My wife and I have always enjoyed going to our local Barnes and Noble on Saturday evenings for a cup of coffee and to read a bit. In late 2005, I had discovered Fine Scale Modeler, and began to read it with interest. As a boy, I had spent countless hours building models, mostly airplanes. Somewhere around the 10th or 11th grade (1983-84), driving, sports and girls took over, and I stepped away from the hobby.
So finding this magazine was really special. It made me remember all of the fun I’d had building models. And I was amazed at the sheer number of kits available, and aftermarket accessories, and just how good the models in the magazine were.
So week after week, we’d go back, drink coffee, and I’d go through those magazines. Finally my wife said “Why don’t you build a model again?” But for some reason I kept putting off the idea.
Finally, for my birthday in February 2006, she decided to kickstart the process. She gave me some paints, glue, brushes and a model. An Academy 1/72 P-40E. At the time, I thought I’d build it, maybe a few more, and then get it out of my system.
It’s now 9 years, 7 months and 200 models later, and I can say with certainty it is not out of my system.
Of course, I timed things so my 200th model would be a Spitfire. It happened to be Eduard’s 1/48 Spitfire Mk. IXc Early.
If my math is correct, I’ve averaged about 1.75 models per month since getting back into the hobby. To be honest, speed is not my goal, nor is completing many models. The simple truth is I just like to build models. I don’t get too hung up in accuracy or shape or shades of color. I just build. When I’m finished, I don’t really look at them anymore either. (Fact is, I sell them all now.) I have a few on my shelf, and they just collect dust.
So I build, and build, always looking for new things to try, ways to improve, techniques to use. If an experiment goes awry, I just keep moving. There’s always the next kit.
And I can say with certainty that it is every bit as fun as it was when I was 11 years old. I think that is the key for me. I have fun with it. I enjoy the process.
I suppose if it ceases to be fun I won’t do it. But I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
On to 300!
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