From the beginning, human kind has been fascinated with models (miniature replicas of the original objects). I too am fascinated with models, so much so that I choose to build them. As you might have guessed, my hobby is fine scale modeling, primarily military models. Why do I like to build models? In a word, its fun, and it is challenging. Modeling is a solitary activity for the most part. Most of the time it involves you and the model you are working on, even if there is somebody else in the room. Often the time spent on the workbench is the only time I have to be by myself during the course of a busy day or week. I did not do any modeling as a kid, so when I discovered scale modeling, I thought I was the only nut case that liked to do this sort of thing. To my amazement, I find there are over 80,000 modelers all over the world. Like most hobbies today, they become expensive. A trip to the hobby shop for me can mean a close encounter with bankruptcy. I pretty much stick to high quality kits out of the box but build an occasional diorama. Dioramas are big projects and the mental challenges of the project loom large. Big projects become siege projects, and as the siege wears on, you begin to wonder which side is going to win - you or the project. But when it is finished its well worth the time and effort. Another interesting aspect of modeling is that almost all modelers of military models are history buffs, and I mean avid history buffs. I am not sure why this is so, but for me I want to know the history behind the model I am building. Was the aircraft, ship, or tank successful, or was it a dud? How and where was it used, and how many were built? All these questions leads to allot of reading and that raises more questions and more interesting books. If you are interested, have a look at some of the models and dioramas I have created, visit the Photo Vault or view the Photo Vault Slide Show. Enjoy!!

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Copyright 1999 Burton M. Gustafson All rights reserved.