Modeller of the Month - October 2009

Modeller of the Month - Peter Law

Like many of the modellers who become the subject of Modeller of the Month, modelling is a hobby or an obsession focused on once the modeller has become a retiree. Call it a statistical pattern evolving if you will but from the findings it can be concluded that 99.9% of modellers believe they are able to pursue the creation of model ships when they retire.

The trouble is, you see, that most of the modeller's have created very large Lists of Things to Do for Retirement. These lists start off with one or two projects, such as work on the garden and build the Endeavour ship from scratch.

On commencing retirement however the 'list' is so long that it has become an insurmountable task to possibly complete every item on the 'list'. Modeller for this month, Peter, had a list of goals he too wanted to complete involving three main topics.

"Prior to my retirement at age 70 I promised myself that I would pursue three things that had eluded me all my childhood and working life. Learn how to use a computer, study astronomy and try my hand at modelling." Peter said.

Technology has made a large contribution to Peter's model building because in the technological age we live in it happens that gigabytes of information about model ships are available on the internet. Peter killed two birds with the one stone, over used cliché permitting, studied astronomy through an on-line course which also taught him computer skills. Peter's modelling interest is sailing ships and he researched modelling clubs specifically building sailing ships on the internet. From Googling model sailing ship building Peter found the Canberra Model Shipwrights Society and how to begin his first model.

"A short on-line astronomy course with a University kick-started my computer skills which led to my searching the internet for modelling clubs that had sailing ships as their particular interest. I found the Canberra Model Shipwrights Society web site and was blown away with the photos of the member's contributions to their annual expos." Peter said.

The first model that Peter created was the Port Jackson Schooner, a very good kit for a beginning modeller as it has a low difficultly level. Peter said that he really enjoyed bringing the Port Jackson into miniature life and although this model may not be perfect these are the mistakes that one learns from.

"The Port Jackson with its companionway doors on the back instead of the front, not very well-fitted rudder and other imperfections takes pride of place on my desk." Peter said.

The second model that Peter created was the HM Cutter Mermaid. Peter said that the companion DVD to the Mermaid kit was very helpful.

"The Mermaid, with the help of Modellers Shipyard and Leon Griffith's DVD, is giving me a much better result and enormous satisfaction." Peter said.

The next model that Peter is looking forward to completing is the Astrolabe and the HMS Beagle. As model building is all about learning and improving Peter has provided some useful tips for fellow modellers, which reads as follows: As an absolute beginner I don't have many technique tips to offer my fellow novices. But I can offer a few bits of advice:

1. Get the Leon Griffiths DVDs. The guidance and tips are top shelf.

2. Before you decide an aspect of your model is finished, take it out into the sunlight and look at it from every angle. The sunlight highlights imperfections that are not noticeable indoors. You then have the opportunity to correct them before your nit-picking, supercilious, self-promoting so-called best friends and family have a field day deflating your ego.

Hopefully Peter's advice will be helpful to other modeller's, novices and advanced alike. Peter has only begun to achieve the goals that he set for himself in retirement. While he has begun exploring each of these goals there is much more learning before him but the main thing that he is enjoying himself.

"I'm still very much the novice at all three activities but each day brings so much enjoyment as new worlds open up that this is, no doubt, a wonderful time of my life." Peter said.