Modelling cool, or not, nerdy or not?

[BarryW]

I think we have all had negative reactions from friends, family and acquaintances about our brilliant hobby, mostly I have to say, from the ladies…. Here perhaps is a little ammunition to use when someone raises this.

Let's consider 'nerdyness' first. A very large number of modellers are ex-military as, I am sure, many of you included. Notable is Jamie Haggo, the well known modeller and YouTuber, he was an RAF fighter pilot. Are these the kind of people who would typically be associated with 'needyness'? Of course not.

So is it 'cool' and for that we should consider some of the famous people who are or were when alive, modellers.
Al Murray, the pub landlord, armour
Bruce Springsteen, aircraft
Rod Stewart, railways
Harrison Ford, aircraft
Tom Hanks, aircraft and armour
James May, just about everything
Peter Jackson, aircraft
Gordon Ramsay, aircraft
Phil Collins, aircraft and armour
Henry Cavill, warhammer (if that can be included)
Neil Young, railways
Chris Barrie (Red Dwarf fame) armour
Patrick Stewart, railways
Roger Daltry, railways
Quentin Taranto, aircraft
Nicholas Cage, fantasy miniatures
Lou's Theroux, aircraft
James Stewart, aircraft
Steve McQueen, aircraft and naturally motorcycles
Christopher Lee, aircraft
Peter Cushing, military miniatures
Vincent Price, ships
Bella Lugosi,mostly trains
John Lennon, aircraft
George Harrison, railways
Freddy Mercury, ships
Johnny Cash trains
Frank Sinatra, trains
Stanley Kubrick, aircraft
Walt Disney, trains

That's my list from one quick internet search. That looks like a list of pretty cool people to me.

So next time, when someone insults you and your hobby, you can show that far from a nerd, you are among some of the coolest people who have lived.

You may know more to add…….

 

[Steve Ski]

That's quite a list, Barry, but I'd be curious how many are of the Gen Z era, and famous? Would they admit it? The old guys, that's cool and I would expect some to be involved, but it's the younger ones I'd like to see "sniffin paint and gluin their fingers together" to carry on the hobby. Too many distractions I recon.

Personally, I've never cared what someone might think of what we do. Usually within seconds it's easy to tell if you've got someone who appreciates art, or someone who is totally clueless as to what they're looking at. Those, I brush off and change the subject, no sense trying to explain anything to them.

However, I did run across a younger gal recently, in her early 20's, who was an artist, although in a strange direction, but she did appreciate my work personally, right up until the point of seeing my "Calm Before the Storm" sub gun deck vignette with a Nazi flag. When she saw that flag, she went all kinds "woke" and nearly had a coronary. I had to explain history to her, and that only turned out to be a waste of time, but I shouldn't have had to say anything. Oh well, that one's a total loss, go figure!

Barry, might there be any pics of some of these guys and their work? I know it might be asking a lot, but that would be pretty awesome to see just how deep some of these famous people actually go.

Ruck On, Berry!

 

[BarryW]

I have seen some pictures of Christopher Lee with some of his models, likewise Jimmy Stewart and a recent Tank Museum video on YouTube featured Al Murray and Chris Barrie both featured with theirs. A look at the Tank Museum YT channel will give you the latter two but I have no idea where to find photos of the former.

 

[Bob T]

Rod Stewart:
https://www.trains.com/mrr/news-reviews/news/rod-stewart-and-model-railroads/

 

[Demolition]

Just pointing out a few things here, referring to someone or yourself as "ex" military shines a bad light on your/their service. Ex is generally negative, ie:ex wife, ex girlfriend, ex usually refers to a military or public servant that was dishonorably discharged. Former military is a much better way to phrase it. Also no one under 40 knows anyone on that list lol and if I was in an argument about how cool modeling is…. Frank Sinatra isn't at the top of my list as pushing the point across. Let's be honest it is a nerdy hobby, extreme sports, guns, race cars, body building, metal bands are all "cool" hobbies. Know I have and enjoy a lot of the " cool hobbies" but most of them just hurt at this point in life….but I also enjoy a few dorky nerdy ones and I embrace it. It's all about perspective I guess, you get married, have kids and after that you really loose interest in cool or not, in fact I often do stuff intentionally " uncool" just to mess with my kids, cuz I'm a dad and that's what dads do.
Ok sorry for all that

 

[BarryW]

Just pointing out a few things here, referring to someone or yourself as "ex" military shines a bad light on your/their service. Ex is generally negative, ie:ex wife, ex girlfriend, ex usually refers to a military or public servant that was dishonorably discharged. Former military is a much better way to phrase it. Also no one under 40 knows anyone on that list lol and if I was in an argument about how cool modeling is…. Frank Sinatra isn't at the top of my list as pushing the point across. Let's be honest it is a nerdy hobby, extreme sports, guns, race cars, body building, metal bands are all "cool" hobbies. Know I have and enjoy a lot of the " cool hobbies" but most of them just hurt at this point in life….but I also enjoy a few dorky nerdy ones and I embrace it. It's all about perspective I guess, you get married, have kids and after that you really loose interest in cool or not, in fact I often do stuff intentionally " uncool" just to mess with my kids, cuz I'm a dad and that's what dads do.
Ok sorry for all that

First of all I disagree with your interpretation of language. Nothing whatsoever negative about 'ex'. I have ex girlfriends that are good friends and plenty of ex-military who describe themselves as such. Ex does not necessarily have negative connotations. My ex-wife, now that's different……. But that's not because of the word ex!

Now that list, well I have two sons under 40 who will know most of those on the list. For one thing both are fans of Star Wars, Star Trek and LOTR among many other things. Are they 'nurds' one perhaps but the younger, if not on expedition in the Antarctic or Artic, he is trekking in the Himalayas or Andes or one of the other remote wild places that he loves including last year hunting crocodiles (with camera) in Northern Australia.

Now, Frank Sinatra, he was the epitomy of cool, he invented cool. His music is eternal unlike the once heard best forgotten rubbish produced today. To be fair to you, when I was a shallow youth in the '70's I thought like you about him, but with age comes wisdom and now I will happily enjoy The Rat Pack alongside Pink Floyd.

I just had a peek and see that you are American, it could be that the difference in language is part of what divides us. Being English myself and our language being English, I clearly over-rule you on that!!!!!!