I have been meaning to re share this particular article my teacher (sensei)'s wife wrote some times ago. I believe this is a good read and something that all the modellers and their wife/girlfriends should read as well.
When I read this article, I felt nothing but envy for my teacher ( Chris Bryan) for how lucky he is to have such a supportive wife, a wife who not only support but also encourage modelling.
And after reading this, I felt I have to share this as AFV modelling is not really toy like, as evidenly, fighting vehicles are not toys. But When it comes to gundam modelling, or sometimes the mini figures or resin figures, we are looked down upon, frowned upon and smirked upon as guys in their 20s,30s still playing with toys.
And every time I see or hear something like that, I feel really bad. One of my ex-girlfriends never supported my hobby and back then, I felt like S**T so I know to a certain extent how that feels like. After reading this article, I figure I should share it for the many other ''Plastic Widows'' ,as Mrs. Bryan (the Autor) put it, that they will know this is a hobby worth supporting, this is a hobby that is not harmful and this is a hobby that is not kid's stuff.
My husband and I were enjoying the rare treat of having dinner out alone; (rare because we have two teenage daughters at home and one grown daughter who lives a half mile away). I was deriving great pleasure from the time alone as well as from the stimulating adult conversation. One of the things I have always loved about my husband is his ability to carry on an intellectual conversation on nearly any subject imaginable.
He is well read and well informed so the potential topics of conversation are virtually limitless. We were discussing, without interruption from the children or the dog, everything from the state of the plants in the yard to the state of the world. We had just begun a fascinating dialogue on the ozone layer and global warming when…the inevitable occurred. The conversation suddenly turned to plastic.
Yes, it’s true. I am a “Plastic Widow.” My husband is an avid modeler and this means that every aspect of our lives is somehow connected to modeling and, hence, to plastic.
Never heard of a Plastic Widow? Oh come, now. Certainly you are familiar with Football Widows, Basketball Widows, or Hockey Widows? These terms refer to the wives or girlfriends of men who are so obsessed with these sports that they have had to make allowances for their husbands’ passion in their lives and homes in order to keep the relationship in existence. A Plastic Widow endures the same fate with the exception that, instead of sharing her husband’s attention with sporting events, she shares her husband with his undying devotion to modeling.
Most of us know that our husbands are plastic junkies long before they become our husbands. If this is the case, we have no one to blame but ourselves for our predicament. We knew what we were getting into. For instance:
*Plastic knows no season; there will be modeling year round.
*We will be shown each piece at each stage and expected to say, “Wow!” and marvel at his craftsmanship.
*We might as well add plastic, glue, and paint to the budget. It will be purchased; resistance is futile.
*We must lower our expectations of organization. It’s not a mess, it’s a project.
*There are hobby shops in every vacation spot you may visit.
*There will be shows and competitions at which we will stand around and…well…stand around.
*Plastic junkies are afflicted with “modeler’s disease.” They buy far more kits than they will ever build. There is no cure
and they wouldn’t’t take it if there was one.
And last, but not least, every single topic of conversation can and will be related, in some way, shape, or form, to plastic modeling.
That reminds me…wondering how a discussion on global warming morphed into a conversation about plastic? Any Plastic Widow knows that this was actually a short trip. Global warming is responsible for the deterioration of the ozone layer. The depletion of the ozone layer has led to scientific research on methods of producing plastic that are more environmentally friendly. Implementation of these new methods of production will cost the model companies more and, consequently, the increase will be passed on to the consumer and the price of model kits will go up. So, it stands to reason that global warming is responsible for the rising cost of the tools of the trade for our passionate modelers. Any questions?
While all of this may sound rather overwhelming, the true Plastic Widow knows that, while his eyes may light up at the sight of ’78 Corvette Sport Coupe or a Panzer Battalion Series kit, his heart still beats for the woman who stands by him as the winners are called out at the show. He knows that she is the one who will be beaming with pride when he is handed the award or the one who will tell him how his piece was much better and should have won when his name is passed over. She is his biggest fan and his sounding board. She pretends to understand what he explains about his plans for his next build.
The Plastic Widow is a woman who loves a man who loves to model. If she is wise, she will use this to her advantage. Remember…for every kit or supply of paint, every bottle of glue or package of after-market supplies that is purchased, therein lies leverage for that pair of shoes, that new outfit, or that dinner out that of which she has been dreaming. Of course, the conversation during dinner will always turn to plastic, but, hey, we Plastic Widows knew that would happen all along. We’re used to it.
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When I read this article, I felt nothing but envy for my teacher ( Chris Bryan) for how lucky he is to have such a supportive wife, a wife who not only support but also encourage modelling.
And after reading this, I felt I have to share this as AFV modelling is not really toy like, as evidenly, fighting vehicles are not toys. But When it comes to gundam modelling, or sometimes the mini figures or resin figures, we are looked down upon, frowned upon and smirked upon as guys in their 20s,30s still playing with toys.
And every time I see or hear something like that, I feel really bad. One of my ex-girlfriends never supported my hobby and back then, I felt like S**T so I know to a certain extent how that feels like. After reading this article, I figure I should share it for the many other ''Plastic Widows'' ,as Mrs. Bryan (the Autor) put it, that they will know this is a hobby worth supporting, this is a hobby that is not harmful and this is a hobby that is not kid's stuff.
Life as a Plastic Widow
by
Lorelei Bryan
Lorelei Bryan
He is well read and well informed so the potential topics of conversation are virtually limitless. We were discussing, without interruption from the children or the dog, everything from the state of the plants in the yard to the state of the world. We had just begun a fascinating dialogue on the ozone layer and global warming when…the inevitable occurred. The conversation suddenly turned to plastic.
Yes, it’s true. I am a “Plastic Widow.” My husband is an avid modeler and this means that every aspect of our lives is somehow connected to modeling and, hence, to plastic.
Never heard of a Plastic Widow? Oh come, now. Certainly you are familiar with Football Widows, Basketball Widows, or Hockey Widows? These terms refer to the wives or girlfriends of men who are so obsessed with these sports that they have had to make allowances for their husbands’ passion in their lives and homes in order to keep the relationship in existence. A Plastic Widow endures the same fate with the exception that, instead of sharing her husband’s attention with sporting events, she shares her husband with his undying devotion to modeling.
Most of us know that our husbands are plastic junkies long before they become our husbands. If this is the case, we have no one to blame but ourselves for our predicament. We knew what we were getting into. For instance:
*Plastic knows no season; there will be modeling year round.
*We will be shown each piece at each stage and expected to say, “Wow!” and marvel at his craftsmanship.
*We might as well add plastic, glue, and paint to the budget. It will be purchased; resistance is futile.
*We must lower our expectations of organization. It’s not a mess, it’s a project.
*There are hobby shops in every vacation spot you may visit.
*There will be shows and competitions at which we will stand around and…well…stand around.
*Plastic junkies are afflicted with “modeler’s disease.” They buy far more kits than they will ever build. There is no cure
and they wouldn’t’t take it if there was one.
And last, but not least, every single topic of conversation can and will be related, in some way, shape, or form, to plastic modeling.
That reminds me…wondering how a discussion on global warming morphed into a conversation about plastic? Any Plastic Widow knows that this was actually a short trip. Global warming is responsible for the deterioration of the ozone layer. The depletion of the ozone layer has led to scientific research on methods of producing plastic that are more environmentally friendly. Implementation of these new methods of production will cost the model companies more and, consequently, the increase will be passed on to the consumer and the price of model kits will go up. So, it stands to reason that global warming is responsible for the rising cost of the tools of the trade for our passionate modelers. Any questions?
While all of this may sound rather overwhelming, the true Plastic Widow knows that, while his eyes may light up at the sight of ’78 Corvette Sport Coupe or a Panzer Battalion Series kit, his heart still beats for the woman who stands by him as the winners are called out at the show. He knows that she is the one who will be beaming with pride when he is handed the award or the one who will tell him how his piece was much better and should have won when his name is passed over. She is his biggest fan and his sounding board. She pretends to understand what he explains about his plans for his next build.
The Plastic Widow is a woman who loves a man who loves to model. If she is wise, she will use this to her advantage. Remember…for every kit or supply of paint, every bottle of glue or package of after-market supplies that is purchased, therein lies leverage for that pair of shoes, that new outfit, or that dinner out that of which she has been dreaming. Of course, the conversation during dinner will always turn to plastic, but, hey, we Plastic Widows knew that would happen all along. We’re used to it.
————–
The Bird would like to thank Lorelei Bryan and Chris Bryan for the kind permission to publish this cool article!
And to all the modelers that is facing the same kind of crap that All of us are facing from time to time, just keep your head high, and keep showing off your creativity.
For people who knows not the true meaning of creativiy are nothing but pitiful people, unable to taste art, taste creativity and are thus, simply jealous of us for what they cannot do.
Keep on modelling, dear Modelers and to all those singles modellers out there, just show this to girls and let them know how much they can take advantages of us - http://modeller-innovation.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/date-guy-who-builds-model-kits.html
And girls, if you have any boyfriends who is a modeler, just be proud of what your boyfriend can do for not all people are creative.
Happy modelling guys....
