Created the first plane from scratch. Wood and "elbow" grease. Took for ever to carve slot for the wing. Had something resembling a tail. Used shims to hold wings in place.
Did I say I grew up in Vermont. Stood in line holding $.50 cents for a ride with a "barnstormer!" Son of a gun nosed it into a split rail fence. No one get hurt but sure made ME mad.
Graduated to rubber band models. Kitchen table for a runway. Got up the nerve to take outside. (Well, mother thought it was a good idea!) Dang thing flew, caught a thermal and was out of sight in a flash.
Yellow Cub practicing touch and goes in backyard caught my attention. Grandmother bought me a model. Box was the size of a Diamond Match box. Must have been a "million" pieces. It resembled an airplane when finished.
Have built off and on ever since.