| At first glance, you think they're made of resin, hard | | | | meals for thousands of local craftsmen and that sent |
| plastic, or metal. | | | | generations of children to school. But imagine what |
| With the glossy lacquer finish and intricate curves, you'll | | | | goes on when one starts to create a model plane not |
| be amazed that they're made of wood, Philippine | | | | only as a work of art but as a source of income for a |
| mahogany, as a matter of a fact. Such are the | | | | family. Scale drawing done by an artist or modeler, |
| desktop model planes hand-carved by many | | | | hand-carving based on the scale with kiln-dried |
| craftsmen of Angeles City, Pampanga, in the | | | | mahogany as material, sanding until the piece is |
| Philippines, the former home of Clark Air Base. | | | | smooth, hand painting with concern on accuracy and |
| Just before the end of the Vietnam War, wood | | | | details, and lacquer coating and finishing. |
| carving is already a flourishing trade in the Pampanga | | | | With all these talent, effort and time, a piece is not just |
| province. Most businesses had been doing | | | | a product. It is a masterpiece and an heirloom that |
| custom-made wall plaques and name plates for | | | | deserve to be cherished. |
| American service men of Clark Air Base. Then later, | | | | Only craftsmen with decades of experience in |
| toy planes. When the American servicemen's passion | | | | intricately carving wood blocks into planes, 30 years to |
| shifted to replicating the aircraft they have piloted and | | | | be exact, can make such an imposing work of art. A |
| loved, the business evolved into plane modeling initially | | | | company like Mastercraft Collection and other |
| using Narra wood as material. | | | | entrepreneurs take pride in these men loyal to their |
| It soon created an industry that provided three square | | | | craft. |