Hi Ya'll;
Do you like building Models? How about Miniatures, or Toys? How about Three dimensional Representations? Oy! That's a lot of labels ain't it? I don't have a dictionary available so I am going on stuff I have heard since I picked up a piece of wood and carved it into a boat shape and threw it in the Creek to watch it float about!
What are they really? One time I had a well respected person in the employ of a Museum tell me they were "Miniatures of Technology" and in his opinion, a smaller version of visible History!! I guess if you think about it that's true! Think on this. You are a King or Queen in 14,15,16,17th century wherever. You want either a new, More Defendable castle or Royal residence and or, maybe A seagoing Vessel to voyage and Enlarge and Enrich your Country! The Privy council then interviews those capable of doing this. They Bring to the council a Little construct, maybe that looks all the world like a Miniature. If it's a ship, they present a small hand carried representation of what they can build, Hoping to make the Sheckels, Dinars, or Pounds necessary to build it, at a sweet profit as well.
Yes, They were all that and still are. Now for the toys part. Many folks that are so wrapped up in Sports or Sporting endeavours(Fishing, Hiking, ) particularly, and all. They see what we sit at a bench and create as toys. Something to build and give to our children for play! Why? Well, as we all know there all types of folks. Some that like to push themselves Physically, day after day to achieve what's considered a certain accepted appearance.Or they like to Sit, engrossed in Music of all types and do nothing else. But!!! The other side of the coin is more fascinating!
There many who like either History of military actions, the machines involved or just little vignettes of life around them created by themselves or others. They like to tell the story of this Pilot, this Ships crew, or this tank Commanders duties. So they build a model of this person's machine. They are creating, and at the same time, they forget, they are building a History lesson in three dimension for everyone to admire. Getting the satisfaction in the oohs! and aahs! of the viewers of the finished item.
Building models, is a flowing, living Pursuit of the idea you can create in miniature what you've seen in life. A living pursuit? Oh, you Bet! Folks build and change and modify and it flows down each line to tell stories, Whether it's a Diorame or one single piece (Tank, Plane , Ship, or Figure) from history, everyday life, or a favorite Game. That's why it's called a hobby, Model building is like a fine painting though. Why? Because you can visualize the builders angst in getting it right and seeing strangers, hopefully, viewing it in a good light!
I could go on, But I think I made my point, Model On!!