Hello Modellers, or anyone interested in some form of scale modeling,

The response of the modelling community to Modellers Without Borders has been excellent! Everywhere we go, we hear support for MWB’s ideas, whether it’s modellers who say ‘Count me in!’ or modelling clubs that have adopted MWB’s spirit and ideas.

And many modellers have lent their financial support MWB, and we are grateful!  Based on our Founding Donations to date, we can cover operating expenses for our planned efforts for 2025 and into 2026. We received $ 8,600 from 16 generous supporter, as well as a number of small donations which certainly help.

This MWB site currently has 464 subscribers, and we will continue to accept donations. However, now that we are off to a great start, w will turn off the “Founding Donors” option in our shop on 31 March. The “sweet 16” Founding Donors will receive a formal acknowledgement of their generosity and a special coin later this year.  

So…what are our plans for the remainder of 2025?

Build the MWB Community

Let’s keep the MWB spirit going by supporting MWB principles! Modellers Without Borders encourages modellers to gather together and share their work in ways that build friendship and skills. The main way you can do this is to participate in and attend existing model clubs and shows that are primarily open competition and/or exhibition-only:

• Have a presence at Open competition and/or exhibition-only shows.  Talk with Modellers, drop a few chips next to some great models, and find like-minded modellers who want to be a part of this community and our future.
• Sponsor an MWB WOW! award at any open/GSB model exhibition (may include a competition). This award is about celebrating a scale model that truly takes your breath away!  Bring a suitable award—a trophy, plaque, medal, challenge coin—and find the model, diorama, vignette, or display that exemplifies creativity, artistry, and the vision, principles and beliefs of Modellers Without Borders.  The Wow! Award is for the creations that go beyond just being well-made—they spark excitement and admiration with their creativity, artistry, and incredible craftsmanship. This award recognizes the model that makes people stop and say, “Wow, that’s amazing!”  Any model is eligible, not just award winners.
• Sponsor and hold an online exhibition.  Certainly less costly, and it is much easier to get well known Master Modellers to be the jury for those modellers wanting more than the exhibition.  

Taking these positive steps might be hard given our limited bandwidth and funding.  We cannot yet be at every show in every country or region.  There are hundreds of shows every weekend around the world and our organization can touch many of them.  

Speaking of bandwidth, we still require someone smarter than myself to manage our website.  We also need curators for content we want to make available to all modellers.  Just send us an email if interested in either, or another role we are not considering right now.

Please also note we are continuing at a deliberate pace to achieve our long term vision.  We are initiating a project to build a modelling connection and content management website as a benefit to the community.  Likewise, we intend to host regional and national events in the coming years, in selected countries, so the scouting of venues is beginning and work on a comprehensive software tool to manage the administration and judging at such events is on-going.

“How can I help?”

• Tell other Modellers about MWB!  Post your take-aways from those discussions on your favorite social media platform (or multiples).  Tag MWB.
• Go to shows or gatherings outside of your comfort zone and discuss MWB.  If your preferred medium is plastic, attend a model railroad club meeting or show.  How about figures? Gundam? Wooden models?  Doll Houses?  Paper models? There really is no limit. Let’s share our common techniques and skills—and love of models and the people who create them—even more.    
• If your Club is hosting an exhibition, and you’d like to have MWB sponsor a WOW! award, contact us and we’ll help prepare you for the evaluation, and get an award to you.

Feel free to comment and share additional ideas. “No one of us is as smart as all of us.”