Interview for Giampiero Bianchi –
Hi Giampiero, how are your modeling projects progressing? We know you are
carrying on a new diorama! Can you anticipate something?
Hello everyone and thank you for your interest in my creations. The new projects
are proceeding well, I am carrying out a new and very articulated work and still
more challenging, but I like to raise the bar with each new job, to find
always new stimuli and new challenges to overcome. I anticipate that the setting
it will be very “cold” ……. in the Alsace area in the winter of 1945.
Your models and settings are highly regarded in the modeling world
static, Mig Jimenez finally awarded you the deserved Best AMMO, at the diorama
Die Gotterdammerung – Berlin 1945. A deserved prize after the medal
gold winner in the same category at our Challenge Colle21. Two awards
awarded by two top judges, Mig and Jorge Porto, what they mean to you
these awards?
I am very happy and honored of these awards that are given to me by
two world-famous model makers, whom I personally admire and respect. In particular
Mig was for me an important reference in improving my techniques
modeling. I participated in one of his workshops in Moson and I have always followed the
his articles on Weathering Magazine and the various videos posted on YouTube .
Tell us your modeling story! You started alone or someone brought you
inside this fantastic world?
I come from a family of “modelers”: already my father “smodellava” ……. I remember that from
little I saw him busy assembling models of civil aircraft and ships !!! Needs to
he passed on this passion to us so that both my two brothers and I have
started early assembling models. I think I was 12 or 13 when
I bought my first bag of the Airfix: I remember it was the Sherman in scale
HO / 00. Then after some time and some other model came the first
Humbrol color jar (I cleaned the brushes with the acetone my mom used
x the nails …) and then gradually the first files, the abrasive paper etc … etc … .. I mounted a
a bit of everything following the passion that gradually grew: planes, ships, motorcycles,
spaceships, cars . up to the passion for armored vehicles and later for
the dioramas. I saw the birth of the whole after market that gradually entered the
our hobby and has now become indispensable to obtain a quality model,
starting from photoengraving, to resin conversions, to metal tracks, to the whole
range of colors and pigments etc … etc … unthinkable things thinking back to the first models !!
You have been an international model maker for several years, surely someone has you
supported by helping you, who do you want to thank?
The first great model maker I admired and inspired by was
Verlinden. I remember leafing through his catalogs and was fascinated by his
compositions, so collected and at the same time complete with all the details !! His
style and the ability to stop moments with his compositions have “shaped”
also my way of interpreting my passion for dioramas. Then came the
other great contemporary model makers and in particular Mig Jimenez, Marijn Van Gils
and Shigeyuki Mizuno, who helped me with their works and techniques and
inspired to achieve today’s results . my heart really goes to them
thanks !! And then I have to thank my group of “Picchiatelli” that with his
support and travel allowed me to participate in exhibitions abroad and get myself
know also in the European context.
Tell us about the model / diorama that gave you the most satisfaction.
Surely the diorama Die Gotterdammerung is the work that gave me the most
satisfactions, not only for the numerous international awards it has given me
given, but also because so far I consider it the most complete work that I am
managed to achieve, from all points of view. Even today I don’t get tired of
observe it: I find that it describes the story I wanted to tell well, I think this
also due to the careful planning upstream of the work and the numerous
positioning tests of the various elements in the various stages of processing, duration
almost a couple of years.
Let’s go back to the contest. We have often seen you interact in our direct, in
occasion of the awards of categories where you have not participated, this means
that the Challenge Colle21 did you particularly like?
Yes I liked the Challenge Colla 21 and it was very interesting to follow all the
categories: I find that there is always something to learn from the work of other model makers, that
they do fashion sketches, sci-fi, car planes, etc … there is always some inspiration, some
idea or some technique that can be “borrowed”. It is also useful and interesting
follow the awards and the comments of the various judges, to understand with which parameters
the various models are judged and assessed if you are on the right track.
Our staff worked hard to offer the best, it was a very long job
but at the same time the appreciation of model makers like you, Fabio Franquillo, Diego
Risiti, Daniele Petrucci, Massimiliano Richiero, Riccardo Casati and many others, gave us
that extra push to organize live shows on the occasion of the awards ceremony. it was
a good idea or do you prefer, for online contests, only the publication of the palmares?
I think the live awards were a very good idea !! Although
an online contest during the awards ceremony those emotions were felt that only
a real-time award ceremony can deliver. Your work has been excellent and
appreciated by model makers, also given the numerical presence during live shows.
We decided to adopt this line to give a valid alternative to
modellers used to participate in competitions, in a period like this of
restriction due to Covid. We believe it is to create an event to make comunity
served to ease some pressure after the lockdown. Precisely for this we are
already working on the second edition, you would like to help us and become part of the
our team?
As mentioned above you have had a very valid idea that like many other modelers I have
appreciated very much. I would be delighted as well as honored to enter vs. team for
the organization of the next event and any other initiative that may
contribute to the spread of this hobby.
We consider your competition (Picchiatelli NdR) one of the best in Europe, e
we know your ambitions. Colle21 would like to contribute with its stand to
next edition, do you have any information to give us … will it be done or not?
Do you already have an alleged date?
As the “Picchiatelli” Modeling Group we thank you very much for your appreciation:
Unfortunately for this year we have reluctantly decided to postpone the exhibition to
2021 and precisely on 9 and 10 October. Guests and commercial brands that
they had joined have not yet reconfirmed their presence: we hope that
give us positive responses in the coming months. It would be a real pleasure to host too
the Colle 21 stand, which with its products has now established itself as a brand of
great quality.
We have seen from Facebook that your association meets enough
frequently at the headquarters. Of course respecting the safety distance e
wearing the mask, this shows the seriousness of the people who make it
make up. Well done! How many years have you been part of the Picchiatelli? What are the partners with i
which ones do you find best?
I met the Picchiatelli Group on the occasion of one of their exhibitions of about ten
years ago in which I participated as an “independent” model maker and I found
immediately a fantastic group of modelers and above all friends. I have decided to
sign up to increase my modeling knowledge and share ideas and
experiences: so I joined, as already said, their European trips for
participate in events such as the Moson Show (which has now become an appointment
indispensable), the KMK Scaleworld, the Scale Model World of Eindhowen ..participate
at these exhibitions and getting to know other European realities was a great stimulus for
my modeling business, as well as a wonderful experience on the human side.
Even abroad everyone is speaking very highly of you, if you do the World Cup
Veldhoven, are you planning to participate?
This positive consideration we have abroad makes us really happy and we
fills us with pride, making us understand that we are working well. For the World Cup
we already had reservations for this year’s edition, which was then suspended. We will be there
anyway, certainly next year.
We too will be there (new lockdowns permitting) at the next World Model Expo,
if you will be there I would like to host you for a demo at our stand, would you like it?
Certainly. Not only would I be pleased but would be honored
We renew our esteem, we do not want to steal any more time but we promise to
contact you soon to propose a new collaboration on the occasion of the new one
edition of Challenge Colle21! Say hello to all the Piacchiatelli!
The esteem you accord me is reciprocated. I certainly greet the whole Group (which
reciprocate the greetings with esteem) and wait for your news for the next edition !!!! TO
soon ..ciaoooo !!!