If you’re looking for modelling movies on TV, then you should probably live in Japan. However, there is a place where the film production on a model building is very good. It is the Internet and especially YouTube, where professional modelling channels are not an exception. See the first film not so much about the model, but about the modelling passion, in which the Fokker E.V from Arma Hobby model appeared. And not as a material to show the modelling techniques, but as the main character.

Tom Grigat – modelling personality from YouTube

Tom Grigat, a German modeller, is known for the production of films about modelling aircraft, mainly from the First World War. What distinguishes his productions from the huge number of YouTube channels devoted to modelling is the time-lapse montage. It consists of composing a film from individual frames, just like in animated movies. After each action taken with the model, its parts are carefully laid on the prepared background and photographed. The next pictures are then put into a movie sequence. It makes an interesting effect that is not available to classic YouTuber modellers. Parts of the model on Tom’s films are assembled and painted by themselves, and then the model moves to the start with a rotating propeller.

Fokker E.V - Tom Grigat

The whole effort made by the author in the production of the film would have no significance if it were not for the quality of the models. The models assembled by Tom are masterful. Execution of details and painting draw attention with care and a high degree of realism.

Film about building the Fokker E.V model from Arma Hobby

The film with the Arma Hobby Fokker E.V model as a protagonist is a very special production on the Tom Grigat’s YouTube channel. The model plays a role not so much of an object used for the show of assembly, but as the symbol of modeller’s effort. These long evening (and night) moments are well known to every modeller. The time when everything goes smoothly and those moments when a harsh word hangs over a dormant apartment. This endless series of activities, which are incomprehensible to regular people, lead to the transformation of a plastic toy from a monster into a more or less perfect replica of an aeroplane.

fokker wnetrze

Author’s commentary:

After a period doing some assembling stop motion movies, this is my first little attempt to honour our beautiful hobby of plastic scale modelling by telling a little story. A story of assembling plastic kits with some “twinkle in the eye”. The figure, which magically is coming to life, represents the spirit the modellers bring into their creations that let them feel like their role models. But like in real life friendship and inspiration matters more than following given plans…

I am very proud my good friend, and brilliant musician Erick Miotke made a unique composition and sound for my little movie experiment. Please feel invited to take a look at his music: www.trilogy-base.de

The casting of the Fokker E.V model in the main role in this exciting and inspiring production is a great honour for Arma Hobby. Thank you Tom Grigat for this very inspiring movie. We warmly invite readers to post comments. Write what’s the most reminiscent of your modelling successes and failures in this movie?

This post is also available in: plpolski