I was 13 years old in the summer of 1973, and seriously thinking about getting out of model building. I decided to build just one more kit, and went to the local K-Mart to see what I could find. I ended up choosing the Monogram 1/32nd scale Panzer IV due to the photos of Shep Paine's diorama on the side, and was completely blown away by the diorama tip sheet included. Though I never met the man himself, he is the main reason I still build models today at age 62. RIP, Mr. Paine, and Thanks!
Shep was an inspiration! Of course, I first saw his work in a Monogram kit (B24) then picked up his books - and was blown away! His Napoleonic dioramas and shadow boxes were unlike anything I had ever seen. I was an aircraft modeller but after reading his books it became all about armour. His books taught the basics (how to build and paint models), but he went way beyond that - he showed us how to weather them, show battle damage, display them (dioramas) and how to paint figures. He took complex ideas and made them simple, he made us think we could do anything. Just seeing his work, reading his books, it motivated me to be a better modeller. He really jumpstarted the movement we have today. I loved watching this video and seeing his work again (just wish the video had more). He is sadly missed!
Amazing that everyone shares the same story about how Shep inspired them to rekindle their interest in scale models. I was done with model kits until I found his first book in 1982. Never looked back. All of his work was scratch-built…. no aftermarket garbage. Regrettably his amazing skills left many feeling inadequate and the gave Verlinden the window to create a company that supplied already cast resin aftermarket detailing sets so anyone could build a model that looked as good as a Shep Paine display. Then the aftermarket industry took-off selling overpriced detailing sets. And today we have “assemblers”, not builders. People buy a new kit and then follow-up with every aftermarket set available before they’ll start a project. There’s no skill involved; no imagination. Just follow the instructions. Nothing but a bunch of mindless robots.
I was 13 years old in the summer of 1973, and seriously thinking about getting out of model building. I decided to build just one more kit, and went to the local K-Mart to see what I could find. I ended up choosing the Monogram 1/32nd scale Panzer IV due to the photos of Shep Paine's diorama on the side, and was completely blown away by the diorama tip sheet included. Though I never met the man himself, he is the main reason I still build models today at age 62. RIP, Mr. Paine, and Thanks!
Shep was an inspiration! Of course, I first saw his work in a Monogram kit (B24) then picked up his books - and was blown away! His Napoleonic dioramas and shadow boxes were unlike anything I had ever seen. I was an aircraft modeller but after reading his books it became all about armour. His books taught the basics (how to build and paint models), but he went way beyond that - he showed us how to weather them, show battle damage, display them (dioramas) and how to paint figures. He took complex ideas and made them simple, he made us think we could do anything. Just seeing his work, reading his books, it motivated me to be a better modeller. He really jumpstarted the movement we have today. I loved watching this video and seeing his work again (just wish the video had more). He is sadly missed!
I remember these models! Mr. Paine's work is some of the best in the world. I did not know he past away. Sad, God bless him.
Amazing that everyone shares the same story about how Shep inspired them to rekindle their interest in scale models. I was done with model kits until I found his first book in 1982. Never looked back. All of his work was scratch-built…. no aftermarket garbage. Regrettably his amazing skills left many feeling inadequate and the gave Verlinden the window to create a company that supplied already cast resin aftermarket detailing sets so anyone could build a model that looked as good as a Shep Paine display. Then the aftermarket industry took-off selling overpriced detailing sets. And today we have “assemblers”, not builders. People buy a new kit and then follow-up with every aftermarket set available before they’ll start a project. There’s no skill involved; no imagination. Just follow the instructions. Nothing but a bunch of mindless robots.