A year or so ago, I was fortunate to be able to retire and get back into a hobby I’ve been absent from for over 40 years - plastic model aircraft. Then I had another fortunate experience - I stumbled onto the FSM website and forums. What a great place it turned out to be! Before the advent of computers and the internet, it was difficult if not impossible to meet like-minded folks and share ideas and experiences. Now through the FSM website, there’s a wealth of knowledge right at your fingertips, and a host of new friends and colleagues as well.
The site is well organized and easy to navigate, and it has a dedicated staff that constantly monitors the heartbeat of the community. Folks, it doesn’t get any better than that! But we have a way of taking things like this for granted, so whenever you have the opportunity, let FSM know how much you appreciate their interest and hard work on our behalf. As for me: Thanks, FSM! Keep up the good work!
Well stated, Russ. You stated my thoughts better than I could have. I felt alone modelling all those years back. Nobody to learn from, nobody to share with. This medium is, as you so aptly stated, Russ, a true gift.
I recently returned to scale modelling and had I not found this site (not to mention FSM magazine), not sure I’d be sticking with this first build back. The support, knowledge, skills and friendliness here is incredible.
FSM, thank you for providing this forum for us. And keep your great periodicals coming, please.
[dto:] Russ!! I could not agree more. When I was a boy, everyone knew someone that was building models. It was about as popular as playing video games has become today. Once the models disappeared from store shelves, everybody forgot about them. Hell even I didn’t pick up a glue bottle for 25 years. I started building again about a year and a half ago. I have young relatives and neighbor kids who don’t know what I mean when I say “I’m working on my models”. One girl thought that I worked for a fashion magazine.
So, we are a rare breed nowadays. Which makes a conduit such as FSM all the more valuable. It really is priceless. There’s just such a sense of connection felt in here. I’m really grateful to have found this community and plan to stick around for a long time.
I joined the forum back in 2002. I only posted a few times before I stopped modelling in 2003 and i forgot about the forum. When i started modelling again in 2008, one of the first things i did was jump back on here, and i haven’t looked back since.
There have been a few changes over the years, which haven’t always been popular at the time, including with myself. But things have always settled back in as if nothing had changed. It is easy to take the site for granted, it’s always just here where you last left it. But i know my modelling wouldn’t be where is it now if it wasn’t for this place. Its great to have some where to go and meet like minded people, share ideas and have a bit of a laugh along the way.
I do like the way this place is run, and its longevity is a testimony to how good the site really is.
So thanks guys for giving us a nice relaxed and friendly place to come and share our hobby. I know its not always been easy, but that just makes the good times even better.
I couldn’t agree more with everyone’s comments. When I got back into building, I hit the internet and found tons of sites. They all had a “harsh” feeling to them, especially since my skills were sub-par. I admit to lurking here a bit too long, but in the end, the atmosphere, friendliness, and way this forum is handled is the best there is. Yeah, there have been some ripples in the space/time continuum, but that’s life. Here you can hook up with other modelers from around the world and feel like best friends. Not so at other sites.
So thanks FSM, your time and efforts are appreciated!