I'm a model builder and Fine Scale Modeler subscriber. I live in Louisville, KY USA and I'm currently building a USS Missouri (Tamiya 1:350 WWII version) with all the bells and whistles. It's almost complete. I will post about this separately since it's not the exact theme of this post.
I've been building since I was 9 and now I'm 66 so that's a lot of models (and a lot of years). In fact, the first model I ever built was the Revell Missouri in 1954 on my birthday. I build just about anything. I have no particular theme. I just like them well engineered and complicated. I've built many for other people in a professional and semi-professional manner. For example: in the late '70s and early '80s I built 65 Pocher 1/8th scale classic car kits for the importer and then private collectors.
My son was more interested in computer games and didn't catch the scale model bug (he's now an eye surgeon so he didn't do too badly), but my grandsons are showing interest, with Alex (10) showing a real understanding of what it takes. We work together for many hours in the basement workshop I've built just for that purpose. My wife and I moved here to Louisville in 2009 just to be near the kids and grandkids.
This love of modeling got me to start a workshop at the community center called, "Grandpop's Scale Model Workshop". I've run three 8 week sessions so far for 10 to 12 year-olds, and there will be more. It all started with my grandson telling a friend that his grandfather was teaching him how to build models. The friend told his single mom who then asked my daughter "if her dad would like to teach someone else?" This child really liked models, but his mom had no idea how to help him. He just finished the Tamiya DeHaviland Mosquito.
This is my 6th forum of which I'm a contributor. In two of them, RCScalebuilder.com and WorldAffairsboard.com, I've written full build threads of some recent projects... the aforementioned Missouri and a large RC model of a B-17E with four, 4-stroke engines and four channel radio. The bomber was built on commission for a highly skilled RC pilot in the area. He had the model sitting in the basement for years but didn't feel he could build it. It took 13 months and flew successfully last April.
I'm also a railroad modeler with a huge pile of 3 rail, O'gauge scale trains in boxes waiting for me to reconstruct the RR that was dismantled for the move to Louisville. Yes... I am a Classic Toy Trains and Classic Trains subscriber also. Once the battleship is finished, my family is insisting that the trains be built in time for my grandsons to sill enjoy them. In fact, my son in law bet me a case of beer that I won't have them running by Summer 2013. He better be prepared to pay up.