Tageblatt.lu | Hobby for tinkerers

Anyone who first thinks of railways when they hear the word model building will be surprised in Lasauvage. On the “Modell Truck Frënn Déifferdeng” site, remote-controlled trucks, excavators, off-road vehicles and emergency vehicles have been rolling through a detailed miniature world for years. Over the years, the original model building project developed into an association that today brings together model builders from Luxembourg and neighboring regions.

On June 20th, the club will open its doors from 10 a.m. and provide insights into a niche hobby that combines technical know-how, craftsmanship and a sense of community. Visitors can not only explore the facility, but also find out how much work, planning and volunteer commitment goes into the small vehicles and their surroundings.

The history of the club goes back to 2010. At that time, club founder Patrick Stoltz was looking for a way to bring the local model building scene together. With the support of the city of Differdange, the group received a site in Lasauvage that previously housed garages and a former scrap yard. “We had practically nothing at the beginning,” remembers Stoltz. With the help of sponsors, volunteers and a lot of personal initiative, the current facility was built step by step and is now known beyond the country’s borders.

Garages were demolished, streets were laid out and buildings were erected. Two chalets were later added, which today serve as a meeting place for members. Much of what visitors see on the site today was planned, built and financed by the club members themselves. The association was officially founded in 2015. Today it has around 65 members. That’s a significant number for a hobby that even those involved like to describe as a niche.

A hobby for tinkerers – and for the curious

Anyone who thinks of remote-controlled vehicles as toys underestimates the effort that goes into many models. Numerous trucks, construction site vehicles and off-road vehicles are assembled, painted and technically refined from extensive kits. It often takes weeks or even months until a model meets the owner’s expectations.

“You can always improve something – lighting, technology or drive. That’s a big part of the appeal,” says club member Frank Erpelding. In fact, a model never seems to be completely finished. New functions, technical adjustments or additional details ensure that many vehicles are further developed over the years.

At the Lasauvage facility it’s not about speed or spectacular racing. Instead, the processes are based on reality: trucks transport material, excavators load vehicles, silos are filled and off-road vehicles overcome challenging obstacles. The models serve less as entertainment than as a replica of their great role models as realistically as possible.

Despite all the technology, for many members the focus is on something else. “Driving alone isn’t much fun,” says Erpelding. Regular exchange, joint projects and the opportunity to learn from each other are at least as important as the vehicles themselves.

Joe Diener, who took over as president at the beginning of the year, also emphasizes this aspect. The 28-year-old belongs to a younger generation of members and sees the strength of the club not only in model building, but above all in the community that has developed around the shared hobby.

Diener himself found the club through his father. At first he occasionally accompanied him to Lasauvage, later he discovered the hobby for himself. The regular visits turned into his own projects and ultimately responsibility on the board

The club sees itself as more than just a meeting place for experienced model makers. There is a constant exchange between long-standing members and young people who are just building their first vehicles. Knowledge is passed on, experiences are shared and technical problems are solved together.

One of the youngest members is 17-year-old Tom Schloesser. Before he bought his first vehicle, he was able to try one out on site. Today he owns several models and is not only interested in model making, but also in technology and motorsport in general.

The members also see the association as an opportunity to get young people excited about technical and craft topics. Anyone who builds a model inevitably deals with mechanics, electronics and construction – and learns that solutions are often not created at the push of a button. “Many children only know finished products,” says Frank Erpelding. Model building, on the other hand, is about understanding how something works, how to fix errors and why careful work is important.

The fact that the scene is networked far beyond the region is evident at events and meetings. Model makers from Germany, France and Belgium regularly travel to Lasauvage. For larger events, some visitors travel several hours.

The support from the city of Differdange plays an important role in the club’s development. Those responsible emphasize several times how important cooperation with the community is for the continued existence of the association. With this year’s “Porte Ouverte”, the “Modell Truck Frënn Déifferdeng” not only want to present their system, but also show that there is a lively club life behind the small vehicles.