Hi, I'm Steve and I haven't done any modelling for around 35 years. I used to build aircraft models, the "highlights" being a 1:24 scale Airfix Hawker Harrier and a smaller (maybe 1:48?) Tamiya Phantom II which I was fairly pleased with at the time, but which were probably not very good.
I've inherited three wooden models from the 1940's, which my granddad built while serving in the Royal Navy. I suspect these were built from kits, as I'm struggling to see how he could have made some of the components himself - things like canopies / wheels and so forth. They all measure approximately 1:35 scale, and are in varying states of disrepair as they were used as toys by my cousins before they were rescued. They are;
- Hawker Typhoon
- De Havilland Mosquito
- Supermarine Seafire
The Mosquito was probably rescued before the others, as it was on display on a shelf in my parents' lounge as far back as I can remember (and is probably responsible for my interest in military aircraft), and holds a special place in my heart. My dad repainted it (with brushes and Humbrol enamels) around 45 years ago, but apparently it had two other colour schemes prior to that. I really want to refurbish all of them and bring them back to their former glory, without overdoing it - I imagine they would have been fairly basic when new, so adding lots of detail isn't part of the plan. I'll start with the Typhoon as it's in by far the worst condition of the three, and it therefore matters less if I get it wrong.
I'm hoping to pick up a lot of hints and tips from lurking around the forum, especially regarding things like how to deal with the aircraft markings / roundels, as this is the main thing preventing me from getting started - I don't want to start something if I have no idea how I'm going to finish it! Feel free to treat me like a modelling halfwit - you won't be far wrong!