As a young boy I often saved up money from my paper round to buy models; at the time mainly Airfix 1/72 scale tanks and aircraft. I had Spitfires, Me109, bombers and the like hanging on strings from the ceiling, and dioramas made from plasticine for my tanks and other military vehicles. Sadly as I went off to college, life got in the way and I found I had too little time to keep it up.
Shortly after I got married I picked up the last stuff from my mum’s house in Lancashire which included an Outspan box full of paper wrapped models from my youth. There had been a few damages but I still have them on the shelf in my hobby room today!
After almost 40 years, I decided that I would restart my interest in plastic modelling in retirement. So I kitted myself out with a bunch of modelling stuff; Iwata airbrush & compressor, lots of paints, brushes, pigments, tools, etc. My main interests are 1/35 scale armour and 1/48 scale aircraft.
I decided to start easy, and always wanted a Jagdpanther which went together quite quickly, and I was pleased with the result, although I did make a few mistakes along the way.
I was then going to go at the B-17, but the USS New Jersey looked too inviting so I started on that. Now that is taking a while longer… who says you will have more time in retirement?!
On the shelf over my modelling table, awaiting their turn to be built, I have:
- German 88mm Gun Flak 36/37, 1/35 Tamiya (35017)
- B-17F Flying Fortress “Memphis Belle”, 1/48 Revell (4297)
- YouTube build video
- Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb, 1/48 Tamiya (61033)
- Mosquito FB Mk.VI/NFII, 1/48 Tamiya (61062)
- Messerschmitt Bf109E, 1/48 Tamiya (61063)
- Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS.1, 1/48 Tamiya (61026)
My wife has told me I cannot get any more for the time being!
References / Resources
- Websites
- Files on Titan:
/Archive_Jekyll/files/models/…Booksfolder, several books related to modellingMagazinesfolder : lots of magazines on armour and aircraft modelling; Airfix Model World, Tamiya Magazine, etcVideosfolder:- Hamilkar Barkas’ build of 1/35 Stug IV and 1/35 Tiger I with diorama
- Aircraft weathering
- How to mask canopies
- Cleaning the Revolution CR airbrush