Guys, Tamiya Competition is on again, 2nd year in a row, this time in Millenia Walk in August. Lets all get involved and bump up the entry numbers and make this a truly world class event that Singapore model makers are famous for in ebay. Lets put in our best foot forward to support the event and to inject new life into this once dying hobby!
My son Dominique is trying to outdo me, at 11, he has two prizes under his belt, two years ago with consolations in the Gundam Asian Cup Junior Category, which I gave him a budget of $22 to make. Then last year 2nd in Gundam Asian Cup again, now with a Budget of $50 and armed with the model kits that he won the previous competition, he summitted a diorama.
His old man won the Junior Overall Champion with a 1/32 scale F5E from Hasegawa, then, which took me 6 months to save up to buy. Back then in 1978, it was $33 bucks from Howah International in Serangoon Road. My pocket money at 13 was only $1 per day! Budget goes at $0.20 for bus round trip to school, forget the feeder, it didn't exist then, and a good 2 km walk was the lot for the day, everyday.
$0.50 is set aside for lunch and drinks, that left me with savings of 30cents per day, 100 days of hard savings and 1 week part time job stint at the biscuit factory, I was able to buy it and two air supply cans to spray my Microscale Decal loaded TOPGUN Aggressor model!
At least he had a coach, as for me, I just walked 6km over to Morgan Hobbycraft Centre in Katong and watch what others display there and work to imitate, then I also founded the Tanjong Katong Model Society amongst the students and I need to constantly trounce those chaps in order to command respect! Had 13 members on the first year, we met on Saturdays. Some of these guys are still at it brothers! Some 30 years on!
I am happy that his work is getting neater with practice. Now we see he took my work desk, didn't bother to clear my work, which is a figurine of SS Troop 1/16 scale in SS Oakleaf Spring Camouflage. This guy didn't even put news paper and spray all over my work. After this photo, I rushed to keep my work before it becomes mutilated.
This is one of the old models that we found and gave him as a present, since my brother and me have about 500 kits unbuilt between us, we decided to give him a go at it. His one tone, washing finish was less than desired at first, so he is now doing his toning, which he learnt for 3 months from me to complete his Gundam project last year, now he is working on the Stuart again, repainting the thing. This chap used to be lazy and lacks concentration in whatever he does, the hobby has helped in sharpening his focus. I am happy to watch him work.
With him on my work desk and my 600 bucks chiropractic chair, I have to now squad in low lighting on the living room coffee table to work on sculpting and modifying my SS truppen in Oakleaf spring camouflage reversible outfit.....I am looking forward to the MP44, a weapon I loved very much and way ahead of what the allies have back then.After the photos are taken, I scurried in horror to keep my work! This guy is raining desert yellow all over my figure!