MORE THAN A TOY.......

Purpose of this blog:

1. To share our modeling journey with fellow modelers.
2. To share our ideas and philosophies about this art form.
3. To give fun to every friend who enjoys reading this blog.

BY: Mr Chong YC and Mr Liow KW

What is the definition of the word toy? In general, it simply means an object that a child interacts with. The toy provides the child with carefree happiness or pleasure. It is a toy! As the child grows older, knowledge, experience and skills takes on a bigger role on top of the pleasure content. Furthermore as the toy becomes more complex, it requires more knowledge, experience and skill from the growing child. However, for most adults and parents, the perception is that these objects are still toys because it still gives the child pleasure.
Is it not a toy? We disagree! As long as these objects require a higher degree of knowledge, experience and skill content, it is more than a toy. Take for instance a Rubik’s Cube. To a young child, it is probably just a toy for him or her to will twist and turn the colorful sides of the cube. To an older child, teenager or an adult it becomes a complex puzzle. It will require analytical skills, memory for formulas and dexterity and eye coordination. The Rubik’s Cube is more than a toy.
Toys differ in complexity and purposes. A simple set of building blocks permits a toddler to hold, knock together, stack, arrange, throw, and even chew on. The toddler plays blocks while developing his or her new found senses. Is it easy to play such a toy? Yes, it is because very low levels of skills are required from the child. As far as the parents are concerned, the use of the toy is justified as it provides their child with carefree pleasure.
In time, parents expect the process of learning and goal achievements to take over the role of playtime. The older child is expected to move onto more complex toys that educate more than the pleasure it gives. Parents and educators will conveniently classify these as non-toys. It seems that toys are meant only for the infant and young. What is a toy or not a toy in our opinion is very subjective. Parents often frown or even become upset at the mere thought of their adolescent child playing with a toy. To the parents, it is a sin to play such a toy and waste their time without harvesting any knowledge or skills from it.
Some parents and adults consider scale modeling as child’s play and models kits merely toys. Adults and children should not be involved with it or waste their time on it. Absolutely not! In fact parents should encourage it. Unlike building blocks or Lego, scale modeling can be much more complex. It involves research, planning, execution, logic and patience. A scale model is not a toy. If executed well, the result would be a very convincing scaled representation of a real object or historical event. Furthermore, with imagination, it can also represent futuristic objects and what-if scenarios.. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination and skills. Then there is also the question of accuracy. Construct an Out-Of-Box kit (for the beginner) and be satisfied or go to the extreme end by adding photo etch or resin conversion parts for very accurate models (for intermediate and advance modeler). The choice is yours. Happiness and satisfaction plays an important part in making this decision. You decide…. not others. Is it a sin or a waste of time? NO! It is your choice of how you spend your free time.
There is an old idiom that says “Learn to walk before you start running”. No one is born an expert or skilled. We all started from somewhere. Modelers may start off the hobby at different ages but all from the same humble skill level. Progression will depend on the availability of time for the hobby and exposure to the various modeling techniques and references. Fortunately, scale modeling articles and techniques are readily available on the Internet, books and magazines. As long as the passion exists for the hobby, we believe that every scale model or project created will be better than the previous one.
Caution is the word here. As our journey into the modeling world goes on, we will have plentiful opportunities to view models and projects constructed by advanced modelers or Master-class modelers. There will always be the urge to replicate those master-class pieces or compete in scale model competitions. No doubt, the competitive spirit is good but please compete with yourself rather than trying to out-do other modelers. By doing so we will strive to improve our modeling skills and techniques gradually within our own capability and timescale. Modeling Burn-out Syndrome or Advance Modeler’s Syndrome is thus avoided. This will be explained in later chapters