[B)]Models are a piece of art not toys..OR NOT?...

I tell my family that my hobby is a great stress reliever. Some people read, some work-out in a gym to relieve stress. I build models. Plus, I tell them that it gives me a sense of accomplishment. I never had anyone destroy my collection, but I can sure sympathize with you.

WHOA! Sorry to hear about the heinous attack on your collection, guy.

I personally never had a problem along those lines, my Dad and I shared the hobby. My Mom & Sisters never really joked me too much, only when I deserved ribbing for something else I had done!

I think they realized that I took it fairly seriously, and the fact that my Dad was also a modeler just lent further "legitimacy" to the hobby in their eyes. Plus, I make it known (sometimes unpleasantly so) that I am not pleased when someone does something that shows total disregard for the physical condition of anything I own, including the models.

I don't tolerate folks who don't know how to handle things with care. A couple of times when I was younger I reamed my Sisters out for accidentally damaging my built-ups. I felt bad after, 'cuz I usually had them in tears, but I got my point across. Nowadays, I'm more diplomatic and have learned to use words rather than simply shouting at someone.

I suggest that you try to explain in a very stern but calm manner that regardless of what they think, it's YOUR stuff. Another favorite tactic I've used on people is to turn their argument around on them. Find out if they have a hobby and start to trash talk 'em about it. When they get all hot and bothered, reverse again and say that your models are no different.

Show them the work of some REAL masters out there. The guys who do this stuff for a living. Whether or not YOU aspire to reach the same level that some of these guys have done, it may convince them that it's not just a hobby for kids. It's also an outlet for creativity and artistry, just like any other artist or craftsman.

Finally, if you cannot get them to see it your way, then they simply have a problem of some sort and there's nothing you can do. Any rational individual will accept any and all non-detrimental behavior (no matter how weird!) of any sort on the part of their loved ones, including "playing with their toys".

Fade to Black...

The only thing that matters is that it was your stuff -no matter what it was. I agree with blackwolfscd about talking about it with family members firmly but calmly. Explain about how long it took you to build an finish them and destroying them or letting them be destroyed was just disrespectful to your feelings.

If that doesn't work I suggest you rent an offsite storage space.

As a teenager, I think my parents were quite glad I was home building model planes and not out drinking, doing drugs, or getting any girls pregnant. The is true today being married!

I think this gives some legitemacy to our hobby. My parents kept all my old models for me.

Its a simple matter of respect and courtesy to you private property. Period.

Hobbies are something just about everybody does, I don't know why some people trivialise the hobbies they don't partake in themselves.

Outside of modeling, I collect coins and stamps, am trying to learn a couple of other languages and get a bit of reading and guitar practice in when I can. Modeling is the only one of those hobbies I've ever got any kind of response suggesting I "grow up" when somebody sees me doing it. I see no difference between building a decent model and restoring an old car or plane in real life. Would you drag a nail on a freshly restored Deusenberg or take wire cutters to the rigging of a newly restored Sopwith Camel? Hell no! Why? because you recognize the historical value of the item and the effort and expense invested by the restorer.

My mother does needlepoint and cross stitch embroidery as a hobby, Do I make fun of her because I don't do that, no, beacause I see the work put in and the end result and can appreciate it.

Be diplomatic, but lay down the line, if they can't respect it, they should be able to respect you when you say "Keep your hands to yourself!"

I still think there's still a lot of work to convince people that scale modeling is art. I do a lot of work with artists, or people who pretend to be artists anyway, and sometimes what they consider art and try to convice other people what art is is just cr..p. I think we all suffer from what I call the 'Airfix' syndrome. Airfix certainly helped popularize scale modeling, and I would say mostly towards a youngish, male public. But art is an elitist thing. I do not think model kits are meant to be art stuff. But it's the modeler who is the artist, changing a lump of plastic into something that is a very close representation of a real object. Building an Airfix kit in 2 hours, with just a tube of glue and two tins of Humbrol paint is no art. Unfortunately, in the arts nowadays, replicating what you see, i.e. painting a landscape, a portrait, sculpting a bust, is not 'in' anymore. That's why you rarely see the local artist group exhibiting in major galeries. Nowadays, art must be innovative, challenging. It does not need to be a representation of the world we live in. I think this allows a lot of con-artists to get away with lots of publicity, lots of public funds, and the space in major galeries. Nobody will dare saying their art is cr.p... I think this affects our hobby and how people see it and us!

Am I going anywhere with this? Or am I making a fool of myself. I feel very 'hot' about this subject and I'm not sure I'm expressing myself very clearly..! Oh well, I tried!

Yes you are going somewhere.

I whacked my head against the wall for six years after graduating college with a graphic arts diploma to get the job I've got.

I had to "pound tha pavement" against ligitimate artists, people who came by their artistic talent naturally, veterans to the field who already had secured their position of trust , then there were those con artists who thought if they could draw a stick person they could call themselves artists, and they were getting work! }:-(

Models can be as much a work of art as you want them to be, even the old AIrfix stuff.

Models are what you make of them, If you want toys, buy toys. If you want replicas of things you only wish you could see in real life, build a model.

The IPMS chapter where I live used to put out little posters on their tables at shows. The poster had a picture of a beautiful F-14 Tomcat on an equally beautiful carrier deck section. The caption read: "Some people think models are toys, but we ask you, would you push THIS across the floor and go 'vroom'?"

The truth is some people just can't see past the tips of their own noses no matter what you do, they live in one of those "Me, me,me all the time" worlds. and don't care who they hurt or screw over to please themselves.

Hey there thyamis, sorry to hear about that atrocity. Like has already been mentioned, they were your property, and no one had any buisness messing with them.. Tell you what, e-mail me your address, and I'll mail you a Revell 1/48 P-51 Mustang kit. Good luck!
Lee

Just like blackwolf,my father and I share the love of building. Actually my family and my girlfriend think that it is AWESOME to what he and I do. They back us 100% (poor things LOL :-) ).
I never experienced anybody using my models as lawn darts, targets ect, but I know how one would feel after working on a piece.
Now for those who get on me about building I simply say "Here you try this" 9 out 10 times they back off.
We all have are own hobbies(model building, gardening and reading ect ect ect), WE LOVE WHAT WE DO AND DO WHAT WE LOVE. Flaps up, Mike

Art or not, those models were your personal possessions and as such deserved to be respected like anything else you own. Destroying your models is no different than destroying your TV or clothing or anything else (aside from the fact that you put your heart into BUILDING those models yourself! Which should command even more respect!). Regardless of what your family members thought of your hobby or "maturity," at the very least they should have afforded you the common courtesy of not destroying your stuff.
Was it a case of the kids just getting into your stuff unsupervised (kids will be kids!), or did an adult say, "Here, knock yourselves out with your Uncle's toys. He won't mind." ?
If it's the former, maybe your family was simply trying to clumsily justify the destruction with the "time to grow up" angle.
If it's the latter, I think you need to explain to them the importance of respecting other people's property, regardless of their personal opinions.

Damned shame about your models. Mine suffered some damage when I served my first hitch in the Army, but it was from a curious little brother, and not intentional. I showed him how to repair the damage-after I counted a long ten- and got him hooked on cars, dinosaurs and ships. He still builds today- and we're talking about 30+ years ago. The items were your property, and NO one should be telling you what to pursue in your leisure time.If prompted again about growing up, just point out your recent military service as evidence and politely tell everyone to stuff it. Stay with model building-it's a great stress reliever and built-in lesson in patience, time managment and self-determination. Hang in there!

Oh, why do you bring up such painful memories?!? My very first model built was of a Spitfire at age 6...(I'm sure it looked it too!). Needless to say, my sister, aged 5 decided to flight test it in the house! Ten years later, my brother decided to "clean out the garage" and trashed ALL of my "yet to be built" kits! Now I protect my models fiercely! I want to instill that in my son as well. As was mentioned over and over, it's respect for someone elses property, regardless of the item. How 'bout making the little vermin pay for the models?

Thanks guys nice to hear some nice words.
I think I got the solution. The models are not under key and lock, I think this is the correct expression isn;t it?
I forced my dear brother to make on model himself, and he just realised the amount of work that needs to be invested.
cheers

Definitely not toys but you will be hard pressed to convince others of that.

I'm an aviation nut,a romantic about it and also am the same about WW2. Sometimes at night with just the right amount of light, mood and perhaps a beverage or two, I see Adolph Galland getting into one of my Bf-109's or Butch O'hare climbing out of a F4F3. I tell everybody that I model HISTORY and thats exactly what it is. But to no avail. One of the ' Grande Dames' of the neighborhood once asked my wife if I hung my models from the ceiling of our bedroom. Can you imagine? So I've learned to roll with the punches and ignore the superior smiles. I don't care cause I can sometimes smell exhaust fumes or hear the whine of a starter. Just don't tell anybody about it.

Enjoy.
TEise

I have been building plastic models for the past 30 years. My first model was a 1:32 lysander that I built for my son who now flies Helicopters for the army. I currently have 200 models on display in my hobby area each one of which I would never give up. I realize that most people do not appreciate the amount of time and money invested in this hobby but I would not give it up for anything, a completed model gives me a feeling of pride and self worth. Your nephews attitude need adjusting.

ive had that happen. 2 years ago, my dads friends stupid kid came over and destroyed my measly collection of about 5 models. Now, although i have time cause im in grade 9 and am 14 years old, i just dont have enough for an airbrush, although i have all the other tools. My first model was a revell 1/72 rf4, which wass destroyed when my parents chucked it cause the little windows were too small to glue.