I wouldn’t exclude a kit because of its nationality. I’m more interested in the history, military significance or overall “cool” factor.
But I can certainly see where they are coming from and certainly wouldn’t judge them for their view.
When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s as an AFBrat, I wouldn’t build anything Russian. Since we moved so often, I cleaned out my model collection from move to move with a BB gun. Any German or Japanese stuff was ALWAYS the first to go. Sometimes with firecrackers too.
Don’t know that I’d model ANY of the high German staff during WWII.
But, it’s just me, my opinion is worth exactly what you’ve paid for it.
Gee, never really limited myself. Personally I consider the governments of Imperial Japan, the Third Reich, the Soviet Union, and red China to be reprehensible but still can respect the fighting men of each nation. I too do not model certain units like the Waffen SS either though.
Nope, I’d build a subject of anything interesting. The way I look at it, it’s a model.
I get why some folks don’t. I do, however, build aircraft from the other side of the lines because it helps to tell the story or define the differences between the antagonists…like building the Zero to go with my Hellcat/Wildcat, or the Me109 that goes with the Spitfire on my shelf; it’s part of telling the story sometimes. Now I need to get around to building that MiG 21 that’ll go with my Phantom/Crusader.
It has to be for me the least important criteria, to the point of being a non-factor. It’s the era when it saw service that appeals to me most - and the earlier, the better.
mississippivol… “building the Zero to go with my Hellcat/Wildcat, or the Me109 that goes with the Spitfire on my shelf; it’s part of telling the story sometimes”
I like your idea and think I will start grouping my builds along this line.
I see it as a miniature part of history. If the model appeals to me, then I get it.
Yes, that is my situation. I was three years old when Pearl Harbor happened. That is one of the few memories of that age I still have. So yes, there are a couple of countries I have a hard time doing a model of, though I am trying to get over that.
Oh my god, no, never, not at all. It’s only a model, not an endorsement! I’ll build anything, anyone, any country, nationality, personality, or vehicle. Life is too short.
What about insignia? Anyone have issues with putting a swastika on their models?
I had painted one on my Tamiya 1/350 Bismarck and was quite proud of the overall look of the ship. It wasn’t a problem until I took it out to a pond for a drive (it’s an RC converted boat) and someone pointed it out. I didn’t get into any trouble for it but it’d made me quite conscious of it.
I don’t have any problem building any sort of model, I’ve always been interested in the engineering and the machines themselves.
My grand father was Polish army, he saw both sides, German and Russian.
As for the swastika, I see both sides of that as well…my grand father’s side and my wife’s side (she’s Indian).
But when it comes down to it we are here enjoying a hobby that we all have an interest in, so if I manage to find the time with work, I’ll build pretty much anything.
Again no qualms at all with insignia,if somebody asked,I would just say it was a Nazi ship,and that is the way it looked,same if it was any nationality.
But you know,I would feel funny if I had to explain myself to a Concentration Camp survivor or relative about my Nazi ship or vehicle,but I wouldn’t change my views about modeling one.It’s history
If its part of the model then I don’t have a problem with having the insignia on it.
One day I plan to do a General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard, but you can’t have that without the flag on the roof.
It doesn’t mean I follow and ideologies either from the 1800’s or now, it means I like building accurate(ish) plastic models.
I really like doog’s point, its not an endorsement.
That is a silly idea, just like EBay’s policy of selling let’s say a Bf109 done to scale right down to the unit markings which includes the swas. All bells and whistles go off and the Ebay police fast response team arrives on the scene to quickly pull the listing off. [:#] Their reason is that they do not advertise items that promote hate yet you can list and sell Che Guevara T shirts without a problem! [*-)].
another point I would like to make if I may, is that the swatstik predates Hitler or any of those people!!! From the little reasearch I’ve done the Hindus? were the first people to use it!!! I also have seen pictures of it on American Indians teepees taken by Matthew Brady, during the American Cival War look it up if you dont beleive me. All Hitler and/or his people did was turn it to the left on its side. Just thought I’d point this out Thanks
Trouble is nowadays everybody is soo frickin’ poitically correct. Folks nowadays are getting too sensitive and forgetting it’s WW2 history and the Luftwaffe.
Before I had an airbrush, I didn’t do German WW2 fighters/bombers because of their complex camo markings. Now that I have one, I’m ready to take the challenge to do a Bf 109 I have in my stash.
For me, modeling has always been about an interest in the machines, the men who drive them, and the historical context in which they were placed.
I have a very close friend whose wife comes from a very strict religious family. She’s very naive and was sheltered, so much so that she lacks many of the skills necessary to live on a daily basis such as paying bills, getting a driver’s license, etc. Fully mentally capable though, so it’s not like a disability, per se. I offered to teach her how to shoot last summer, so the three of us went out to the woods after half a day of “gun school” in my office. When it came time for her to shoot, she couldn’t do it. She shuddered and walked back to the truck. That’s ok. I knew going in it might happen, and guns aren’t for everyone. The emotional connection was interesting to see though.
I use the above to illustrate how some people tend to connect the human condition much more closely to the equipment involved. Although I myself would never limit myself by shutting out any particular country’s equipment, I can respect that many gents who hold an immediacy to those times by having been there may choose to. When you think about it, each of us has lived a very different life from one another, and we’re all entitled to play this game of life as we see fit.
Anyway, just my .02.
Okay, who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy?
To Texans, the Mexicans were the bad guys at the Alamo. To the Santa Ana , the Texicans defying the law with their insistence on bringing slavery to town.
To most Americans, the English were the bad guys during our revolution , but King George saw the colonials as rebels and traitors to the crown.
At the Little Big Horn, most of us were taught that Custer was the good guy fighting the willful and recalcitrant Indians. To Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, Long Hair Custer was a murderer representing a people stealing their ancestral lands and destroying their way of life.
Through most European history from the middle ages on, the bad guy was bad only until his child was marriage fodder for an alliance beneficial to both sides.
We have come to despise the idea of a sneak attack. But really, aren’t all military attacks secret until launched? Imagine this phone call: “Herr H, General Ike is on the phone. He’d like you to know his forces will be landing in Normandy starting about about dawn of 6 June…weather permitting, of course. Gen. Monty will be there as well and they said they didn’t want to surprise you.”
I think to most WW 2 Vets in ref. to Pearl Harbor they despise the idea of an un-provoked attack.