Bish:
Model Maniac:
Wirraway, you're plain wrong! Model lovers love to see kits built and unbuilt and it doesn't matter who build it.
well, IMHO, as a model BUILDER, i think you are wrong. I like to see people go through the process of building models, learning as they progress, showing off somthing that they enjoy doing and are willing to learn and pass on their knowledge to other.
In my opinion you do none of this. Simply showing off that you have lots of money and can afford lots of kits and have people building for you on a production line is not what this hobby is about. Other than showing pics of built kits every so often, i do not recall you taking part in any other threads. I have never seen you try to help other modelers, but then how could you as you are a collector not a modeller.
I like to see people with a passion for building models. If i wanted to see what you show i would join a site for the hobby of buying die caste models.
In defense of Phaisal, I will say that he HAS indeed commented in some threads of mine, and I find him to be a pleasant individual who has an incredible strength of character to endure some of the critique which he gets.
I would also urge everybody to please recognize that what he is doing is promoting the hobby. His museum is actually that; as I understand it, he is quite the local attraction in his land, and if that inspires young kids to model, all the better.
In my estimation, I have more respect for a man who buys an insane number of kits and pays other people to build them and fill his shelves than a collector who buys kits off eBay or somewhere for the sole purpose of squirreling them away in order to resell them at an exorbitant profit someday, never to build them and in doing so, denying someone who MIGHT have otherwise built them the pleasure.
I have traveled to many far-off countries and seen many things which, culturally, I did not understand, and may have found somewhat odd, but which nether broke my leg nor picked my pocket. Phaisal's love of models--built or unbuilt--could be said to fall into this category for some of you here?
I'm still disturbed about the rifle in the WC.....
EDIT--I've just seen your post, Phaisal--thanks for the comments on my KT! I still haven't received the copy yet! I must be on the slow end of the mail?!