Through Little Eyes

September 12, 2009 saw the successful running of another edition of the Alberta AFV Model Show at the Museum of the Regiments in Calgary. Unlike the other major annual competitive model show in the Calgary area—the Western Canadian Regional Competition—the AAFVMS focuses solely on armour and other military subjects relating to ground combat.

This was my first AAFVMS, but more importantly it was the first time my daughter Rhane was able to take in, and show some of her work in a competitive format.

I started modeling when I was eight or so—my first model was a 1/48 scale Mirage IIIR I built with my father. Like many of us, I took a break in my teens, and after a stint in the Canadian Forces, and settling down into a career as a software engineer, I picked up modeling again on a more or less serious basis. My daughter Rhane was born around that time, and has grown up around models, and glue and paint, and when she was about two she and I started modeling together.

Now going into Grade 1, Rhane has graduated from pre-painted snap kits, to simple glue-able kits she brush paints. It was two of these kits she entered in the 2009 AAFVMS.

Recently, many of my friends and I in the local model club have discussed what needs to be done to attract more people to modeling—especially younger modellers. Much has been done by manufacturers to create a wide range of models for varying skill sets and tastes, but in today’s world of video games and internet, getting kids to sit for a while and model seems to be difficult.

Like most other competitive shows, AAFVMS has a junior category for kids under 18, and there seemed to be quite a number of entries, and many of them with far more skill than I had when I was in my youth. Each entry won gold, and even more exciting for the kids, they were asked to come forward to receive a special certificate of merit for their work.

But recognition of a job well done is not the only thing that I think grows the younger modeler’s interest in the hobby—the venue is important as well. The Museum of the Regiments is a fantastic venue for this show—and highly educational. Rhane was almost as excited to see the tanks and artifacts as she was to show her models, and receive her awards. Better yet, such a venue provides every parent the opportunity to help our children connect with their history and heritage in a very intimate and fun manner.

All in all, I had a fantastic time, and plan on returning—even though my six-year-old did better than I did in the awards department (I won silver for both my entries). Just seeing the excitement, interest and occasional awe in my daughter’s eyes was a better reward anyway, and I believe that even if she moves away from the hobby as she grows—as many of us did, only to return later—what she will have learned about patience, craftsmanship, and sportsmanship will hold her in good stead.

A final note: all the photos taken for this article were done so by Rhane. Though she’s still learning the ins and outs of photography, I find it fascinating to see what things draw the eyes of a six-year-old when at a model show.


Cheers,

Sean