This appears to be the time I'm supposed to introduce myself, so let me do my best. I've already filled in my bio for the generalities, so I will do more of the model specific stuff here.
If I recall correctly, I built my first model, with my older brother's help, somewhere forty plus years ago before age ten. If memory serves, it was a P-40. I've been building off and on ever since. When I say "off and on", I've almost always got a model somewhere in the building stage, and that was true even in college. I even had some sent to me while on deployment. It is just that life often gets in the way of me completing them in a timely fashion.
My favorites tend to be evenly split between WWII aircraft, usually in 1/48 scale, and 1/25 scale autos. Having said that, I will pick up just about anything that catches my eye, and my cache of unbuilt models consists of "only" eighty or so kits. Completely doable in this lifetime!
I tend to be somewhat laid back about my building, although I do constantly strive to improve my skills. Most of my kits are out of the box. While I'm not judgmental of those who are, I am not a "rivet counter" nor have I done any extreme weathering or anything of that nature. I admire the talent it takes, but it just isn't my thing. Heck, I don't even mind the raised panel lines on the Revell kits I have. They kind of take me back to my childhood. For me, model building is almost like meditation. It is probably the one activity that I can lose myself in for hours, yet if I find myself getting frustrated or at a sticking point, I can push myself away from my bench and not try to fight through it. I don't believe I could do that if I took it as seriously as some do. Again, not a criticism, just a differing view of things.
Oh, and my screen name? Well, I was a medic in the National Guard in a field artillery unit for most of my career, and picked up the nickname there. I answer to it pretty readily, and use it as my 'alias' for Cowboy Action Shooting as well.
I'm looking forward to being here, learning and sharing. Mostly learning, I have a feeling.