Ship Modelers Association

The following article was received by e-mail from Australia by our Australian honorary member of the SMA addressed to the editor.

"I thought it might be instructive to make a few observations based on over 4000 hours of model making at the (Sydney Maritime) museum over the past 7 years."

Having a model making demonstration set up at a museum or waterfront
area can do a lot to increase public awareness of the hobby and encourage
some to think about having a go themselves. It is not necessary for visitors
to see any progress and it does not matter what you are working on. They
will not be there for the whole process of making a model. All they will see
as they pass through the museum is a brief moment of activity. Even
watching a model maker holding something while the glue dries provides an
insight into what is involved. What is important is for the modeler to be able
to converse with the visitors. A comment like “Now comes the exiting part,
waiting for the glue to dry” gets an appreciative laugh, breaks the ice and
gives you a chance to talk model making with the public.

At our work table in Sydney we have three small schooner models in various
stages of construction, two of which are specifically designed to be picked
up and looked at and the third which is the finished model safely under a
case. Everyone is encouraged to examine them. The first one is the basic
hull partially planked to illustrate the various techniques and procedures in
hull planking. Many people who come by tell us that they have started a
model only to run into problems with planking the hull. Our hull is there to
help us show people how to get over their problems which is always
appreciated. The second hull is finished up to the last stage before fragile
parts which could easily be broken with inexperience handling would be put
on. This is useful in showing how decking should be done and how the
usual kit supplied second layer of planking goes on. With these three
models for the public to look at, the modeler can be working on his own
project. I personally find the museum set up ideal for doing repetitive jobs
like making blocks or oars.

Visitors can stop and look and then move on or they can pause and ask
questions. For silly questions like “Are you making a model?” I just say yes and carry on with my work. When a serious question is asked I stop work and answer it. You quickly learn to tell which ones are just talking to be polite and which ones deserve your attention. The usual question about balsa wood deserves a bit of explanation and the thoughtful questions like “What if you just don’t feel in the mood for such delicate work?” lets you know you are talking to a sensitive, artistic soul.

It was through such conversation with a serious model maker named Don
Dressel that I became an honorary member of the association. Many people
have left our display with knowledge of how to cope with some aspect of
making a model which troubled them and the renewed enthusiasm to get
back to their project.

The bottom line is that for a model making demonstration to be worth doing,
you have to have good communications with the visitors.
We have a couple of small brochures available for visitors to take with them.
One tells the history of our display model and the other is the brochure for
the company which makes the kit and imports many others. Having a few
catalogues handy for reference is also helpful.
We have accomplished a lot of good model making PR working with our
humble little set up. The Mariner’s Museum in Newport News with its
separate room and roller shutter windows has probably the best arraignment
I have seen with lots of model related things for the public to look at and god
communications with the modeler whose work is never the less safely away
from inquisitive hands. Somewhere in the middle is the one in San Diego
which has a lot to see but not real good access to the modelers if they are
trying to work. As our facilities at the Australian National Maritime
Museum are limited we usually work on a kit model which does not require
much in the way of tools. With better facilities and more planning before
you leave home, you can work on a scratch built project. I have done both
and find that my time a the museum manning the model making stand is a
very rewarding activity.