Maxi-kit in mini form

It’s a small world, especially for Philippines craftsman Mark Ron Barbacena.

The model maker, whose work has been featured previously in digitalDrummer, has applied his talents to Roland’s flagship VAD506 kit, producing a 1:10 scale version.

The order was a commission – as is much of Barbacena’s work.

His kits usually take two to three months to build, depending on the complexity, and every part is hand-made.

The price of the mini-VAD has not been disclosed, but Barbacena usually charges US$280 for a basic five-piece kit model. That said, a cursory glance at his Facebook page shows that more of his time is taken up with custom high-end kits reflecting either well-known artist set-ups or the personal kits of his discerning customers around the world.