When I was growing up, Sheperd Paine was a huge influence on me. I loved building any model, but if it came with one of those brochures that Monogram Models tucked into their boxes, it was like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one. I was always amazed at how Paine could do the most astounding things with the models and dioramas he created. Especially so as I look back and realize you couldn’t grab gobs of diorama products then. It took a load of creativity.
I think that was what really inspired me – the creativity behind it. Knowing that it wasn’t possible (as far as I knew at the time) to just buy things ready made, it required a fair bit of thinking to determine “how am I going to do this?”
Of course, my pre-teen efforts that had zero budget and little experience behind them were less than stellar. Still, it made me think, to ponder the possibilities.
Encountering Lincoln Wright
When I’d switched from building aircraft exclusively to scifi in 2017, I fairly quickly encountered Lincoln Wright. It was Foxx from Modelmaking Guru who mentioned him. I was immediately fascinated with Linc’s work. While I’d gained more experience as an adult modeler, so much of what he did, and more importantly his thought processes, really grabbed me.
As I went further down the rabbit hole, I learned of Kow Yokoyama, and how Linc had worked in his studio on the Maschinen Krieger property for many years. Through a happy set of circumstances, I was actually able to connect with Linc, and we became friends. I even had the chance to interview him!
Linc, the book, and memories
Now, this video and this article are really about Linc’s latest book in his Ma. K Lincoln Report series. And I will get to that in a moment.
But as I perused through The Ma.K Lincoln Report – Vol. 3: Hund, it hit me.
For Ma. K builders in the Western world, Linc is Sheperd Paine in a sense. I don’t say that to flatter Linc. He has no idea I’m writing this. And I’m not the type to say “look what I wrote.” But it hit me that he is carrying on in the same spirit as Francois Verlinden, Sheperd Paine, Kow Yokoyama, and a very few others. It’s not just modeling that they do. It’s leading, teaching, and most importantly shaping the future of our hobby in their own genre. He is one of those sets of shoulders that we as modelers stand on.
Jon finally talks about the book
As to the The Ma.K Lincoln Report – Vol. 3: Hund, I can simply say get it. If you’re a Ma. K fun it’s almost a “must have” resource. But even if you’re not, it is of great value in my estimation. Certainly the techniques and photos Linc shares are worth the cost of tuition. But it’s so much more than that.
In part, it’s a lore book that dives into a very particular vehicle from the Ma. K franchise. Yet it’s also an art book, one that you can put out on the coffee table simply for the sake of beauty. And at the same time, the enthusiasm Linc brings out in this book (and all of this others, both print and digital) is inspirational in and of itself.
It’s a great modeling book. But it’s also a great hobby culture book in my view.
Meeting your heores
As a kid, I marveled at what Sheperd Paine did. At the time, I didn’t know he had books. He was the mysterious modeler who showed up in Monogram boxes, dazzled me, and then vanished again. Happily, many years later, I was actually able to connect with him through Facebook. I don’t recall specifically what I said in the private message, but it was likely the same middle-aged man awkward fan gush that he heard many times over. Yet I was sincere – his work was a profound inspiration to me, and I greatly valued it.
When he replied with some kind words to me, I was elated. For some reason, being able to thank a hero from my childhood, and hear from him, really moved me. It meant so much to me. Like the circuit left open from my childhood was finally completed.
As I finished reading The Ma.K Lincoln Report – Vol. 3: Hund, I set it on my shelf, next to Volumes 1 and 2. And then it hit me.
They were sitting next to my Sheperd Paine books.
And that’s when all of this that I’ve now written about hit me. I’ve lived long enough, and had a fortunate set of circumstances occur, that I can say with all honesty one of my modeling heroes is also a friend.
Linc, thanks for these books. Thanks for the videos. Thanks for teaching, sharing, and inspiring so many of us. And thanks also to your family for supporting you in this work.
But most of all, thanks for being my friend. Though I am old and gray now, the 10-year-old in me is standing back, wide eyed, and saying “This is soo cool! You actually KNOW him?”
Yes I do, kid. Cool indeed. And I look forward to continuing to grow as a modeler as a result.
LINKS TO LINC!
Website: https://www.paintonplastic.com/
Store: https://store.paintonplastic.com/
Hund book: https://store.paintonplastic.com/products/pre-order-the-ma-k-lincoln-report-vol-3-grosser-hund
Linc’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/paintonplastic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaintonPlasticbyLincolnWright
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