Do you think it's time I got a new mat!!

[alextheblue]

Like most of us that frequent this fine forum, I find myself watching the odd You Tube vid from time to time. Who am I kidding. I watch all of them!! And the one thing they have in common, modelling aside, is nice clean modelling mats. Shiny and pristine, as though never touched by the slightest splash of paint. No, not these mats. These mats have never been on the business end of an upturned bottle of Extra Thin. These mats have virgin clean grids unsullied by airbrush cleaner and cellulose thinner.

Unlike my mat.

If my mat was a third world country, it would be awash with z-list celebrities raising awareness for some charity-a-thon called Mat Aid. A TV ad would show it cradled in the arms of an RSPCA warden with tear streaked cheeks as they slowly shook their head from side to side. "I've never seen such neglect!", the grief filled words barely audible as their chests heaved with despair.

Oh come on, you cry. It can't be that bad.

Brace yourself!







Good God man! I've never seen such inhumanity, how do you live with yourself.

Don't fear. I managed to clean it and it came up all right.





Only kidding. Actually bought a new one.

On a serious note - how many of you fellas are nursing an extremely dirty old mat that you can't bring yourself to change. Or, do you replace it as soon as it gets a bit grubby. Would be interesting to know.

Now that I've had a bit of a clean up, it's time to turn my attention to the shelf of doom!

[Quax]

I thought yours was quite clean to be fair...

Paul

[Donkeywalloper]

Well its Saturday night, Mrs Walloper is watching Strictly, but I read out your post and it had us howling with laughter
You really are a gifted writer .
All that a side, I have the same Mat I bought when I restarted modelling four years ago .
Strangely though, underneath said Mat, is a brand new Mat.......whats that about
I just can't bear to get rid of my Mat.
Now your post has started me doubting my attachment to it.
Keep posting great posts Alex.
DW

[digger303]

Just needed a good wash in windex.....save the planet and recycle man...

[Twokidsnosleep]

Alex, have you been sniffing the MLT recreationally again mate?

[ForbesHutton]

Even though I only have the bottle half filled (I keep the older used ones for storage) the TET always seems to get knocked over onto the mat once a year. Instantly lifts the white paint off. And there's a couple of raised bumps of crazy glue too....

[Kingdan]

Nah just rub some more mlt on it take the rest of the design off and have a plain black/grey mat

[AlexBB]

I have a right dirty old slag of a mat I use for day to day.... but a nice new shiny one I take pics on!!

The old bint has all sorts across her squares, bits of this n that and even found a bit of corned beef stuck into a lump the other day... god knows how that got there... but a bit of razor scraping soon got it gone lol....

[jmurphy18]

Like others I have 2 mats. But I use to make Stunt kites so my 2nd is a 24x36 mat. i.e. way large but it works to protect that Teak desktop. My work mat is 12x18 and that one is starting to look like Alex's LOL. Crazy glue on it, Tamiya glue, paint..... and deep cut lines.

[Gary30]

Mine looks like yours ooo-errr

But one thing I've never understood, is WTF is a 'self healing' mat?!?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Paul showed how he used a "sacrificial mat" over his nice new ones..little old one to cut and paint on.
That is sheer brilliance and I have been doing it as well to keep my nice big grey one, nice and well, grey

[dogsbody]

Gee, mine doesn't look too bad at all, seeing as it's about 20 years old. But then, it hasn't been used too much. Between working shift work and raising 3 beautiful daughters, there just never seemed to be time to build much.




Chris