Bothwell Model Building Lab

A Make-n-Take with a twist!

Two years ago I was approached in my local model shop by a teacher, Mr. Lance Whitfield, from the Bothwell Middle School (Grades 6-8) in Marquette, Michigan about an idea he had to have a model building class exclusively for 8th graders to take as an elective course. Money would be gathered by the local PTO via grants. He also needed assistance teaching the class. Since I was retired could I help out? It is understood by the students that they would have to furnish their own models with certain exceptions. That would be if a group wanted to work on a large project as a team. The model building would be both plastic and balsa models. The final two terms of the school year is the time frame allotted. Basically the two terms run January to June. For the first time a request was made to Bruce Drummond of the IPMS Make-n-Take for assistance with obtaining kits. These are doled out to students who for various reasons are unable to purchase kits on their own but really desire to participate. Mr. Drummond, and IPMS, came through with 24 kits. The course started in February and will run until June 12, 2009

This class would not be in a sit down lecture environment. In other words, I would not be able to state: "In today's class, we will develop the technique of making seam lines disappear." 8th graders just want to build the models full speed ahead. Each modeler is given a plastic tote to keep a project in and a locked room to protect them when not in class. My duties are three days a week for one hour a day. Essentially, I go from student to student overseeing the project and instructing as I go. Parts become missing so "pre-fabricating" replacements have to be done quickly. Sometimes when I leave a workstation I overhear a student say, "Who was that masked man?"

When each project is completed, they go into a showcase in the school cafeteria for all to see.

Last year had 28 students completed the course and this year around 30 will finish. We have work benches, which we share with the wood shop folks and a paint room with two Badger 350 airbrushes set up with proper venting and so forth. Supplies are purchased through the local hobby shop in Marquette, MI, Soapy and Son's Hobbies.

This year, Mr. Whitfield and I are considering sponsoring a worthy model builder an IPMS membership.

Are we developing master modelers? No! Are we developing a real interest in model building? Heck Yea! During most of the classes teachers from other classes drift in and out showing interest.

If this is something your school could be interested in, feel free to contact Mr. Lance Whitfield at lwhitfield@MAPSNET.org or myself at jssel@charter.net.

Jeff A Selesky

May 2009