Born in 1968, built my first model kit when I was 5 yrs old, I think I was given it to stop me taking my grans radio, TV, stereo etc. apart which apparently I used to do. Matchbox 1/72 Red Arrows Foland Gnat in coloured styrene and white fingerprints on the canopy glass!
Early modelmaking influences were sci-fi progs, Space 1999/Blakes 7/UFO/Thunderbirds etc. and my old primary school teacher Mr Cook who showed me his massive HO/OO guage railway in his attic and who taught me how to make a little house out of a sheet of styrene and the clear cover from a tape cassette when I was about 10yrs old. A scratchbuilder was born!!!!
Most ambitious build-1/96 scale DeAgostini HMS Victory. It's gonna take many many years.
Self trained Architectural Modelmaker with builds for Rolls Royce, British Aerospace, Bristol Aerojet, Tarmac Homes, Bristol University, Strachan and Henshaw, UK Fire Service, BUPA, J Sainsburys', and an offshore oilrig for one of the big oil companies (BP I think), amongst others. CAD put an end to all that! Computers huh!
Wierdest build- A King Arthur period toy castle with working drawbridge and portcullis for a little boys christmas one year. His father came to my workshop the week before christmas thinking he could get a better one than the plastic ones in the shops for less money cos he was out of work. Being a soft old fart at the time I did it. I finished it christmas eve, all made of wood, not a single nail or screw and designed to collapse if the kid fell on it. It measures 2 foot square, Lead free paint, walkways and doorways to suit the sample knight figure I was Given. He payed me with a bottle of whisky. It cost me about £150.00 and he left none the wiser. I hope it survived to be passed down to his Grandchildren. It made me happy then and still does now to imagine the look on that wee boys face the following morning!
Murphys/sods law moment- My friend nearly dropped a Hasegawa 1/48 Seaking model of mine, a nice build, I said 'don't worry mate, our friendship is worth more than the model!' took it from him coz he was uncomfortable with the near miss, turned round tripped and landed squarely on top of it myself. Bugger!