Skill is in the detail for scale modellers

Close to 100 extremely detailed scale models are on display at the annual exhibition by the Association of Model Engineers at the Scouts Headquarters in Floriana.

The exhibits include aircraft, figurines, ships, cars, motorcycles, trains, trucks, radio controlled models, dioramas, sculptures and paintings.

Among them is a four-person effort depicting a collection of highly detailed figures of The Lord of the Rings. There are also space, fiction and war-gaming sections.

The exhibition runs until Sunday.

Committee member Tony Carbonaro said yesterday that most of the models were hand made, some from scratch and others from kits.

It could take a modeller from a few weeks to years to complete a model, depending on the time he could dedicate to the job and the detail of work involved.

The association, he said, has around 100 members including juniors. Members range in age from 10 upwards with the majority being over 40.

Meetings are held every other Thursday and activities include modelling competitions, slide and film shows and lectures on modelling technique.

The organisation also organises visits to museums and historical places as well as social activities.

He said that the focus of this year's exhibition was to recruit members.