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[RickF]

I wonder what that reporter does for a hobby - assuming he has one? I bet he thinks he's really smart, when all he proves is his abysmal ignorance - assuming he can spell abysmal!

Rick

Who's attic has an electric fire, thus rendering his anorak superfluous!

[ambernblu]

Rick...

I agree with you absolutely!

The newspaper article was noted on a posting to the Model Rail Express mag (http://www.mremag.demon.co.uk/hpsite/index.htm) by one Bob Anderson, who as a railway modeller, is obviously just as annoyed as any modeller would be, by the comments of this narrow minded individual, who certainly seems to be inferring that modellers are a dangerous form of individual, who shouldn't be let out on the streets without supervision!  >:(

Bob Anderson concludes his posting with the following.....

This is the same newspaper that has willingly accepted payment for advertising the Aberdeen MRC exhibition this coming weekend. Perhaps the originator of the article, one Scott Begbie, could be persuaded to come along and open our exhibition, I'm sure that many railway modellers would be glad of an opportunity to shake him by the hand, or any other part of his anatomy.

Should anyone wish to comment, Mr Begbie may be contacted at:

Aberdeen Journals
Lang Stracht
Mastrick
Aberdeen AB15 6DF

Tel. 01224 690222. Or comments may be posted at  [email protected]


 

[FullLeatherJacket]

Begbie? Wasn't that the name of the psychopathic drug addict in "Trainspotting" whose party trick was dropping full pint glasses of beer from a balcony onto other pub customers? Perhaps they're related.......I think we should be told.

[Scottie]

I was considering this very subject earlier this year and came up with an idea... tell me what you think.

Excitement! Isn't that what younger people are looking for?
Often, when watching 'fast electric' races I've noticed most people show more interest when there is a coming together or spactacular failure of one or more boats.... Hmmm

Robot Wars was a very popular programme - could we make 'Battling Boats'? Well, not really, to much risk of sinking. But I talked to a few of the members and we came up with this idea.

Instead of 'avoiding' each others boats on the water we would build boats with sufficient protection to survive repeated collisions.

'Bumper Boats' were born.

The hull is based on a 'Club 500' style. Bumpers are 15mm pipe lagging available from B&Q, etc. The hull cannot be altered in any way but running gear and superstructure is down to the builder.

I have devised a compettion from this which involves a ball sitting on the boat. The idea is to try to knock the ball off every other boat while not losing your own ball. The winner will be the last boat that still has it's ball in place.

My thought is to put this on as an exihibition type of event to show that model boats aren't just about looking good and showing off how good a builder you are.

Well, that's the idea and we already have fifteen members who have bought hulls and are busily building.

So, what do you think?

Scottie

[RickF]

Sounds like fun,Scottie - as long as I don't have to wade in and collect all the floating balls!

However, I wonder if it will encourage anybody to become a boat modeller (or a model boater)? Possibly it may ignite a spark in someone, but I would not hold my breath.

I find the biggest problem with trying to think like a teenager is the fact that I stopped being one over forty years ago! I cannot conceive what motivates or interests them, but I know it is lightyears away from what got me into model making all those years ago.

Without wanting to seem patronising or a GOG, I doubt whether today's sophisticated fifteen-year-olds are going to find RC boating holds their interest for long, and even if they are bitten by the bug, very few are ever going to sit down and spend a couple of hours every night for several months building a 1:32 lifeboat if they can go out and buy a ready-to-run one off the shelf.

We did it, because that was the only way then, but todays youngsters are used to things being "instant". It's not just boats, but planes and cars too. The attitude of the press (see above) doesn't help make any sort of model-making more appealing to teenagers either.

Whatever we do, as individuals or clubs, it's going to be an uphill struggle. Getting the youngsters down to the lake is an important first step, but keeping their interest and turning them into modellers - thats the hard part.

Rick