Scale modelling can still thrill the young. It can be 'cool'.

malron · 29-02-2008

I have taught Technical Education at Ardrossan Academy in Scotland for twenty years.
I am fortunate to be a teacher of Technical education as it is a subject which can build the self-confidence and self esteem of all pupils, perhaps especially, the less able pupils.
Often, I am teaching pupils who have personal, family and/or school problems. Technical Education can be a subject to be looked forward to by less able pupils.
It can be a subject that can excite, stimulate and motivate when little else in school interests them.
Ten months ago I started building a Technical Department website.
It was my intention to make this site different from the usual school website. Pupil centered, fun, exciting with individual photographs of the pupils and their work.
As a scale model aficionado I have tried to motivate my pupils by sharing my enthusiasm for this subject with them. Built from scratch, the enthusiasm of these 14-15 year olds when making these models was something to behold.

This I think shows that scale model building can be just as enthralling and exciting for today’s youngsters as it has for generations past. Some of these pupils are termed challenging in today’s parlance, however the different builds consumed their attention and their behavior was superb.
The year 2 scratch built Red Baron was also a huge success. Difficult to bring in a Scottish link here. However, see alternative history of Ardrossan Academy page on site.

One can tell from the looks on the pupil’s faces on the new website that they are very proud of the work they have produced. It has to be remembered that these youngsters would rather suffer a death of a thousand cuts than be photographed and shown on a website doing something which they consider ‘uncool’.

I have tried where possible, to relate the pupils work to the Clyde area, or to Scotland in terms of design, history, technology and manufacture. This, I believe makes the work much more relevant and significant to them.
In year 3 we limbered up with a pirate ship. The connection to Scotland was that the famous pirate Captain Kidd was born here in Dundee.
We then tackled the legendary HMS Hood in year 4. The great ship was built only a few miles up the Clyde coast from the school. They say pictures are worth a thousand words. The beaming smiles of these young people with their finished work show the effect that scale model building can have.
I would very much appreciate and be very interested in, any comments on the site and the pupil’s work from the people at the peak of the scale modeling world. I would of course pass on your comments to the pupils. They would be thrilled to here from you.
One can find the site at http://www.ardtech.co.uk

Kind regards,
John Anderson

**GEEDUBBYA** · 29-02-2008

Hello Mr. Anderson,

Firstly, allow me to welcome you to the forum, we always enjoy meeting new members.
And now please allow me to thank you for the great work you are doing with the younger generation. Too often this younger generation loses interest in trades, arts, skills and even hobbies of the previous generation and having visited your website I wanted to thank you for keeping our skills/hobby alive in the minds of these young adults.
I believe everyone here will agree that there are times that we see ourselves as a dying breed, not to be followed by a younger generation, but through efforts like yours and others, I believe we can rest assured that there will be interest in this hobby for some time to come....not only by your students but perhaps by their children as well a little bit further in the future.
I do wish to take this opportunity to invite you to pass this website along to all of your pupils in an effort to give them the chance to see what a group of people sharing common interests are capable of achieving. We dont "judge" here, the effort put forth in this hobby by our members is recognized and appreciated by one and all and we welcome all people with similar interests.
Anyway, I have rambled on long enough, but again, I do wish to express a warm welcome to you and a thank you for your efforts.

Have a good day and we look forward to see more from you and hope to welcome some of your pupils as members.

Greg aka GEEDUBBYA (GW)

**Bluewavestudios** · 29-02-2008

Hi John,

A Big Welcome to you and your pupils to the site, I think Greg has pretty much covered what I want to say above. I can only agree with his comments.

It is nice to see someone taking time out to show the playstation / computer game generation that Making models can be fun and just as enjoyable. Nothing to be frowned upon at all. I have had a look at your site and the pics of your pupil's models and wish to applaud them for their efforts. Some very nice models there and I am sure they had a lot of fun making them too....Hopefully some of them will continue and keep this Hobby alive. There is plenty of diversity within this hobby, so no matter what they do, they are bound to find something that they like......as the many threads on this site will show. We have the whole hobby pretty much covered on here.

And as Greg says above, we certainly look forwards to seeing more from you and your pupils on here, keep up the good work.

Regards.......Mark

jspitza · 29-02-2008

a HUGE welcome to you John! Now only if we can get more hobby building by the youth in the states!!! I'm really excited to see more teachers in this forum due to two very selfish reasons-1. so much knowledge can be gained and 2. my spelling needs correction!

Take care, Jeff

**Bunkerbarge** · 29-02-2008

What a great web site and what a pleasure to be able to welcome you to the Scale Models forum John.

I hope that some of your lads get to see this forum and realise just how much we all appreciate what they have done and how much we are all impressed by thier modelling. In fact if you could persuade them to join us I'm sure we would love to hear about how they have made thier models and what techniques that have used to put together such brilliant projects.

It really is great to know that there are people out there actively encouraging our younger generation to be creative and continue some of the great Scotish traditions of engineering and manufacturing and it is even more reassuring to know that there are lads out there who enjoy participating.

If you ever need any support or words of encouragement you only have to ask.

Pan_Am_Clipper_Girl · 29-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by GEEDUBBYA

We dont "judge" here, the effort put forth in this hobby by our members is recognized and appreciated by one and all and we welcome all people with similar interests.

This is true, if you saw my awful kits.

Hello Sir. In this push button world it's a refreshing change to see some people put in that little extra effort and I'm sure they will find any model as rewarding as finishing off a level 6 boss on a game.
Modelling is both a brilliant past-time as well as educational. How many of us have got a kit in the morning, searched the wibblywobbly web for pictures of that particular subject or looked in books etc? I'm willing to bet 100% of us have done that for at least a handful of kits. I had nore Two-Six Pan Am decals arrive yesterday and immedeately went to a couple of airliner sites as well as googling the registrations/clipper names. They are now in my Pan Am folder ready for the time to come to spray them.

One tip I can pass on is not to let others dust your models, I'm still mouring my Airfix Vosper and H.M.S Victory lost on shelf during the great dusting phase of 1976!

**wonwinglo** · 29-02-2008

John,we need more practical hands on teachers like yourself in this age of computer gamers,children if properly directed and given the chance to do some practical projects will be inspired by your work and your own enthusiasm,this is what is lacking today people like yourself who are prepared to give things a try are the salt of the earth,I take my hat off to you Sir ! keep up the good work and thank you for explaining your methods to get the kids of today involved,ten out of ten.

**wonwinglo** · 29-02-2008

And that is a mighty fine web site you have there,just love the different themes especially that Red Baron project,what child could fail to be intrigued by a bright red Triplane ?

malron · 01-03-2008

Thank you for your vey kind and generous comments about the pupill's projects. I will keep the site informed of any new projects and pass on your comments to the pupils.
Best regards
john anderson

comet cruiser · 02-03-2008

I'm 13 years old and I find making model kits interesting. I used to make Airfix and Revel 1/72 1/600 kits. I now find them too easy and now make tamiya 1/35 and 1/48 kits. So, yes some of the younger generation are still interested in things other than computers and MP3s.