For me, it's plastic models only. I have no interest or talent for balsa wood model aircraft or wooden boats. My first plastic model was in the 1950's sometime of the Strombecker model of the USS Ruderow, odd how I remeber that. It made a huge impression on me. I was 6 or 7 years old. I didn't see how to apply the decals on, so I glued them on with tube glue. What a mess, but I loved it. Soon later my dad told me that I needed to use water! He was in the US navy during WW 2 and I was very impressed with him, as was my brother. He also was a Dentist, later a Professor in a University, great man. Very skilled. My dad also bought us our first model of Monogram 1/48 Wildcats and Dauntless in 1959 then the Revel USS Essex. I have a cousin who served on it in the early 1960s or so.
I never stoped building, my painting skilles improved, I joined IPMS 44 years ago, won a few contests, I still build. I still have meetings, on line, with IPMS. My brother, who lives across country, has retired, is getting back into modeling, takes advice from me. It's fun to do things with him again.
I did Lincoln logs, heck, we lived in South East Iowa, my family lived in Illinois, Lincoln contry, went to his old house many times. I was no good at Erector sets, I was bad at shop, actually, hated shop . I was Okay at art. Best at Science and History, became surveyor and taught some Geology at Dinosaur Ridge.
I loved plastic models. I never stopped building models like others. I remember when I was going into 7th grade that if I keep building, that I will probably never stop. Then there was all the various Avalon Hills war games, especially Panzer Blitz.. Wow, the best combined. Way before computer games became popular. I guess I'm a major nerd. Oh yes, I'm in Star Fleet, on the USS Pioneer, NCC 5280 D, get it?