Hola amigos! Well it appears to be time for another round of grenade tossing, so let’s jump right in and see how many people we can upset this time. I’m trying the above title on for size. I’m still not sure what to call this abomination, and so far no one else has come up with an idea. Incidentally, if you do have an opinion on a title for this column, please send an e-mail to our fearless leader, Uncle Bobby (now we’ll see if he actually reads this trash or just posts it like he does with his photos). I still haven’t gotten around to getting my own computer yet. Oh well, one of these days, maybe.

Of course that will probably mean that I’ll spend all my time on the web boards telling all those who have no life either, about a ton of useless drivel that has nothing to do with any hobby at all.

Here’s a tip… if your that lonely…GET A DOG!!

I guess what I would really like to talk about this month is schisms. For those of you who don’t habla, it means fractures. What I’m talking about is the fractures within the world of modeling in general. We seem to break everything down to groups based on what we most like to build, i.e. plane guys, car guys, armor guys, etc. Now the groups themselves aren’t bad. The problem lies with said groups’ mild disdain to outright hatred of the other modeling interests. It’s almost like a mild form of racism. In the immortal words of Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?”

In this day of instant gratification activities we need to stick together, and promote this hobby as a whole. At the last contest you attended, how many kids and juniors did you notice running around? Very few probably! We need to get the younger generations involved in model building…PERIOD! That means we all have to come together for the common good. Now let’s all hold hands and sing kumbya. Who’s got the Brownies???

I guess the point I’m trying to make is, no matter what the subject is it’s still a scale model. I mean it’s still made of plastic or resin. You still have to assemble and paint the damn thing. When you drop it, little parts still disappear into an alternate universe with the socks from the dryer.

Maybe because what another modeler builds may not be my shot of Bacardi, but I can still appreciate the skill it took to build it. Maybe I’m in the minority because I like to build a little of everything. I have built cars, tanks, planes, figures, and sci-fi. So far I haven’t built a boat, but I do have a few on the shelf that I want to build. I also enjoy model railroading. I mean they’re just dioramas that move.

I think I have become a better modeler because I don’t just hold myself to one discipline. From building planes, I have a better understanding of natural metal finishes. From the armor I have bettered my skills in weathering and dioramas. I still struggle with a mirror finish on a car, but I think my detailing abilities are OK. Figures have taught me how to work with the color wheel and how to shade and highlight objects by altering the paint shade ever so slightly. Also, I can‘t paint eyes without the Marty Feldman look.

Besides, we can all learn tips & techniques from the other disciplines that we can use in our own favorite subjects. Like my Pop always said. “If you think you know everything, you won’t learn anything”.

Now, every one take a deep cleansing breath…hold it….hold it…release. Ahhhhhh! Now, doesn’t your aura feel better? Next we’ll try some feng shui with the work bench. Perhaps, an incense candle to stretch sprue with.

Seriously though, please promote the hobby as well as your clubs. We all enjoy this hobby too much to let petty differences destroy that enjoyment.

I firmly believe that the greatest part of this hobby is the people that we meet and the friends that we make. I recently came back from a marathon modeling event in Ohio. We drove 10 hours on Fri. for the NNL Nat’s on Sat. only to drive back home on Sat. night.

We made it back to Philly at 4:30 in the morning. Which was right on my prediction by the way? (Remember, always listen to the Navigator. Ignore the voices from the back seats.) If you had asked me on Sun. if I would ever go again, I would have told you HELL NO!! Today if you ask the same question, I’ll tell you that I probably would. The trip itself wasn’t what made the event so great. Neither was the contest. Quite frankly, NNL East is a much bigger and better show. No, what made the trip so great were the people I went with. I will refrain from naming them as there may still be warrants for some of them. Oh, by the way, we were already in Philly when the riots broke out. So, it’s not our fault…..this time.

We laughed and joked the entire time. I have never had so much fun, with or without my clothes on.

Bottom Line…. What’s the greatest thing about this hobby? Is it kits, shows, meetings, contests, endors? Nope. The greatest thing about this hobby is …MY FRIENDS!!!

All right, that’s enough sentiment. Any more and I’m going to hurl.

Now get out there and build something, and remember……..

           IT’S JUST A FREAKIN’ HOBBY!!!

El’ Tanque (a.k.a. Tommy K.)