Yes dear, it looks exactly like the real one. |
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Military Scale Modelers This is a really interesting group of people. They don't just enjoy building models. They enjoy recreating bits of history. Many times, it's their own history. These are often military personnel who build models of the planes they flew or work on. They may also be people who have worked in defense industries, modeling ships they helped to design. Sometimes they are history buffs recreating scenes from photographs in perfect detail. Speaking of which, detail-oriented doesn't begin to describe it. These folks want to get it right. Every marking, every texture, every button on the uniform. They want it to be true to life.
Air and Space Most hobbyists need some sort of workspace, but modelers have some special requirements. Namely ventilation. They work with a lot of glue and a lot of paint. If you want your modeler to retain however many brain cells you think they have left, don't relegate them to a windowless room. Let them have an area with good ventilation, temperature control, enough room for a workbench and lots and lots of shelf space to display the finished models. Oh, and as far as the space itself goes, never ever ever go in there and "tidy up". These people are dealing with a large number of miniscule parts that must go together just so. Don't move them, and for goodness sake, don't accidentally vacuum any up off the floor!
Find out about Military Scale Modeling You can find out what they're up to without much effort. The following resources should help. Imagine the fun of finally understanding what they're talking about! Ask your Modeler When we started researching military scale modeling, we were worried that finding out what this was about would involve being subjected to endless lectures about hydraulics and sandpaper. Boy, were we wrong! If you are fortunate enough to have a military scale modeler available, point at any model on their walls and ask what's special about that plane/tank/ship/gun/etc. There's every possibility you will find yourself hearing a wonderful story about the things that happened to their father while he was driving one in WWI. Listen to the stories. They are fascinating, entertaining and you'll find yourself looking at the models in a whole new way.
Offer, Don't Insist While they may be pleased that you like their models well enough to want to display them around the house, they may prefer to keep them out of harm's way. Pets, kids, dusting, foot traffic - these are all dangerous to models. After putting as much work as they do into these things, a cracked wing or a broken spar is heartbreaking. Enjoy their finished product, but do so carefully and on their terms. If you'd like to see some of them displayed a particular way, make the offer, but don't insist if they seem hesitant. You wouldn't hang your favorite quilt in the garage. You don't park your beautifully restored car under a tree. Let the models live where they are visible, but safe from harm.
Display Without Danger If you've got a digital camera and a bit of tech savvy, make your modeler a web site and post photos where they can share them with family and other modelers. If you don't want to mess with hosting and entire web sites, free photo hosting tools like PhotoBucket make it easy to post photos of their models. 
The appearance of hyperlinks on this web site does not constitute endorsement by Spousal Sponsorship Program of any of the hyperlinked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. Spousal Sponsorship Program does not warrant or guarantee the content or accuracy of any information presented in hyperlinked sites, and does not make any representations (expressed or implied) as to the accuracy, currency or authenticity of the information and materials of third parties that may be accessed through this web site. Any reference or hyperlink obtained from this site to a specific commercial or non-commercial site, product, process, or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by Spousal Sponsorship Program of the site, product, process, or service, or its producer or provider. Any product information is provided by the hyperlinked site, and Spousal Sponsorship Program makes no warranty, expressed or implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assume any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, usefulness or application of any product information from this site or the hyperlinks to other sites. Although the names of privately owned companies may be listed, that listing in no way implies endorsement of any company or its products by Spousal Sponsorship Program, which does not recommend or otherwise promote any of the services or products offered by any of the hyperlinked sites. Hyperlinks are provided solely as a service to users of Spousal Sponsorship Program, and therefore should not be construed as advocating or reflecting any position of Spousal Sponsorship Program. |
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Gift Ideas Military scale modelers can be fun to buy for. There are things they can't get enough of, and they are things you can actually get!
Stuff You Can Save For Them Or Get Really Easily There are a few things you can save up that will probably come in handy for your modeler. Pennies Useful for ballast. Models sometimes need a bit of extra weight here and there. Lead fishing weights work well too. Plastic containers Plastic deli containers with lids are great for keeping small parts where they need to be. Rather than throwing them away, clean them out and keep them for your modeler. If you are looking a nice and useful present for your modeler and haven't been to the deli lately, swing over to the local grocery store and pick up a pack or two of those disposable plastic containers. Glad and Ziploc both make a variety of sizes. Toothpicks Modelers use wooden toothpicks for a lot of different things. A box or two will always come in handy. Clothespins A pack of the kind with springs work quite well as clamps.
Modeling Supplies Modeling involves a lot of consumables. Glue, paint, clay, bits and so on. If you know what brands of these things they like, you can keep them supplied. If you don't, you can help them keep themselves supplied. If there is a local hobby shop they like, see if they offer gift certificates. If not, gift certificates to the places below will be much appreciated. This place has a great selection of modeling supplies and offers gift certificates. If you have a modeler, you don't need to worry that they won't find something they like at this place. Michael's is a widely available craft store carrying many of the things modelers need. They don't have online ordering, so you may want to use the store locater to make sure there is a store near your modeler.
Modeling Tools There are lots of different tools, but some of them are essentials that every modeler needs. If they have them, they probably want newer better ones. Rotary Tool Rotary tools are great for doing work on small parts. The variety of attachments and accesories allow them to turn into drills, routers, sanders and a host of other useful timesavers. Dremel is the best known of the rotary tools. You can get every Dremel tool and attachment imaginable at Amazon. Gift certificates let them pick their own Dremels and Dremel accessories. Why Sears? Three reasons. 1. They're everywhere, including online. 2. Their gift cards never expire. 3. They carry Dremel and Craftsman rotary tools and all the little bits they use. Magnifier Lamp Lots of detail on little tiny parts. Magnification is definitely called for. A magnifier lamp can save a lot of eyestrain. There are a lot of different kinds and a lot of places to get them. You can browse a few online selections using the links below. Magnifier Lamps at Micro-Mark. Magnifier Lamps at DickBlick.com. Airbrush A really good paint job requires an airbrush. The airbrush also requires accesories. Badger makes a good airbrush. They can be had from Michael's. If your modeler does not have a Michael's nearby, check Badger's list of retailers for one near your modeler. Dixie Art is highly recommended for both price and selection by those who airbrush. They are not very "sponsor-friendly" in that they don't offer indirect payment options, but you can always request a catalog and give it to your modeler along with cash or a check or an "authorization to buy".
Books, Media and Publications
Books, New or Used Anything with pictures, diagrams or schematics of the things they want to model will be gladly received. Hit the used bookstores. You can get a great deal on items like coffee table books of WWI photos, issues of photographic magazines like Life from the period your modeler likes and old war movies. Anything with good photos of uniforms, equipment, battlefields or bases may provide the details your modeler uses to make their models special and complete. If you're not sure what to pick, Amazon provides access to both new and used books and movies. Fine Scale Modeler Magazine 10 annual issues of information, reviews, tips and resources. Plus access to online articles and downloads. A gift subscription is something your modeler is sure to enjoy.
Kits This is a tough one. You can't really pick a kit for them (although you may be able to hunt down one you know they want). In addition, the places where they get the kits are often in other countries and don't do gift certificates. The common themes seem to be PayPal and eBay. Gift certificates to these are good for anything they buy and many of the kit places take either or both.
Just Send Money to their PayPal account. A sponsor-friendly site with a terrific selection of kits, books and modeling resources. They've gotta be able to find something they want at this place. The link to the gift certificates is in teeny print near the bottom of the home page, but it is there. If your modeler is into ships, you can't go wrong with a gift certificate to Trident. One of the few kit places where you can get one!
Research If you have a knack for online or offline research, you may really be able to help your modeler. Whichever particular model they are working at the moment, you can hunt down whatever specific photos or diagrams they need at the moment. Find them and you will really have provided something they need.
Memberships International Plastic Modelers' Society If they're not a member, sign them up! Membership gets them lots of events, contests, exhibitions, discounts, programs, and six annual issues of The Modeler's Journal. Plus contact with a whole bunch of like-minded people. There are memberships for kids, adults and families. We think the annual membership fees are more than reasonable.
Tours They love to look at the real thing. Anywhere they get the opportunity to look at airplanes, ships, tanks, guns and suchlike is a good place to be. Keep an eye out for local airshows, military museums or exhibitions. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Giant List of Museums and Exhibits at Tony Matteliano's Scale Model Index |
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