I Know, Here we go again!
C'mon folks. We have all wondered this since a little kid saw a grown man build a Boat of Reeds! Did you know that in some countries, you were NOT even considered a proffessional unless you did some years as both a Junior and then Senior Apprentice.Then had done it without supervision for at least two years?
Those were called Guilds and they still exist in some countries today. I don,t count our unions that used to do that. They really don't teach you anything today. Now as far as Modeling,or Model building or Model design is concerned there is a belief that being a proffessional is arrived at by some other criteria.
That would be a Consistant winner at model shows in your chosen field ( That would be which type of models you choose to build) That would be the one who researches till the cows come home, But, does doing research make a Expert Modeler or just a Smarter one?
Years ago a fellow asked me this very question. Why? He had seen me meet with the Curator of Displays at the Maritime Museum in San Fransisco. Why was I doing that? I was known to him from work I had done restoring some local private holdings and some Studio work.
I had offered my knowledge of soldering and creating brass pieces to re-Build the U.S.S.Oregon Model that was on display and falling apart in the case. I was Re-Buffed.Not by him , but the Admin staff because of the Solder fumes causing a problem with the California E.P.A. Folks as I melted the old lead containing solder. I offered to set up a Clear sided tent with venting outside so folks could see what was going on too. At my expense! California wouldn't budge.
He never questioned my credentials . Now I do have letters of recommendation from Five Law firms ,two Studios and one Architectural firm and one Engineering firm. BUT, Does that make me an EXPERT? In some fields, a definite YES. In Some NO. This is to be discussed till the sun fails to shine.
Many can do what is required in many materials in any size or whatever. Does this an Expert make? Let's just say that makes them ( Especially if they got paid) proffessionals. An Expert? well, sometimes I have seen So-Called expertly created models.There is always something missing. If you are going to create a model of a RIVA Aquarama( That's a fancy Ski Boat) then why did you forget the cleats and running light? Or why did you forget the cleats and the instruments on the dash?
An expert would've included that equipment as part of his knowledge that the boat HAS to have them to be correct! Armor builders in the Hobby try hard to create Masterpieces. They often do, But can you imagine the research they did to get there?
The same for any subject. Now think about what I said and let me know what qualifies as a EXPERT in your thinking, Okay? T.B. Oh just so you know. It's a noun. in the Dictionary it states " A Person who has Comprehensive and Authoritative Knowledge of, or a Skill in a particular". It is also an Adjective " Having or involving Authoritative Knowledge" there's also this aside for one key word. "Authoritative"-Able to be trusted as being Accurate and or True, Reliable ,To be considered to be the Best of it's Kind and Unlikely to be improved upon.( That concerns " Books")