Photo illustration by Andrew Haughey.
Model students
Replica kits provide students with outlet for creativity, relaxation Andrew Haughey
A
haughand000@hsestudents.org
lthough miniature planes, trains and automobiles may not always operate in the same manner as their life-size counterparts, they can still provide the basis for a hobby enjoyed by many: model making. This activity can refer to the assembly of manufactured kits or self-produced dioramas and can be practiced in a variety of mediums. Additionally, many subjects can be reproduced as models regardless of their feasibility in real life. Because of the number of forms a modeling project can assume, it is an appealing pastime for many. Freshman Kaiden Jayamanne enjoys building models and his projects typically replicate subjects such as planes, tanks, boats and robots from the Japanese anime franchise “Gundam.” He often utilizes the hobby as a way to relax and believes that one of the best ways to enjoy model making is to be open-minded. “There’s different varieties of models and sometimes you can’t find the model you’d like,” Jayamanne said. “Sometimes you have to change the type of model you’re building, which requires you to stray from your comfort zone.” Furthermore, Jayamanne believes gifting models for the
Arts & Culture
holiday season is a good way to engage others in a pastime they may not otherwise choose to partake in and, as a result, broaden their horizons to new activities. “Most people I know don’t really like getting clothes for Christmas and stuff,” Jayamanne said. “I also know some people who used to do models at one point but stopped for sports, but I know they still like it.” As far as gifting models goes, LEGO is considered to be one of the more approachable brands due to its availability in many stores and expansive selection of kits for every age. Additionally, the brand has a wide variety of sets ranging from art pieces to buildings to recreations of plants. For senior Mitchel Giesting, architecture is what initially attracted him to the brand. “I first found interest in models when I was a young kid and saw a LEGO model of the Empire State Building in New York City,” Giesting said. “Building models allows you to be creative and it is always rewarding to complete a model.” Getting a model to stay together once you have assembled it can be tricky in some mediums, such as plastic and metal. This is why Giesting appreciates LEGO’s connection
system so much. “The benefit of LEGO models is that the bricks tend to stay together very well,” Giesting said. “Because of that, LEGO models do not fall apart very easily.” While Giesting and Jayamanne find enjoyment in building static models, sophomore Emma Riddle enjoys building wooden mechanisms. Riddle was first introduced to mechanical models as a child by her family. “We have lots of wooden models, which can be assemblies of simple machines such as Ugears or ROKR [two brands of models],” Riddle said. “Anything involving gears or mechanical function such as clocks or anything to do with gear safes is fun.” Although Riddle enjoys building mechanical models the most, she has also assembled a variety of models representing different subjects. “I have done a few with electrical stuff, but then I’ve also done a few with just basic modeling,” Riddle said. “You can do LEGO sets, where it’s less about function because they usually don’t have any kind of function, and it’s more about [making] something that looks cool. It’s kind of where the creative side of me comes out.”
Two LEGO skyscrapers from Giesting’s collection. These towers are from the LEGO Architecure Shanghai set. Photo provided by Mitchell Giesting.
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