rjkplasticmod

Could have been a lot worse. I recall an IPMS Contest a couple of years ago where the child of one of the spectators grabbed a 1/48 aircraft model from the Judges table & launched it.  It landed in the middle of the 1/72 twin engine model display, destroying a total of 5 models.

Regards,  Rick

Wow!!! I bet they where chased out my the angry mob!!!

At least they would have time to get away as the utter shock would have taken a few seconds to abate. LOL.

Manstein's revenge

...let's hear some more "horror" stories...

I was the butt for this one.

My first contest, I entered  an Airfix 1/24 P-51. I had motorized the prop, but just stuck the prop to the shaft with a bit of poster-tac. Just as judging was beginning, I flipped the switch and let it run. After about five minutes or so, it got real quiet and we all heard a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz tink, tank, poonk, psh. The prop flew off and bounced across 3 different tables. Unbelievably, nothing was damaged. I had to walk out there to pick up my prop, I could feel the hole being burned in the back of my head by all the stares and glares.

Triarius

I already put my spoke in, but something Rob said made it necessary to chime in again.

If we tolerate bad behavior, it will only get worse. When someone does something wrong, let them know, in no uncertain terms. Be polite. Be civil. Be stern. No matter how angry you may be, keep your emotions under control, but let them see that you are doing so. Some of the neighborhood kids are real hellions—but they are always respectful (for them) and obedient to me—I may yell to get their attention, but after that I speak quietly but sternly to them—end of problem. When you can do this, you stay in control and cannot be the bad guy.

My incident wasn't the person's bad behavior nor anything evil, it was his ignorance of the modern modeling hobby. He and everyone around him knew what he did was wrong. I have no doubt that he felt badly for destroying my kit. I didn't "tolerate" any bad behavior, it was an accident caused by someone who was unaware of the fragility of a photo etched model. I know he was sorry.

There was no reason for me to vent with any harsh words. It would not have repaired the damage. It would not have informed him that he did something wrong; that, he already knew. It would not have made the situation any better. The only thing my harsh words would have done is to make him feel worse than he probably already felt and in turn, made me the bad guy for yelling at him.

a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz tink, tank, poonk, psh. The prop flew off and bounced across 3 different tables. Unbelievably, nothing was damaged. I had to walk out there to pick up my prop, I could feel the hole being burned in the back of my head by all the stares and glares.

Now that is a difficult situation, lucky it wasn't a custom turned aluminum prop!

I can relate to it though, my second contest I entered a motorized Ki-43 in 1/48 scale. I lurked around the table when the judges were getting near the 'Super detailed 1/48 scale aircraft' Worried about the battery life I then turned on the prop. Totally out classed by the other entrants the cool effect of a spinning propeller never helped. Out of four in the division I placed.. fourth. The lesson learned was to enter at the last minute when a build could be classified in two or three different divisions. It should have been entered in '1/48 scale, single prop moderate detail' or 'Aircraft dioramas' as it has a pilot and cool display base.

The final victory was mine when the build made 'Great scale modeling 2008' page 38

Rob, I didn't mean to imply (in fact I think quite the opposite) that you should have vented at him. And with your further explanation, it's obvious that you did the right thing under difficult circumstances.

What I was saying is that too often today, people are afraid to tell someone that their behavior is unacceptable, for fear of being cast as the bad guy. To me, that is unacceptable. There comes a time when one must be confrontational, albeit civilly. But one must also exercise good judgment, as you obviously did.

Political correctness is political, and therefore anything but correct. Responsible behavior is always correct.

Agenttg, I have for years avoided the modeling community for the very reason you posted. In the town I live in, 1/72 scale is the main scale the locals use. I was at a show the club had at the local mall and said I prefer 1/48 and was treated like I had the plague.  I never went to the IPMS meetings and now the chapter is closed and the nearest one is 30 miles away. The only hobby shop nearby has cut his hours and stock because the locals will not shop there because he wont cut them a "deal" on prices to meet online prices. I go in when I can and shop and talk to the owner but he is shutting the doors soon.

 I have one story abut a show I was at in Atlanta years ago; I was looking at a display and the broken glasses I had on fell off my face and landed on a beautiful biplane dio. the plane was fine but the ground work was a little worse for the wear. The owner was very nice about it and offered me a piece of string ti tie my specs to my head.

krow113

Funny/sad readin this one ,reminds me of my custom paint/sign painting days when the 'observer' (for lack of a better term) wouild walk in ,walk up to the fresh paint and feel the need to touch it!!! I almost got fired once for telling the owner (my boss) to get the @!#$%^&* out of his own spray booth !! haHa Yes unfortunatly people are stupid ,and how we havent blown this planet out of the universe is THE greatest mystery yet. We cant be alone in this galaxie/universe and I can see the 'others' out there settling down in front of a TV (or whatever) for the daily ignorant stupidity of planet earth ,how they must laugh and then shake thier heads ,or whatever they shake, in disbelief .At our last contest/show/swap a 300$ model was stolen off the table next to me ,now I am supplying 'security at work' signs for our next one.

eternal vigilance is not a term for the after life any more..........................................

So why is it when you tell someone that there are half a trillion stars in our galaxy, they believe you, but when that same person sees a "WET PAINT" sign, they have to touch the wet paint to be sure!

In reference to the wet paint one of the guys in our club that builds mostly dioramas has had a big problem with fingerprints in the 'water' he uses in some of his dioramas. Seems that at shows people just have to touch the 'water'......

He also in one with a 1/35 barn with open doors had a woman rip off one door when she tried to close it thinking the hinges were workable...

I have been asked to rig up a neon transformer as a 'punishment device' ,however I think that would be too extreme (15000volts/60ma) good kick and beleive me they wont touch it again!

But it would certainly enlighten people!

Well in my case I deserved it. I took two models to work to put on my desk. To my amazement, they became quite popular. Great social pieces. Anyways, one of my co-workers picked up my Tamiya Wepse tank and spun the tracks on it. I just sat there in total awe? I thought "what is this guy doing". He sat it down and walked away. I wanted to cuddle it after its abuse. Fortunately nothing got broke.

Needless to say, I won't be taking my best builds to work.