Ahem;
Is anyone listening? How about reading? Well, here goes. There was a Museum in my youth that had a display that totally floored me. Of Course it was model ships! Mostly sailing vessels. What floored me is what they were made of.
According to the information Plaque they had been made either by carving or plank on frame out of Bone by Prisoners in French and other prisons over the years. Can you imagine making a ship out of leftover chicken Bones? I can't.
Then I saw another display years later of a double action, Compound engine from a Liberty ship. Geez! Whatta pile of iron and steel! Now this is where it gets interesting. The same type of engine was also on display and still is at the Smithsonian, I think. Took up a whole two floors resulting in machinery in a hole about 40 foot square!
Just think when that was installed they never heard of balsa or plastic models of any kind. Of course you had stick and tissue airplanes. They have been around since DaVinci's time! Model ships and Siege towers? Who knows?
Imagine you are back in the day and you saw the first iteration of a Viking Longship. Would you try to duplicate it in miniature? Someone obviously did. They did this stuff back in old Pharoah Tutmoses time too. I don't think they called it modeling then though. Painting a model back then? How much do you know about Linseed oil and Pigments from natural earth powders?
See! We modern Modelers have it easy. Shoot, Resin, Plastic P.E and More paint than you can shake a stick at. Airbrushes? The cat's Meow! So when we think of a Comet or Strombecker kit we think they are old? Why? When's the last time you picked up an old Boy's Life Magazine and saw an ad within for a COX 049. powered Flying Model Control line Aircraft?
Did you know that at that time there were controls for Model Sailing craft that used basic timing gear for maneuvering? Yeah, Clock work type stuff! When's the last time you picked up an old issue of any model mag and did not see Tamiya ,Hasegawa, Gunze or others .? Just Revell,and Monogram. For wood you had Comet,Strombecker and Bluejacket and a few I cannot remember just now. Oh, and for paint you had Comet Hot Fuel proof Dope and let's see Testors and Pactra, Think about it and see what you can add. Bye T.B. Here's an additional thought. How many of you remember Casein Glue?