Saying I'm a sculptor is easier.
But if you're not using that coffee stirrer can I have it?
The Hobby. A collection of people who make, paint and play with small plastic soldiers. Within this community is a group of people who make, paint and play with small plastic soldiers made of cut-up other soldiers. And within that community is a group of people who make, paint and play with small plastic soldiers made from stuff they found on the floor.
They Kitbash. They hunt for ideas through the swollen ether of creativity which embraces us all. Where tanks with moist arseholes, and yellow cubes with too many teeth come to fruition. And have a role to play in indie wargames.
They ask and answer questions no one asked or wanted answering. What would a lamprey eel and an Aerlingus plane look like? What glue will stick this rock to a piece of metal I found in the driveway? Anyone around and fancy kitbashing in a church hall in Nottingham we will bring tea?
When I talk of The Hobby I’m talking of this group of people. A range of creativity starting with ‘Eavy Metal style painting of a Space Marine, and richocheting off the weird all the way over to interactive sculptures of mechanical dolls.
It’s a place where in-progress photos are more valuable because the magic is underneath the oil washes. Money is spent on baking soda and not acrylic mediums. A heartfelt gift is a lunchbox filled with shards of plastic. Stickers, badges, and patches are the currency.
We all work beige jobs in one way or another. And we all connect online around the world with ideas and advice. The community comes together and marinades in events from the last minute to the well established. We will be blown away by your Golden Demon entry, but also whatever that thing is you just made which looks wet.
Come have a gander. Check out tags like Inq28, 28mm, and GrimDark on all your favourite platforms. Read magazines like 28 Mag, and hang out in places like Fringe (Discord). And pop over to the Kitbash Korner at Salute next April.