual thing. 

 

 

 

 

Nobody thinks if an atomic model when you say you build models.  Just sayin :)

 

Unless you're really wierd... 

GM: Yeah, same as models of the solar system- both are mostly empty space. 

yes, I think Brad stated it pretty clearly too.

Bill