What got you started modeling?

When I was about 6. I was in Payless Drug store and went to the toys section of course. There I saw the model that would later lead to a life of empty pockets, wallets and bank accounts. Dont laugh guys, I was young and never modeled before but my first kit was a Snap Tite F14 Tomcat in a hideous clear neon orange. Took 30 mins to build and when done I wanted more. More Snap Tites followed until I became aware of "Skill 2 & 3" models and plastic cement. From that point on its been a slow but unpainful descent into brokehood. Gotta love it man.

My entry into modeling reads a little different.  The first thing I had was my uncle's 1950 something Lionel train set (still have it, still works).  When I was about 6 or so, my grandmother bought me 2 tank models, one I am guessing was a 1/35 Flak panzer and one that was another tank, but in maybe 1/72.  My mom,(who is much more crafty than my dad ever will be) set out to help me put them together.  Dad did try to help.  He cut ALL of the pieces off of the sprues.  Mom and I (mostly mom) got them together.  from there, I gradually started building aircraft models and had completed a good 20-30 before life got in the way.  I did get a Badger 150 airbrush for my high school graduation (still using) and completed a few kits with it, but by that time I had too nany other things going on, and modeling fell by the wayside.  I had always intended to get back at it, and after about 15 years of trying, my workbench is set up and active.  The A-36 is about ready to glue together.  Expect pictures as soon as I figure out how to post them.

 

Thanks Mom!

John

Hello , there !

         Ya'll gonna kill me  .

    This is kinda involved so I will try to shorten it . Do ya'll remember wood ? How about solid wood and casein glue ? Summer camp (first and only time my folks could afford it ) Craft time ,( I sat and watched ) The counselor wanted to know why I wasn't building something .I told the truth .My dad didn't give me the 50 cents for a craft kit . So I agreed to wash the counselor's front cabin windows .This is where I learned that every job could get me a kit . The first kit was a DC-7-C in solid wood  With plastic wingy thingys and neat stickers ..Next year I have foster parents ! Foster dad wasn't a fisherman / farmer like dad .He was a TOOL and DIE maker ! He did the neatest stuff . he took me to see " The ENEMY BELOW " with " KURT JURGENS and ROBERT MITCHUM " . The stars , in my eyes were a BUCKLEY/ EDSALL class escort and a U-BOAT ! Have you ever heard of BROOMSTICKS ? Oh , and  2x3 window trim ?

      You know , if you file enough and sand enough and glue together (DUCO HOUSEHOLD CEMENT ! ) little blocks , the ESCORT , and file on that broomstick until that U-BOAT pops out .You have the two stars .Yes crude , but recogniseable .I remembered foster dad's admoniion .Measure twice , cut once . The next CHRISTMAS - HEY , a model , no , TWO models , wait a minute  ! THREE models .I still have one .  They were the PYRO kit of the ( NATCHEZ  ).Big model for a kid there (read my post on Model owies ! ) ! The other two were a AMT car kit (a 59 CADILLAC ) and a MONOGRAM  (CESSNA 182 FLOATPLANE !) I still have that little float plane and have always loved that little model . Now many , many years later I have a stash so large that if anything happens to me they go to " WOUNDED WARRIORS " here in SAN ANTONIO .

    I now do 1/350 ships of all types . Still missing a IOWA class BATTLESHIP from WW2 like the MISSOURI . When I saw the REVELL model I wouldn't waste hard earned mowing money on it . Still won't .Now I would like to see one in 1/350 that I could afford on SOCIAL SECURITY ! Even the small ones are now expensive and they're talking ,I heard about the possibility of a 1/200 MISSOURI in WW2 fit . WOW , that would look neat with My 1/200 scale ARIZONA ! (that one a gift from my last and only client ). Models , A wonderful world . A world full of great things and great friends and not to forget all the great kits .The imagination pushed to the limit .Love every minute of it !  Model On !      Tanker-Builder