My Background and Pre-Professional Work:
Over the years I've had numerous opportunities to collect the portfolios of many professional model
makers while searching for new hires, mostly in Los Angeles, where I was exposed to some of the best
talent in the industry. That experience taught me many things. Among them, it's not enough to have a
portfolio that reveals you to be the best model maker on earth - because working your magic very quickly,
within tight deadlines, will determine your value within the industry. Another revelation puzzled me, as
there are few model makers who's portfolios reveal a history of making models before their higher
education in the field or before their careers in the industry began.
That trend is likely only puzzling to me as I represent one of the minority of professionals who has had an
extreme passion for making models as far back as my memory will recall. I knew how to create well
respected and competitive models before I knew how to do anything else - except walking and talking. I
had become known for the craft long before I even entered high school, thanks in part to numerous
newspaper and magazine articles. I was thus a bit of a child prodigy as a model maker. I was not
constructing laser-cut condominiums for developers or special effects models for Dream Works, of
course,but I was hosting a television show on model making techniques by the time I was in high school.
Model Making publications harassed me for 'how-to' articles, and my work graced many of their covers.
I'd perfected very advanced processes, like casting, vacuum-forming, and photo etching of metals, while
still a kid. I developed my own unique techniques as well, many of which I've applied to the professional
models that have spanned my career.
That kind of background is not a prerequisite to success as a model
maker in any of the associated industries, be they architectural, movie,
or prototype models among them. Any prospective new hire would,
nevertheless, be hard pressed to impress me with their true passion
for the craft without an early background in model making.
A professional can only go so far when one's talents and experiences are limited merely to model making.
During my pre-professional years I wasn't content to be "one of the world's most promising young model
makers" (Quoting John Alcorn, from his book 'Scratchbuilt,' Schiffer Press, 1993). I was also a well
respected artist, and was appointed to the staff of the World Airline Historical Society as Staff Artist. I
also contributed technical illustrations and scale drawings to many published works of Robert Mikesh -
then Curator of the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. While still in high school I
founded an organization named Japanese Information International (JII) and its quarterly magazine the
Asahi Journal - both devoted to the study of modern Japanese military history, aircraft, and equipment.
All of this made me an unusually busy young man, but it also helped to prepare me for my unusually busy
career to come.
Over the years I've had numerous opportunities to collect the portfolios of many professional model
makers while searching for new hires, mostly in Los Angeles, where I was exposed to some of the best
talent in the industry. That experience taught me many things. Among them, it's not enough to have a
portfolio that reveals you to be the best model maker on earth - because working your magic very quickly,
within tight deadlines, will determine your value within the industry. Another revelation puzzled me, as
there are few model makers who's portfolios reveal a history of making models before their higher
education in the field or before their careers in the industry began.
That trend is likely only puzzling to me as I represent one of the minority of professionals who has had an
extreme passion for making models as far back as my memory will recall. I knew how to create well
respected and competitive models before I knew how to do anything else - except walking and talking. I
had become known for the craft long before I even entered high school, thanks in part to numerous
newspaper and magazine articles. I was thus a bit of a child prodigy as a model maker. I was not
constructing laser-cut condominiums for developers or special effects models for Dream Works, of
course,but I was hosting a television show on model making techniques by the time I was in high school.
Model Making publications harassed me for 'how-to' articles, and my work graced many of their covers.
I'd perfected very advanced processes, like casting, vacuum-forming, and photo etching of metals, while
still a kid. I developed my own unique techniques as well, many of which I've applied to the professional
models that have spanned my career.
That kind of background is not a prerequisite to success as a model
maker in any of the associated industries, be they architectural, movie,
or prototype models among them. Any prospective new hire would,
nevertheless, be hard pressed to impress me with their true passion
for the craft without an early background in model making.
A professional can only go so far when one's talents and experiences are limited merely to model making.
During my pre-professional years I wasn't content to be "one of the world's most promising young model
makers" (Quoting John Alcorn, from his book 'Scratchbuilt,' Schiffer Press, 1993). I was also a well
respected artist, and was appointed to the staff of the World Airline Historical Society as Staff Artist. I
also contributed technical illustrations and scale drawings to many published works of Robert Mikesh -
then Curator of the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. While still in high school I
founded an organization named Japanese Information International (JII) and its quarterly magazine the
Asahi Journal - both devoted to the study of modern Japanese military history, aircraft, and equipment.
All of this made me an unusually busy young man, but it also helped to prepare me for my unusually busy
career to come.
That determination to be a master of many fields has served me, my employers and my clients, very well. When I managed a project that involved
bringing in a sculptor, I took the opportunity to learn everything I could about sculpting. I eventually sculpted many figures and organic objects for both
film (the movie 'Cat in the Hat') and industry (toys for Mattel, Hasbro and X Concepts). When I worked directly with an architectural modeling firm for the
first time, I learned everything I could about 2D digital rendering (AutoCAD, 3D Studiomax, and Photoshop). Not long afterwards I began offering my own
style of 2D digital rendering services to developers and architects. At the present time I operate a new business (www.ColesAircraft.com) that offers
collectors limited edition, aviation-themed, artwork.
Due to limitations as a consequence of confidentiality agreements with my many past clients - especially in the film and aerospace industries - this
portfolio is far from completely representative of my long and successful career. Compiling these images reminds me of what I don't have to reveal, or
can't show. Yet, in a way, my self discipline in that regard does demonstrate my integrity and continued service to clients - some of them from projects
that are 10 years old.
Some lamentations aside, however, I feel that everyone will be impressed by the scope and depth of my talents and experience - from the age of 8 to my
now slightly seasoned age of 38. Further information, sketches, work samples and references are available upon request.
Ron Cole
bringing in a sculptor, I took the opportunity to learn everything I could about sculpting. I eventually sculpted many figures and organic objects for both
film (the movie 'Cat in the Hat') and industry (toys for Mattel, Hasbro and X Concepts). When I worked directly with an architectural modeling firm for the
first time, I learned everything I could about 2D digital rendering (AutoCAD, 3D Studiomax, and Photoshop). Not long afterwards I began offering my own
style of 2D digital rendering services to developers and architects. At the present time I operate a new business (www.ColesAircraft.com) that offers
collectors limited edition, aviation-themed, artwork.
Due to limitations as a consequence of confidentiality agreements with my many past clients - especially in the film and aerospace industries - this
portfolio is far from completely representative of my long and successful career. Compiling these images reminds me of what I don't have to reveal, or
can't show. Yet, in a way, my self discipline in that regard does demonstrate my integrity and continued service to clients - some of them from projects
that are 10 years old.
Some lamentations aside, however, I feel that everyone will be impressed by the scope and depth of my talents and experience - from the age of 8 to my
now slightly seasoned age of 38. Further information, sketches, work samples and references are available upon request.
Ron Cole
