I've been modeling since I was 8 years old. My first model was the Revell Missouri which I built on the living room floor, spilled the Testor's glue and then set it on a table top where it basically destroyed the finish. With that auspicious start, I built models with a vengence. I even did some terrfic models in my dorm room at Michigan State in the mid-60s.
Modeling continued to evolve and my skills continued to develop and continue to this day. I turned 71 this year (2016). I just started scratch building a couple of years ago and have learned to build in brass, do my own resin casting, and on and on. I firmly believe that regardless of age, a person in good health can continue to learn and evolve.
At one point in the late 70s and early 80s, I built 65 Pocher 1/8th scale classic cars on commission. I done other commission projects. Now, I mostly build for my large and complex O'gauge model railroad, and an occassional plastic kit for variety. My current project is the Revell 1:48 B-17 with Verlinden and Eduard upgrades. I'm building it for a protege who spent time in my garage in the 70s learning how to build scale models. He's now 50 and for his birthday took a ride in the real "Yankee Lady". He wants the model to duplicate that extant flying B-17. I was able to get the decal set for it, and it will be a nice model.
I started my professional life as a shop teacher and taught metals and power technology in junior high and high school. I had the opportunity to do training in an industrial setting and that led to becoming an industrial trainer. This led to a series of companies, higher positions until ending up at retirement as the director of training at a large national home builder. Prior to that, I was the chief learning officer a very large German-owned, consumer products company. I actually served in that capacity while living with my wife in Duesseldorf, Germany. At the height of the housing bubble bursting, I was in the position to fully retire and did so in Louisville, KY. We spent most of our lives living in Bucks County, PA, but relocated to Kentucky to be near and daughter and family including two grandsons. Both are very clever and the older one, now 15, is a very good model maker. When first moving here, I established "Grandpop's Scale Model Workshop" at the Jewish Community Center. We ran it for two sessions with very nice results.