MUSEUM QUALITY. SERIOUSLY ?
I RECENTLY READ THAT ANOTHER MANUFACTURER DESCRIBED ONE OF THEIR RESIN MODELS AS MUSEUM QUALITY. THAT SHOWS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS CONCEPT MEANS.
Museum-quality refers to models that are not only nearly perfect externally in terms of their scale and form relative to the real objects they represent, but also internally.
Anyone familiar with the world of model making knows that this term originates from the large scale models that naval architects displayed in their offices at the shipyards where tall ships were built. These served as a reference for the foremen when they didn't understand something in the plans.
Anyone familiar with the world of model making knows that this term originates from the large scale models that naval architects displayed in their offices at the shipyards where tall ships were built. These served as a reference for the foremen when they didn't understand something in the plans.
These models eventually ended up in museums. The Naval Museum in Madrid has an excellent collection of these models, and I have an excellent book that I recommend: "ARSENAL MODELS OF THE NAVAL MUSEUM. Evolution of Spanish Naval Construction, 17th-18th Centuries." It is a photographic and technical study of these models and the ships they represent.
When one is in front of these models, all vanity falls to the ground and one learns to use this term with the respect it deserves.
When one is in front of these models, all vanity falls to the ground and one learns to use this term with the respect it deserves.
It's true that museums don't usually have these kinds of treasures and display other, lower-quality models. But from there, it's like everything else. It's a downward spiral where quality depends on each museum; there's no bottom, and this concept loses all its meaning.
We have all seen models in museums that are even worse than those we can see in many model-making competitions.
We have all seen models in museums that are even worse than those we can see in many model-making competitions.
And what about aviation ? What becomes of this term ? Fortunately, there are great masters who follow this line of model making as dictated by these naval lessons. And if real airplanes are made of metal... they make them out of that metal. But it's not just about the material. It's about the method of construction for each spar, rib, and sheet according to the plans.
Even the seats, the engines... the perfection of these models follows the principle of being a guide for the construction of the airplane, to the extent that the scale and the budget of the museum commissioning these works allow.
Even the seats, the engines... the perfection of these models follows the principle of being a guide for the construction of the airplane, to the extent that the scale and the budget of the museum commissioning these works allow.
As Guillermo Rojas Bazán, an Argentinian model maker with whom I had the honor of exchanging messages years ago, told me, he was about to receive a commission from the Air and Space Museum in Madrid... but they preferred another artist.
As a model maker, I wouldn't recommend the models the museum commissioned at that time of this other artist. Just as I wouldn't recommend those of many museums around the world.
I read a news item from the Naval Museum in Madrid, indicating that the director of a large company has donated his models.
What's so special about them? Well, they belong to this director. But they're commercial models like yours or mine. Nothing special about them. Nothing proffesional.
As a model maker, I wouldn't recommend the models the museum commissioned at that time of this other artist. Just as I wouldn't recommend those of many museums around the world.
I read a news item from the Naval Museum in Madrid, indicating that the director of a large company has donated his models.
What's so special about them? Well, they belong to this director. But they're commercial models like yours or mine. Nothing special about them. Nothing proffesional.
However, Guillermo's, as he himself indicates on his humble website in a way almost lost amidst a brief presentation:
"These scale model airplanes have been considered the best of their kind in the world by the United States Air Force Museum, the art auction house Christie's (Model Department) and the University of Notre Dame (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering), between others."
Nothing more and nothing less. So, patience, calm, and let's not exaggerate. The work of these masters is unparalleled. Let's not jump on a bandwagon we don't deserve.
I've included a link to his website here. The model airplane photos in this article are from his collection. Quite a lesson:
https://www.rojasbazan.com/home/index.html
"These scale model airplanes have been considered the best of their kind in the world by the United States Air Force Museum, the art auction house Christie's (Model Department) and the University of Notre Dame (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering), between others."
Nothing more and nothing less. So, patience, calm, and let's not exaggerate. The work of these masters is unparalleled. Let's not jump on a bandwagon we don't deserve.
I've included a link to his website here. The model airplane photos in this article are from his collection. Quite a lesson:
https://www.rojasbazan.com/home/index.html
