Sunday, April 03, 2011

Sealed under glass


Small world
Miami, FL, January 2011
About this photo: Thematic celebrates all things land, sea or air this week. You can, too, by pointing your mouse here.
I seem to remember there being far more of these models-under-glass in the world when I was a kid than there are now. The spread of virtual reality, wireless-everywhere and mobility in our pockets seems to have taken the magic out of these three-dimensional representations of what might be. Which is a pity, because I can still remember how much fun I had every time we stumbled across one in a lobby somewhere. I'd look at these microworlds and wonder what they'd ultimately look like when they were really built.

So when we saw this one while checking in at Miami's airport, I half-expected my Internet-savvy the kids to walk on past. How could plastic models of now-out-of-service aircraft (look closely, those are Lockheed L-1011 TriStars and first-generation Boeing 747s) possibly be compelling to them?

Yet they gravitated to the model like moths to light and excitedly explored it for what seemed like an age. They were so enamored of the thing that we finally had to tap our watches when it was time to head to the security line.

Maybe there's something to these supposedly outdated model-things, after all.

Your turn: What's the appeal here?

3 comments:

Kalei's Best Friend said...

Maybe the fact that they were untouchable? Those models are out of the ordinary as well...Have u ever notice that people will notice others looking at something and that in itself is enough to attract others to do the same? Kinda how moths are attracted to light..

Cloudia said...

lol,

yes, used to be

when we were kids, Carmi



Spring Aloha from Waikiki


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Bob Scotney said...

Looks like Heathrow in the snow.