Plastics modelers are now accepting us!

[Mark Crowel]

A few days ago, a car modeling acquaintance who builds in plastic, posted photos of my cardboard 1979 Dodge Magnum coupe on the Scale Auto Magazine website. This is definitely plastic territory. The thread he started brought a string of approving and encouraging compliments. Someone asked to see more of my cardboard cars, so my friend posted more. Eventually these plastic modelers are reporting in their posts that they've starting checking paper model sites, and are amazed at what they find. One person reported that he used to build with card when he was 8 or 9, and he's glad to see he's not alone. Another builder posted a photo of his nicely done homemade wooden hot rod model.

I used to think plastic modelers disdained us cardmodelers, but they seem impressed with what we can do with paper. I posted a link to Zealot in that Scale Auto thread. I think we can open some minds, and maybe bring some plastic modelers into our "fold".

[Soaring]

They used to not?

[CardStalker]

Never herts to try, lol. Thank you, my best to you.

[Elliott]

That's great to hear, Mark! I imagine the respose is certainly gratifying to you, as it should be. Your work in cardmodel cars is impressive. Congratulations and THANKS!

[Mark Crowel]

Thanks,Elliot, for the encouragement and praise. The best part of all this is, I didn't ask or expect this friend to post those photos.

Here is the link: http://www.scaleautomag.com/sca/comm...opic.asp?TOPIC ID=67096

When that page comes up, in the box marked "Search the forums", type in Crazy Cardboard.

[cgutzmer]

very cool mark the more the merrier!
Chris

[Lex]

Actually, the fact might be that actually we're despising them...

[cgutzmer]

Originally Posted by Lex

Actually, the fact might be that actually we're despising them...

eh? I dont understand... I dont despise any kind of modeler myself....
Chris

[David H]

Well despise might be a wee bit strong. I do like to wind up my mates by asking them "exactly how much did that Panzer IV cost?".

I think card modelling is generally more mature and more intellectually challenging than plastic kit building. It requires a certain frame of mind and I think working in card is more akin to actual engineering. Few would argue that the accuracy and creativity required is much grater than plastic kit building.

That said I rarely live u to the challenge!

In my day (teenage days) I was a dab hand with a Tamiya kit and an airbrush but I was always ready to pile in with supplemental home-brewed additions. I was also a dab hand at knocking together streets of French houses and desert villages for wargaming and used any materials I could get, including tubs of two part car filler.

Which brings me to styrene sheet. Is building with styrene sheet really any different than card modelling? Yes the material has different properties but the evolution of a model is very similar.

There is always a pecking order. Scratch builders in styrene have my respect. I hold the guys who build working steam locomotives in awe!

D

[CJTK1701]

Originally Posted by David H

I think card modelling is generally more mature and more intellectually challenging than plastic kit building. It requires a certain frame of mind and I think working in card is more akin to actual engineering. Few would argue that the accuracy and creativity required is much grater than plastic kit building.


Which brings me to styrene sheet. Is building with styrene sheet really any different than card modelling? Yes the material has different properties but the evolution of a model is very similar.

D

Having done both card and styrene I have to say that these card models can be wuite the challenge. I used to post links to card models on the styrene forums and mostly the would poo poo the card models. I was amazed by that, because it can be much more difficult and more of a challenge to build a card model than to build a pre packaged styrene kit, not to mention one of those four, or five piece Garage Kit travesties. With card models you don't just assembly parts and have a model and you can't slather on a ton of putty, you either get it right, or it shows.

As for scratch building with card, or styrene, I've done both and have used card models as templates for styrene builds. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's done that, but I'm the only one I know that freely admits it. Card models make great study models as well, something to visualize with and look for better assembly options regards proceedure.

As far as design goes, I don't think the card modelers here are any less talented than the CG guys who make models that you can't even touch, or feel.

Personally I've found card models to be very satisfying and challenging.

[cdavenport]

I was on the IPMS/USA EBoard for 12 years, two of them as president. During my tenure, significant changes took place in the attitude of the Society regarding modeling mediums.

The impetus for that change arose as many of us realized that many of the best models were incorporating non-plastic elements and receiving great accolades. So, we came to our senses and opened up the competitions to include models built from any medium.

I remember entering a lovely card U-Boat way back in the 90's.

With IPMSers, it is not a question of modeling mediums; it's what you do with the medium and how true to scale realism the model is. For instance, a card prop-driven plane would be interesting to a plastics guy, but would not stand a chance in competition with little black lines all over the place, especially on the spinners.

On the other hand, any model executed with care and precision like some of the ones I have seen at Zealot would fare well in competition and certainly be regarded for the skill it took to create the model.

Yet, there remain the "extremists who refuse to validate anything beyond their own version of perfection; typical throughout the world. Those of us with level heads ignore the crazies and appreciate the model for what it represents and the love and skill the modeler put into its creation.

[CJTK1701]

Originally Posted by cdavenport

Yet, there remain the "extremists who refuse to validate anything beyond their own version of perfection; typical throughout the world. Those of us with level heads ignore the crazies and appreciate the model for what it represents and the love and skill the modeler put into its creation.

Well said, well said indeed!

Can I use this as my Sig?

[modelperry]

As an active member of a local IPMS club, I have been showing up to meetings with my card models and work on them during the meeting. Virtually every one has been impressed with the quality of the kits I have brought in but I have yet to influence anyone enough to try it themselves. Most seem apprehensive to try one due to the "work" involved. I myself switched from plastic to paper for four reasons: 1. economic 2. I don't care a whole lot for painting (touch up painting is fine, the rest "sucks" to me) 3. The available subjects are different than plastic and 4. I like the larger scale of military models as they go better with my plastic car models.

Before I would only build automotive in plastic because of the camo paint on military and aircraft. Now I build a little bit of everything in card. My horizons have broadened.

It takes me quite a bit longer to build in card but the results feel far more satisfying.

Greg

[modelperry]

I had a similar experience many years ago with a model Railroad club in my area. I was attending the club for a few months trying to decide whether or not to officially join it and started to attend the IPMS club I currently belong to at the same time.

SInce all that was being done at the railroad club was track work, I took some (plastic) car models along once to show off my "other" interests. One of the old geezers looked at them and backhandedly told me I haven't lived until I detailed a locomotive. I believe that was the last time I went there to do any work on the layout.


Greg

[CJTK1701]

Originally Posted by Mark Crowel

I especially agree with the satisfaction factor you mentioned, Greg. Your group seems more open-minded than an independent group in which I was a member.

In 1989-90 there was a local model car club that met regularly at a hobby shop. We were all adults, and we would work on our models during the meeting. The car I was working on was a homemade cardboard scratchbuild. During the meeting it received some mild interest, but afterward I overheard one member saying to another, in a derisive tone, "He's building a model out of cardboard!" That was about the same attitude (more politely voiced) other plastic car modelers had at the time toward card.

This kind of stuff just kills me. You get these little clicks of different media, or shows, or whatever and they all think they're God's gift to the modeling world. It would seem that since we are all modelers that we could get along and respect each others work. Cest La Ve.