A big welcome to
Adrian Levano whose first book, Blue Light Models was released at the beginning of this month.
As the title
implies, Adrian is a collector, and has written this book with new
collectors in mind.
As you may know,
with my other hat on, I write magazine articles on all kinds of
subjects including writing about scaled models, toys, miniatures,
collections and collectors. I met Adrian when visiting the
Maidenhead Static Model Club earlier this year to write about his club for Diecast Collector Magazine.
The MSMC club is the
UK's oldest and widest model collectors' club in the UK. As well as
being a collector, Adrian is the editor of the club's magazine,
Wheel Bearings. I asked him what
the role entails.
“This is my third
year as editor,” says Adrian. “I took over at quite short notice
and tried to make it look a bit less like a club newsletter, although
time and budget constraints limit my ambition a little! Obviously,
it’s main purpose is to pass on club news of the Maidenhead Static
Model Club, forthcoming events and to report on club meetings. In
addition I try to put in some articles about models, and also about
real transport subjects.
“Although I’m
very pleased that quite a few members contribute to it, I quite often
come up with pieces about my own experiences – like a ‘cub
reporter’ I always travel with a camera! Fortunately
I work for a company specialising in design and print, so I’m able
to handle all aspects from design through to sticking stamps on the
envelopes myself!”
This
is Adrian's first book, and he explained how it all came about.
“Amberley
Publishing approached me with the proposed subject, so after due
consideration I decided to give it a go. The book attempts to give an
overview of model emergency services vehicles over the decades,
across the world, and some advice about how to buy, store and care
for a collection.
“Of
course, most toy and model manufacturers have produced a far wider
range than just ‘blue light’ models, so in a way it’s also a
brief history an overview of model vehicles in general. In fact the
title is a rather anglo-centric as emergency services vehicle in
other countries can have other colours of flashing lights such as red
or orange.
“Although
it’s written from the point of view of a British collector, I have
tried to cover as wide a spread of interests as possible, and have
included modern toys available at ‘pocket money’ prices through
to the rarer collectibles.”
“I had a contract
which gave me six months to complete the draft. Had it not been for
some personal matters which took up a fair bit of time, and the need
to do some ‘real’ work as well, that would have been fine. As it
was, I was down to the line, even to the point of needing to plead
for a short extension. As the deadline date was the Friday of a bank
holiday weekend, the extension was only until the following Tuesday
morning – I assumed they would not be working on it over the
weekend!”
I
asked Adrian just how tricky the task turned out to be.
“It was a lot more
tricky that I envisaged. I found writing the text
the most straightforward part, but my concept that the various
sections would be the same as producing a series of articles was way
off the mark.
Deciding which
models to use to illustrate a particular subject was the worst part.
As so many could be used for several alternatives such as country,
material, scale or category, I found I had to re-photograph a lot of
models. I wanted to avoid using the same item twice. At one point,
every surface of the house was covered with toys and models which I
didn’t want to put away in case I needed them again! At that point
I realised it was a good thing I didn’t have a cat … This was
complicated further by having been out to take pictures of (or having
borrowed models) belonging to other collectors which I was
subsequently unable to group with others of my own.
“I have to admit I
learned a lot in the writing process. I hope I didn’t make too many
factual errors, but I needed to do quite a bit of research – a lot
of thing I thought I knew suddenly needed verifying before I
committed myself to print.
“I
also found the word count tricky to cope with, in actual fact I
cheated a bit by adding a lot more information into the photo
captions. This could have been a much bigger book, but I think it’s
a good introduction and, as I say in the book, finding out for
yourself what’s out there is a lot of the fun of collecting.”
Naturally,
I wondered how and when he first caught the collecting bug.
“I’m
told that I could identify real cars before I could pronounce the
names,” says Adrian. “I’ve always been a ‘collector’ of toy
cars, and since the age of about eight or nine have kept them in
their boxes. Admittedly they were taken out and played with, so most
from those early days show some signs of that use. There have been
times over the years when the collecting was ‘on hold’ but I
never disposed of any toys, and still they keep accumulating as I
find new areas of interest. It was probably a move to the South-East
of England in the 1980s that was the biggest boost, I found myself in
close proximity to several collectors toy fairs, one of which in town
where I lived. I do find such fairs are the best way of adding to the
collection, although internet auctions are good if you know what you
want.”
His
book talks about emergency service vehicles, so I wondered if he
specialised in particular collectables.
“Well that’s the
thing! I’m not a specialist on emergency services – I have all
sorts, in all scales and materials. In a way that probably equipped
me better for this project than collectors who specialise in only one
particular aspect. A lot of British collectors seem to prefer
home-grown products, and I think the same applies in other countries.
For me, the more unusual the better.
“When I was young
we made regular family trips to Germany and other European countries,
and that was a major influence in widening my horizons about what was
around – remember that was long before the internet, so the toys
and models I brought back from my travels were things hardly seen in
England.
“With
one exception, I have always avoided the temptation to try to get
everything of a particular series. It’s the last few that are
always the most difficult to get and which cost a lot more. There is
always something different to add a new flavour to the collection –
for example it’s only in last year or two that I have taken any
real interest in tin plate toys. They have a distinct charm which had
eluded me previously. Perhaps with age and experience I can now put
toys into a social and historical context which gives a new dimension
to my hobby.”
But
what does Adrian do when not writing, working of out and about
collecting?
“I wouldn’t like
your readers to think that toys and models are my whole life! At
times I just shut the door to the collection room (yes, it does have
its own room complete with small photo studio) and try to engage with
the real world. For example, I’m an amateur musician and play
keyboards. It’s odd how things overlap though; of the musicians
I’ve worked with in recent years, at least two spring to mind as
serious model enthusiasts, one is a leading expert on plastic toy
soldiers, the other makes the most amazing model railway locomotives
and rolling stock from scratch and also edits a model railway club
magazine.
“I’m also a
keen, if very amateur gardener, and also hope to get back to more
travelling soon. My favourite city to visit is Istanbul, but as fate
would have it, Turkey adds very little to my model collection – so
going there is a real holiday from my everyday world in every sense.”
Thank you, Adrian for being on my blog. Wishing you every success with the book.
BUY
LINKS
The publishers link for sales: https://www.amberley-books.com/blue-light-models.html or the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Light-Models-History-Collectors/dp/1445657155
