Name: Sam Garcia
Living in: Houston , Texas
Which period you'd like to live in and where?
I like living in my own period here and now in the USA , mainly because I believe I was meant to live in this country and at this time . If I could travel back in time though I would like to see what it was like to live in the 1700's in America before and during the Revolutionary war .
Two words to introduce yourself, to tell what you do in your life and to tell your qualities.....and your flaws
I am an artist who through my interest in my hobby has emerged as a military modeling & miniature specialist .My qualities are careful attention to facts ,details , accuracy coupled somewhat with a understanding of military endeavors and the artistic interpretation of these
Modelling: what situation fired up the passion?
Any WW2 ground or air war themes or just about any military history is interesting to me.
People know that Sam Garcia is not only an aircraft modeler, but do you feel like telling aircraft are subjects you prefer?
I guess I prefer WW2 aircraft mostly because to me it seems there was more was at stake at this time in history and these men saw much greater action and face much worse odds than any other modern conflict.
Preferred scale?
1/48 for aircraft, 1/35 for armor, 54mm , 90mm &120mm for figures
Preferred period?
I like many periods ,WW2 & Civil war and Napoleonic era are some favorites . I am finding the ancients and Romans more interesting lately too.
Preferred Air Force or Army?
United States
Why?
I am most familiar with my own country and it's people ,our culture, our history ,our theories of defense , technologies, production, tactics and so on .
What do you like to do making models and what you hate to do making models?
I like painting the figures and painting and weathering the models , researching a project can be very interesting too . I don't like making tracks or painting canopies very much.
What do you like to do making models and what you hate to do making models?
How many time do you need to build a model?
It's hard to say accurately but I guess if have plenty of time to devote to it, I can build a tank or a small aircraft in about a month or I can paint maybe two maybe three 54 mm figures in a month.
What are the differences between being a modeler and a professional modeler?
There are more time limitations on doing a project. You also mostly have to build things that are of primary interest to the client and not your self, even though it is actually very helpful way to explore new things and learn about different areas in history.
How much Sam Garcia likes contests?
I like them pretty much and I consider them very important .They can be very helpful you can learn many new things from examining other people's work and talking with them about it. There is a certain amount of mystery in the judging that keep things unpredictable and exciting. Getting out, traveling, making new friends, seeing all the new interesting models and figures. Winning an award is rewarding and can help motivate a person to higher achievements as well.
And modelling club?
None at the present.
Which team will win the Superbowl this year?
I have no idea, I don't follow football, looks interesting but I just don't have time for it.
When you was a child, playing with your friends you was the sheriff or the bandit?
The Sheriff.
How many times a month Sam Garcia has a T bone steak?
Maybe once.
Propellers or jet?
I think like propellers a little more than jets.
Talking with a young modeler what is the "Sam wise advice"?
Don't try doing more than you can handle, don't get too complex, smaller achievements lead to bigger ones . Finish your projects before starting another one, try to find how to enjoy what you are doing.
Did you travel a lot?
No , but I hope to start getting around more in the future, I like traveling a little from time to time to see different places and cultures. I went to Europe once and enjoyed that very much.
How much the artist Sam Garcia (Sam is an excellent artist with a great talent in portraits painting) influences the work of the modeler Sam Garcia?
I probably get a lot of confidence from my artistic talent that helps me undertake anything that I make with my hands.
Did you ever make contests abroad?
Never have been to a contest aboard but I hope to some day as these contest seem to be getting more interesting all the time.
If yes what are the principal differences about the American modeling way and the other?
I am not familiar enough with the differences between the two ways to comment intelligently enough on that .Maybe after talking with more modeler's from aboard I can form an opinion.
It exists for you a American modeling school or not, it is more accurate in the historical research, detailing or painting?
To have all 3 of these are important but there's a point where you have to finish the research and make a limit to the detail you can do, the most important part by far to me is the painting part.
What is for you the most important side making models? Painting, scratch building, assembling, sanding or something else?
Painting is probably most important but you must have good construction techniques or even a very good paint effects can't conceal a poor construction effort.
Modeling in Italy is in troubles, few young modellers and the same old faces, but probably it is only a passing disease that lasts from about 20 years. What is the situation in the States?
I hear people mention that here in the USA as well. I don't know what to do about it. Maybe in time it will become popular again among the young but the trend in modern society has been for many years now for people to go towards more and more impatient kind of living and that in my opinion will create another difficulty to bring newer and younger modelers into the hobby since this hobby requires patience to do a good job and find it rewarding. One observation is that many things about modeling has become very complicated and it could take a more mature mind and patience to hand all the challenges involved. I found models very hard to make when I was young or even as a teenager and I could usually only complete relatively easy ones that didn't have too many parts or require too difficult a paint job .
Two names of modellers you like in the States?
I always liked Shep Paine a lot and owe him much for inspiration and ideas, his work helped me find an ever greater love for dioramas, miniatures and modeling .
I think Bill Horan has an amazing talent with miniatures and I always find his work a great source of instruction and inspiration.
Could be useful to build more war museums for the new generations?
Yes that would be nice if the societies call on to fund them can really afford to pay for it. That is a great and enjoyable way for people to learn and to appreciate history .
How important are for Sam Garcia the associations for the recover and the restoration of historical aircrafts?
To me it is very important in the study of history, we all benefit a lot from it .
What kind of skill you'd like to steal to another modeler, and which one?
I guess I'd like to have Bill Horan or Raul La Torre's sculpting and painting abilities!
A modeler you estimate?
I am always amazed with Bill Horans work.
Your first model?
I can vaguely remember what I think was a 1/72 scale T6 Texan when I was about 6 or 7 years old.
The most beautiful one?
So far like my Iwo Jima Sherman the best.
The one you love more?
When I was a youngster it was the Black Magic M4 Sherman by Revell then as a teenager it was the 41' Willys by Revell .I had a great love for most of the Revell hot rod kits and the Big Daddy Ed Roth kits mostly because of the great subject matter and the tremendous detailing which was second to none in those days.
The one you hate?
I can't remember any models I hated except for Lindberg Line Models, I always found them disappointing.
How many boxes have on your shelf?
Very, very few, I usually just buy what I am going to make at the time.
Modeling: a hobby for reach people or even reasonable for the guys with few money in the pocket?
Yes most can afford it but I am sure there are some poverty stricken nations where people can't even get models or they can't afford them even if they are available.
How much is important for Sam Garcia the historical documentation in a modeling project?
Very important realism adds a lot of interest to the model but I there's a limit to what you can reproduce in miniature from the research material ,after a certain point it can make the project too much of a burden if you try to do too much realism.
How much the hand skill?
The skill to me is in a man's spirit .That is where I believe the talent ,creativity ,knowledge , patience, and motivation resides. There are people who are paralyzed from the neck down or who have no arms at all and they can create amazing works of art with their mouth or their feet. So to me the skill is in the person's spirit.
With a good skill can someone provide to the lack documentation in model making?
Yes good skill can make a model look good and make it look like you know a lot more than you really do and dispite that your model lacks some accuratcies.
With a perfect documentation can someone provide to the lack of skill?
To me it seems like it doesn't matter what you know or how much documentation you have, if you don't have the skill it will reflect in your work so if you think your skills are poor you should work on improving them.
Enamel or acrylics?
I prefer acrylics for airbrushing especially the Tamiya Acrylics they seem to me to give a finer smoother and softer feathered edge when painting camouflage schemes. I use Andrea and Vallejo Acrylics for figure painting or painting small details on models . I use enamels to do some dry brushing or metallic effects so .Humbrol is a very good and versatile paint to me, it drys very hard, very fast and stands up to harsh weathering techniques it can also be very useful in painting figures. I also like oil paints for figures and for doing some dry brushing and washes on models.
Did you make pre-shading usually?
I haven't use that technique very often but I am starting to use some variations on that technique more often now. To me it gives some very interesting effects but sometimes I wonder if it makes the aircraft paint look more worn down than it should.
What is your best modeling skill, painting or construction?
I would say painting
Have you in your library Osprey Aviation books?
I would be more than happy to recommend Osprey books .I have many Osprey books they to me are indispensable resource in modeling. Everybody I know thinks highly of the Osprey books and they are always considered a must for all the modelers and military collectors I have talk to.
How have been they useful for you?
The color plates are accurate and reliable painted by some very talented artist and much of the subject matter and color plates are hard to find outside the Osprey collection. The histories are short , informative and easy to read. I rely on them a lot for much of my work on models and especially when painting or building figures.
What kind of model you'd wish to ask to Santa Klaus?
I would like some good quality 54mm horses!
Projects on the workbench?
Right now I am working on a early Tiger 1 in 1/35 scale it has a very interesting paint scheme.
Do you promise to Warbirds in Scale few images of your models?
Sure
Is Warbirds in Scale interesting for you? What you'd wish to improve? What you'd like to see more?
Yes it is interesting to me. I personally don't like sound effects to much on any internet site. More walkarounds would be nice, I always find the extra pictures helpful when researching a project.
Thank you Sam, to the next time
Thank you very much Alessandro for inviting me for this interview!
Living in: Houston , Texas
Which period you'd like to live in and where?
I like living in my own period here and now in the USA , mainly because I believe I was meant to live in this country and at this time . If I could travel back in time though I would like to see what it was like to live in the 1700's in America before and during the Revolutionary war .
Two words to introduce yourself, to tell what you do in your life and to tell your qualities.....and your flaws
I am an artist who through my interest in my hobby has emerged as a military modeling & miniature specialist .My qualities are careful attention to facts ,details , accuracy coupled somewhat with a understanding of military endeavors and the artistic interpretation of these
Modelling: what situation fired up the passion?
Any WW2 ground or air war themes or just about any military history is interesting to me.
People know that Sam Garcia is not only an aircraft modeler, but do you feel like telling aircraft are subjects you prefer?
I guess I prefer WW2 aircraft mostly because to me it seems there was more was at stake at this time in history and these men saw much greater action and face much worse odds than any other modern conflict.
Preferred scale?
1/48 for aircraft, 1/35 for armor, 54mm , 90mm &120mm for figures
Preferred period?
I like many periods ,WW2 & Civil war and Napoleonic era are some favorites . I am finding the ancients and Romans more interesting lately too.
Preferred Air Force or Army?
United States
Why?
I am most familiar with my own country and it's people ,our culture, our history ,our theories of defense , technologies, production, tactics and so on .
What do you like to do making models and what you hate to do making models?
I like painting the figures and painting and weathering the models , researching a project can be very interesting too . I don't like making tracks or painting canopies very much.
What do you like to do making models and what you hate to do making models?
How many time do you need to build a model?
It's hard to say accurately but I guess if have plenty of time to devote to it, I can build a tank or a small aircraft in about a month or I can paint maybe two maybe three 54 mm figures in a month.
What are the differences between being a modeler and a professional modeler?
There are more time limitations on doing a project. You also mostly have to build things that are of primary interest to the client and not your self, even though it is actually very helpful way to explore new things and learn about different areas in history.
How much Sam Garcia likes contests?
I like them pretty much and I consider them very important .They can be very helpful you can learn many new things from examining other people's work and talking with them about it. There is a certain amount of mystery in the judging that keep things unpredictable and exciting. Getting out, traveling, making new friends, seeing all the new interesting models and figures. Winning an award is rewarding and can help motivate a person to higher achievements as well.
And modelling club?
None at the present.
Which team will win the Superbowl this year?
I have no idea, I don't follow football, looks interesting but I just don't have time for it.
When you was a child, playing with your friends you was the sheriff or the bandit?
The Sheriff.
How many times a month Sam Garcia has a T bone steak?
Maybe once.
Propellers or jet?
I think like propellers a little more than jets.
Talking with a young modeler what is the "Sam wise advice"?
Don't try doing more than you can handle, don't get too complex, smaller achievements lead to bigger ones . Finish your projects before starting another one, try to find how to enjoy what you are doing.
Did you travel a lot?
No , but I hope to start getting around more in the future, I like traveling a little from time to time to see different places and cultures. I went to Europe once and enjoyed that very much.
How much the artist Sam Garcia (Sam is an excellent artist with a great talent in portraits painting) influences the work of the modeler Sam Garcia?
I probably get a lot of confidence from my artistic talent that helps me undertake anything that I make with my hands.
Did you ever make contests abroad?
Never have been to a contest aboard but I hope to some day as these contest seem to be getting more interesting all the time.
If yes what are the principal differences about the American modeling way and the other?
I am not familiar enough with the differences between the two ways to comment intelligently enough on that .Maybe after talking with more modeler's from aboard I can form an opinion.
It exists for you a American modeling school or not, it is more accurate in the historical research, detailing or painting?
To have all 3 of these are important but there's a point where you have to finish the research and make a limit to the detail you can do, the most important part by far to me is the painting part.
What is for you the most important side making models? Painting, scratch building, assembling, sanding or something else?
Painting is probably most important but you must have good construction techniques or even a very good paint effects can't conceal a poor construction effort.
Modeling in Italy is in troubles, few young modellers and the same old faces, but probably it is only a passing disease that lasts from about 20 years. What is the situation in the States?
I hear people mention that here in the USA as well. I don't know what to do about it. Maybe in time it will become popular again among the young but the trend in modern society has been for many years now for people to go towards more and more impatient kind of living and that in my opinion will create another difficulty to bring newer and younger modelers into the hobby since this hobby requires patience to do a good job and find it rewarding. One observation is that many things about modeling has become very complicated and it could take a more mature mind and patience to hand all the challenges involved. I found models very hard to make when I was young or even as a teenager and I could usually only complete relatively easy ones that didn't have too many parts or require too difficult a paint job .
Two names of modellers you like in the States?
I always liked Shep Paine a lot and owe him much for inspiration and ideas, his work helped me find an ever greater love for dioramas, miniatures and modeling .
I think Bill Horan has an amazing talent with miniatures and I always find his work a great source of instruction and inspiration.
Could be useful to build more war museums for the new generations?
Yes that would be nice if the societies call on to fund them can really afford to pay for it. That is a great and enjoyable way for people to learn and to appreciate history .
How important are for Sam Garcia the associations for the recover and the restoration of historical aircrafts?
To me it is very important in the study of history, we all benefit a lot from it .
What kind of skill you'd like to steal to another modeler, and which one?
I guess I'd like to have Bill Horan or Raul La Torre's sculpting and painting abilities!
A modeler you estimate?
I am always amazed with Bill Horans work.
Your first model?
I can vaguely remember what I think was a 1/72 scale T6 Texan when I was about 6 or 7 years old.
The most beautiful one?
So far like my Iwo Jima Sherman the best.
The one you love more?
When I was a youngster it was the Black Magic M4 Sherman by Revell then as a teenager it was the 41' Willys by Revell .I had a great love for most of the Revell hot rod kits and the Big Daddy Ed Roth kits mostly because of the great subject matter and the tremendous detailing which was second to none in those days.
The one you hate?
I can't remember any models I hated except for Lindberg Line Models, I always found them disappointing.
How many boxes have on your shelf?
Very, very few, I usually just buy what I am going to make at the time.
Modeling: a hobby for reach people or even reasonable for the guys with few money in the pocket?
Yes most can afford it but I am sure there are some poverty stricken nations where people can't even get models or they can't afford them even if they are available.
How much is important for Sam Garcia the historical documentation in a modeling project?
Very important realism adds a lot of interest to the model but I there's a limit to what you can reproduce in miniature from the research material ,after a certain point it can make the project too much of a burden if you try to do too much realism.
How much the hand skill?
The skill to me is in a man's spirit .That is where I believe the talent ,creativity ,knowledge , patience, and motivation resides. There are people who are paralyzed from the neck down or who have no arms at all and they can create amazing works of art with their mouth or their feet. So to me the skill is in the person's spirit.
With a good skill can someone provide to the lack documentation in model making?
Yes good skill can make a model look good and make it look like you know a lot more than you really do and dispite that your model lacks some accuratcies.
With a perfect documentation can someone provide to the lack of skill?
To me it seems like it doesn't matter what you know or how much documentation you have, if you don't have the skill it will reflect in your work so if you think your skills are poor you should work on improving them.
Enamel or acrylics?
I prefer acrylics for airbrushing especially the Tamiya Acrylics they seem to me to give a finer smoother and softer feathered edge when painting camouflage schemes. I use Andrea and Vallejo Acrylics for figure painting or painting small details on models . I use enamels to do some dry brushing or metallic effects so .Humbrol is a very good and versatile paint to me, it drys very hard, very fast and stands up to harsh weathering techniques it can also be very useful in painting figures. I also like oil paints for figures and for doing some dry brushing and washes on models.
Did you make pre-shading usually?
I haven't use that technique very often but I am starting to use some variations on that technique more often now. To me it gives some very interesting effects but sometimes I wonder if it makes the aircraft paint look more worn down than it should.
What is your best modeling skill, painting or construction?
I would say painting
Have you in your library Osprey Aviation books?
I would be more than happy to recommend Osprey books .I have many Osprey books they to me are indispensable resource in modeling. Everybody I know thinks highly of the Osprey books and they are always considered a must for all the modelers and military collectors I have talk to.
How have been they useful for you?
The color plates are accurate and reliable painted by some very talented artist and much of the subject matter and color plates are hard to find outside the Osprey collection. The histories are short , informative and easy to read. I rely on them a lot for much of my work on models and especially when painting or building figures.
What kind of model you'd wish to ask to Santa Klaus?
I would like some good quality 54mm horses!
Projects on the workbench?
Right now I am working on a early Tiger 1 in 1/35 scale it has a very interesting paint scheme.
Do you promise to Warbirds in Scale few images of your models?
Sure
Is Warbirds in Scale interesting for you? What you'd wish to improve? What you'd like to see more?
Yes it is interesting to me. I personally don't like sound effects to much on any internet site. More walkarounds would be nice, I always find the extra pictures helpful when researching a project.
Thank you Sam, to the next time
Thank you very much Alessandro for inviting me for this interview!