How Do We Get More Junior Modelers Involved?

I believe that sites like this one here at FSM is going to do nothing but help. The friendly and helpful attitude displayed by the membership here is second to none. Remembering that this is still a forum in its infancy, its rapid growth and positive feedback is a testimony to its membership. I have posted to other modelling forums, there are only 2 that I will now regularly visit and participate in. Both display the positives that make this hobby so much fun. Other forums I have visited do not, they forget the 2 key words...hobby...fun. By helping each other here we all grow and through this growth we will attract more members who will participate. They will want to participate because we are not going to trash their models because it only has 1,764 rivets instead of the required 1,765 that were on the original.
Continue to support, continue to praise, for every small criticism give tons and tons of credit.
We will grow in numbers and in quality.

You bring up some very valid points demono69, but you may have partially answered your own question.

According to the numbers there are over 15,000 people world-wide who are interested enough in models to sign up for these forums. That in itself is very encouraging. Even though they may not be posting they are a part of these forums and are gaining knowledge from the members that are posting (hopefully) And as they are gaining knowledge and NOT spending time posting we must assume that they are using that time for what it was meant for - building models.

These forums are great but they are just another tool to use to get people into modeling. Even though people may not be posting, how many of the 'lurkers' are being encouraged and getting excited about building models again and trying out new techniques. We can't measure the growth of the hobby simply by how many people are posting in these forums. This is something that we will never be able to quantitatively measure but make no mistake about it, these forums are making an impact. And as these people finish a model or two with help from the vocal few they will begin to feel more comfortable and more qualified at helping out others as well. As shermanfreak mentioned, these forums are still very new and the rapid growth proves that there is still an interest in modeling and it is still very much alive.

One way to keep these forums growing is simply keep on doing what we are doing. Namely, keeping the forums clean and profanity-free. Make sure that we are very sensitive to new members and not post any insensitive or inflammatory remarks (remember - there is no such thing as a stupid question). And above all - Have Fun!!! Enthusiasm is the most contagious thing in the world - and it will rub off!!

Ray

Shermanfreak and haylomghair are right on target. A better question to ask is how many of the forums members have learned something new? If you will look at the number of members who read the topics, it would be around 75% more than respond. As time goes on you will find more members responding to topics. As the old saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink".

In our area we used to have a local hobby shop. On Saturday would be a "Build and keep day". Members of our local model club would buy a "Model of the week" and donate it to the young modelers in our area. We would spend the day at the hobby shop helping out the young kids. The rule was you had to build it yourself. All supplies were donated by the hobby shop and in the long run most of these kids would come back and spend money buying more models or supplies. Now some of those young modelers are now older modelers that got started because of our efforts. There are many ways to get young people interested in model building. It just takes time and effort from the clubs in that area. It isn't going to happen unless someone organizes it and gets others involved.

Enough of my philosophy.

I wish to thank all of you for your input. I also understand that we are here to help others, and it is my wish that I've at least helped one or two.

Perhaps I phrased the question inaccurately. What I meant is that how can we as hobbiest get others more involved in the hobby in general? Not necessarily in the forum or website, but overall?

A little background: I don't know how many are from "small town" midwest USA, but there's nothing much here, as far as the hobby goes. The last time somebody here tried to start up a model club, after 6 years, all 5 members began to fight amongst themselves over what kit medium was best. Quite sad, actually.

I am in the process of trying to start a new club here, but resources in this area are few and far between. Honestly, most people here think the best place in town to purchase models is Wal-Mart (HORROR!) We have a Hobby Lobby here, but they only stock beginners kits, and if you ask for special orders, they mostly refuse, because they don't sell well. It's very frustrating having to order kits made in Missouri online from Utah because nobody in Missouri knows who they are. Enough of this, though.

Any more suggestions on how to generate more interest in the community as far as modeling?

demono69

We used to get 5 or 6 modellers together and put on shows in the mall, at airshows, and at veterens functions. The response was great, we always managed to get another closet modeller to join our little group. Only 2 things you worry about at shows, kids and seniors, and both for the same reason. They love to get hands on with the finished models.

Demon

My suggestion would be to move as quickly as possible away from there. Go to a place where there are hobby shops on every corner. The kind that have no RC or trains, only wall to wall plastic. When you get there be sure to let me know, I have not found such a place yet...just kidding of course!

My job used to take me to the midwest quite often. I always tried to visit local hobby shops, but quickly found out they were becoming fewer and farther between. It really is a shame, thankfully the internet has come to the rescue for the most part.

My wife and I have been tossing around the Idea of opening a hobby shop. Currently people in my area have too travel 55miles in order to find a good shop. So there may be an oppurtunity here to do something.

Darren

Yeah, that's the million dollar question, isn't it?! I'm really not sure how to go about getting more of the 'general public' interested in modeling. I had mentioned in another thread that you never see a tv ad about modeling. I don't know how much impact that would have but if you do something like that and tie it together with FSM directing them to this site...you never know.

One thing I do know though. Once we do get them interested it will be a lot easier to keep them going. With sites like this anybody, anywhere in the world has access to the biggest knowledge base they could dream of. Even if you're from Nowheresville and you're the only modeler in town (out of population 5) you have access to exactly the same information as the person who lives 5 minutes from 10 of the best hobby shops in the world. With this information people's skills will improve so much quicker and that is one of the things that will keep them interested and growing in the hobby. The internet is a wonderful thing!!!!!

Ray

I'll have to agree with you there, Ray. Without the internet and this and other forums / sites like it, I would be sitting here pulling my hair out in the middle of the modeling cesspool of mediocrity.
Darren, next time I'm in the Mass area, I'll have to stop by your store. That gives you plenty of time to get things rolling...

demono69

The model railroad community saw the writing on the wall a few years ago and got to work on attracting new hobbyists. The scale model community would do well to learn from their experience. Flip through a copy of MR and you'll see several mechanisms for attracting new hobbyists.

Okay, this is going to be an abbreviated reply. I just spent a whole-lotta time typing up a nice long novel (as I am apt to do) and at some point I was automatically logged out?!? The rules of the forum regarding language prevent me from expressing my true feelings at the moment, but I digress...

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR............

The "job" of attracting new members to the hobby belongs to any and all who are associated with the hobby.

As an individual, this can be done by taking someone under your wing. If someone seems interested, probe a bit and see if you can't peak their interest a bit more. Don't push it in their face, but try and see if you have a potential builder on your hands. Encourage them, bribe them... LOL Seriously, encourage them in any way possible.

Clubs are a good way to get folks involved in a hobby. Some who may have had a bad experience in a club may be convinced that all clubs are a waste of time, which is NOT true.

I have belonged to many a club of varying interests over the years and the only one I still belong to is my model club. And yes, it's an IPMS club. Some seem to think that IPMS is "evil" and a BIG waste of time. But remember, though the world is full of self-centered, self-serving AH types, and even though many belong to clubs, including those of the model-building variety, not all clubs or, more specifically, IPMS clubs are full of jerks.

I have been privvy to the goings on of several clubs besides my own and, indeed, there is alotta political, self-righteous BS that goes on withinin many of them. Some of them have a balanced mix of good and bad, and some have none of the above. I'm fortunate in that my club has survived some BS in the past to become a strong organization and one of the premier clubs in the northeast, if not the USA. We have some jerks, yes, but very few.

Each year we hold our regular model show and a mall show. We also run a kids' class to teach the young ones to build models. Whenever we run an event, we make sure that the local hobby shops are well-stocked with "plastic propaganda leaflets". ie; we advertise our events BIG time. Flyers, flyers and MORE flyers!!!

Even if it all ended tomorrow, I'd still have a good group of friends to hang out with and talk plastic. (The Saturday-Nite Mafia's Groovy Get-Togethers at Guidos!!! )

The real target audience we aim for is the kids, and we try to encourage them in any way we can. We have the aforementioned kids' class which wraps up at our mall show with an awards ceremony for those who attended the class. Every kid gets a certificate of merit.

At our regular show as well as at our mall show, (for those outside of the kids' class) we go out of our way to whoop it up for the kids and again, THEY ALL get something. Take a kid under your wing...

Now when that kid grows up, he/she can decide whether or not they want to continue in the hobby and why. But regardless of their ultimate decision as an adult, it's our job to initially get them involved.

This site and forum, as already mentioned, are excellent tools for communicating in this hobby.

Use this forum to it's fullest. if you have a link to a good modeling or reference site, post it! If you have a photo that may help someone post it, if you are able. Directly contact someone who is in need of help, if you're so inclined.

Here's a few links to some sites that you may or may not have seen or heard of:

http://modelingmadness.com/ A good aviation-related modeling site with how-to's, reviews and more!

http://www.scalemodelindex.com/ A reknowned resource site for modelers, run by a club-mate of mine, Tony "NetBoy" Matteliano.

http://airforce.users.ru/lend-lease/english/index.htm Another site co-run by a friend of mine, Ilya Grinberg. This site deals with Lend-Lease to the Soviet Union in WWII. Obscure subject matter, but some GREAT reference for aircraft modelers and, to a lesser degree, armor modelers.

http://spasticforplastic.1hwy.com/ My own meager general-modeling site. It has WAY too many pop-ups and has been neglected for awhile now, but both of these issues will soon be rectified! (Suuuuuuuuuuure Steve! LOL)

http://www.ipmsniagarafrontier.com/ My club's website. If you're in the Buffalo, NY area and think that you may want to check us out, all the info is here.

http://www.ipmsusa.org/Groups_Contests/EventsGallery/events_frame.htm This is a page on the IPMS USA site that covers NOREASTCON 2003, the regional that our club held at the beginning of May, 2003.

http://www.ipmsusa.org/index.htm This is the IPMS USA website. If you think you may be interested in IPMS and/or joining a club, check this site out and see if there's a club near you.

If you have a site that you admin, or know of one, whether run by a friend or just a really cool site that you think may be useful to others, post a link. Just make sure that in doing so you adhere to the rules of THIS (FSM) site's forum.

Remember, the job of promoting and inciting interest in the hobby, on all levels, belongs to all of us.

Fade to Black...

How do we get more junior modelers involved?
1 thing, some of you (no names) need to stop bashing video games. I'm 16, and i thoroughly enjoy both modelling and videogames. I find that the two are somewhat intertwined, as well. Games like Medal of Honor, Ghost Recon, and Delta Force: Black Hawk Down simulate modern war fairly well.

Bashin' video games!?! Who's bashin' video games? LEMMEE AT 'EM!!!! LOL

I agree wholeheartedly that the two can intertwine. I myself have more than my fair share of FPS, RTS games & Flight Sims. Matter of fact, it's the core hobby of model building that got me into many other interests I have, OTR, Swing and, yes, "video games". And each of these has further inspired me in my model building.

Cader28, you play MOH alot? Online? Just curious...

Fade to Black...

Video Games RULE!! MECHWARRIOR 4 FOREVER!! W00T!!1! R0x0r OMG!!(Oh, yeah, Tactical Ops: Assault On Terror and GTA3 come in at close seconds...)
But anyhoot, most of the forums I go to show the exact same thing. Millions of people register, very few ever actually post. The problem isn't a lack of interest, it's a lack of use! Most people simply don't think they have anything postworthy! They just think(most often incorrectly) that they need to register to view threads. So, they register, get the info/advice they need, and then never return! It happens quite frequently, really. Matter of fact, I rarely post anything of use here! It's mostly spam and my two cents(or three or four!)! But, every now and then(see the Dullcote post in the "Techniques" forum, where I actually get acknowledged by name!) I post a nugget! That's the story of the internet I geuss, everyone has a web page, but only a few people actually need one!

Well this weekend my son and I sat down with his first kit, A Bandai Gundam in 1/144 scale, It's a snap together but we had fun. I cut the parts loose and trimmed them and he assembled. No paint necessary as it's molded in several colors. It was good for me too-after many hours on my P-40 and Typhoon with crummy fitting parts it was relaxing. I had forgotten how much those quick builds could be.

I'm sorry Cader28, if you got the impression that I was 'bashing' video games. That was not my intention, as I also have more than my fair share of video games on my shelves. My point is, and I think most of the other poster's as well, is that in this technological age there are more 'things' vying for our attention and that leaves less time for modelling, playing video games, or whatever else you want to do. I'm not, dare I say it, that old but in the 30 years that I've been alive there have been so many new and exciting pastimes introduced that it really 'waters down' your spare time, especially if you are involved in several different hobbies. Years ago there weren't as many, or maybe I should say, it wasn't as easy to access so many different hobbies as it is today (especially with the internet, etc.) so people had more time to devote to their chosen hobby, whether it be modelling or something else.

Truce Cader?!?

Ray

Exactly, Longhair. Lotsa competition these days for model building, games being a big competitor. I've fallen into that trap. I've formed my own online gaming group (called a clan) for one of my favorite games, Medal of Honor. Before you know it, you've been online with your buds for hours, taking and losing territory.

Another competitor, ironically enough, is the very thing I'm doing now...

This isn't exactly a chat room, but I know several folks who, ever since they got onto the net, have done nothing but chat on the PC all night. Or hang out in a forum, like this one.

I myself almost fell into still another trap. I collect OTR shows (Old Time Radio) as well as music; both from the period of my main modeling interest, WWII (big band/swing), as well as modern stuff. I got hooked on WinMX, a peer-to peer file sharing network. I also spent entirely too much time searching other places on the net for music and OTR stuff.

Before I knew it, I hadn't looked at a model in MONTHS! There's alotta things out there that are competing for our attention. I'm just glad that I can balance it all fairly well, if even for only a short time 'til I discover another new "toy" or interest.

But I'm also glad that most of my interests tie into each other. I collect books on the subjects I model as a matter of compiling reference, but I also have developed a passion for the history of what I model. I would be just as comfortable in researching and learning about this stuff, as I would be in modeling it. Matter of fact, I'm getting to the point where I enjoy the research more than building.

Some may think of me as a know it all, cuz I'm all over the place when someone needs a photo of this or that. I simply like the research and I like the fact that I can actually help someone out.

I can honestly see a day when I have no models left in the dungeon. But not yet...

Fade to Black...

Stop using WinMX RIGHT NOW. Download a nice copy of Lavasoft's Ad-Aware6.0 Spyware Remover, and download the free version of Grisoft's AVG Anti-Virus. Run both, uninstall WinMX and start using KazzaaLite. More content, no spyware, and less files w/ viruses!
As with models vying for attention, the same thing happened to radio when TV came around, and with TV when computers came around. And neither of those died! We just might have to see models emerge in a new and different way.

Maybe a little less gluing, a little more snap-together. After all, if models want to keep up with faster hobbies, they must get faster too! But, that future isn't too bleak! What the folks at Bandai can do with snap-tite is simply AMAZING, and they have recessed detail just like something straight out of Academy or Revell-Monogram!! Also, detail sets are(and Thank God for this one!) quickly becoming unneccessary, what with the detail of modern kits! Things will get more streamlined, things will get cheaper, more mass-produced, but models will ALWAYS be around!

Techni, where do I get that software above? is it free? No money in the budget for it.
Lee

adaware can be downloaded for FREE from www.lavasoftusa.com
AVG's FREE version is downloaded from www.grisoft.com
KazaaLite is downloaded for FREE from www.kazaalite.com however, their site is down for some reason... try searching yahoo for KazaaLite and you'll find someone who has it for download! All FREE! And, as we all know, the best things in life are FREE!

Good point about the competition modeling gets from other pasttimes now. I was 10 when I started, and part of the impetus for modeling--aside from my blossoming interest in World War II--was that for 98 cents or $1.09, I could get a 1/72 scale airplane, build it (waaaaay too quickly!), and afterwards still have it to play with as a toy. I still approach modeling as a "cheap[er]" hobby, though as we've discussed on this forum, it can get quite expensive if you want to take that route.

The most important factor in getting kids into the hobby is their parents: Kids like to emulate what they see the adults around them doing. If Dad (or Mom) builds models, chances are junior will want to do it, too. Here's a way to get a foot in the door. Junior will probably go about it the same way I did when I was 10, but at least the seed is planted. Even if the parents don't model, they can still encourage their child by getting him/her a nice beginner's kit (mine did). Maybe it'll stick, maybe it won't. Modeling teaches a lot of skills that'll be useful later in life (reading, interpreting, and following instructions, patience, hand-eye coordination, crafstmanship, etc.).

Maybe your kid will even grow up to take a bunch of liberal arts courses in college and eventually end up an editor at a modeling magazine! [:0]

TechniMuyo,

WAY ahead of you dude! Been there done that, being a peer to peer network, I looked into what WinMX (and the others) were all about and learned about the pitfalls.

I'm well protected and alert, but thanks anyhow. And I settled on WinMX because I found more of what I'm looking for there as opposed to KaZaA/KaZaA Lite , BearShare, Morpheus, eDonkey2000, Gnucleus and LimeWire.

Fade to Black...

Blackwolf: I don't actually play MOH online yet; i live in a rural area of canada and we don't have a high speed node out here yet. However, sometime in the future, if you see a name somewhere along the lines of the one i'm using right now, chances are its me.

Longhair: I didn't say you in particular; every one is entitled to their own opinions. It's just that even in the part of FSM (the magazine) where the editor does his little blurb that video games are portrayed in a negative light.

PS just picked up Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield. Anyone who hasn't definitely should; it's the best SWAT team simulator out there.

About a year ago, Terry Thompson did an editorial titled, "Why I like Gundams", which was very timely. I recall the tv commercials for the gundam kits, showing different age groups and "levels of committment". I applaud the father earlier in this thread for doing a 1/144 Gundam kit with his son.

I would also present the prefinished car kits as a good introductory experience. The Toy Liquidators at your nearest outlet mall would have them for a very low price.

Now I have a question for the good of the order: Now that Revell-Monogram has withdrawn its support for Make 'n Take, what new mechanisms are being developed to attract new modelers?

Finally, a quote from the comedian Dennis Miller: "Americans have the attention span of a ferret on a double espresso".

Regards,
Brian

QUOTE: Finally, a quote from the comedian Dennis Miller: "Americans have the attention span of a ferret on a double espresso".

As we can see by where this thread went

You don't think we have ADD/ADHD, do ya?

Hmmm...

Wonder if there's anything interesting on the Weather Channel...

Fade to Black...

Hmmmm....weather...rain...Noah's ark...THAT"S IT!! History channel!

Now I see how we're getting more juniors involved. We're just regressing ourselves.

Remember - You can't stay young....but you can stay immature. - Red Green

Ray

Just remember kids! Getting older is mandatory. Growing up is not! (I stole that, just as we all steal most of our material...)

I switched to the Hitler History Channel, but I'm not really interested in the Tsars of old Russia. So I'll see what's on the Traffic Channel...

Fade to Black...