Yang Wenyu, Student of Fuxing Senior High School, Wins Champion on World Ship Model Contest

By Qi Chuanbin

Simulative models of warships and ships are indispensable toys for many teenagers. Among these teenagers, Yang Wenyu, a student of Fuxing Senior High School, brought his “toys” to the global stage. On the 2018 World Simulative Ship Model Tournament, which closed recently, Yang won a champion of C6-grade teenager group. This is his first time to participate in a global contest.

An experienced ship model maker

17-year-old Yang Wenyu is a veteran ship model maker who has 10 years of experiences of making ship models.

Yang loves assembling toys and models since childhood. One day, on his way home after school, he discovered a new model shop near his home, and the models sold in the shop are quite different from those he saw before, most of them are warships and ships. Curious about these ship models, he soon became a frequent visitor to this shop.

“I’m interested in assembling ship models and I love studying them. Combining theory with practice enhanced my skills of assembling”, said Yang Wenyu. He kept studying theoretical knowledge of ship models in spare time and spent much time on practicing. Practice makes perfect. Yang told our reporter that he, as an “amateur” model maker, made several ship models in the three years of junior high school. Though these models are not as good as the models that he makes today, they are not bad works. Veteran model makers know they’re good.

After entering senior high school, Yang met Sun Hefeng, a tutor from Shanghai Military Sports Club, and began to accept his instructions. After meeting Mr. Sun, Yang felt entering a new world. Everyday, he goes to Mr. Sun’s office after school. Mr. Sun’s office became his most frequently visited place second only to his home. “At the beginning, I often visited Mr. Sun’s office and stayed there until midnight for assembling ship models,” said Yang.

As the youngest contestant in the Chinese team, Yang Wenyu never participated in a global contest before. His championship is inseparable from his persistence to study.

Founder of Ship Model Society

Yang told our reporter, it takes much time to assemble ship models. In the past, his academic record wasn’t good. His parents banned him of assembling ship models and urged him to spend more time and energy on learning. Without other choices, he obeyed his parents and spent much time on learning, and finally, his academic record improved and his parents allowed him to assemble ship models.

In the past years, Yang met several companions with similar experience like him, but can’t continue to make ship models due to various reasons. There are several clubs in his school, but no one is related to ship models. He sent application to the school for establishing a ship model club. In this way, his schoolmates would have a place to do things they like to do: make ship models. He contacted with parents of his club members and informed them of the purpose of establishing the club and the schedule of the club’s activities. He promised to parents that the club won’t occupy too much spare time of students, and got the support of all parents. Parents also agreed to provide most funds for the club. Now the number of members exceeds the upper limit of the club’s regulatory members. Some members attended ship model contests at the national level and won awards.

Yang told our reporter, he is applying for joining a professional ship model contestant team of Shanghai, so as to grasp more professional skills and make more excellent ship models.