After a short while I figured AFV's captured my interest far more than aircraft. I think it was a combination of it being easier to display them safely (remember how dodgy the undercarriages were if you didn't use the clear plastic ‘Star Trek shaped’ display stands) and that the local newsagent stocked mainly Matchbox 1/76 tanks. Amazingly I still have a few Airfix 1/32 figures and the bulk of a very early 1970’s 1/35 Tamiya Tiger I.
So, forward some 35 years to 2010 and a chance encounter browsing a scale model publication had my passion for modelling suddenly re-ignited. Whilst resting my weary feet on a family shopping spree I found myself in WH Smith the stationers browsing (like you do) and happened on a modelling magazine.
Isn't the Internet a wonderful thing? Within a few weeks I had discovered
a host of other publications and articles and hastily went about sourcing the
ones that caught my eye. I then realised that the fascination I had as a junior with all things WWII and especially anything German vehicle related
had me focusing on axis armour and soft skins. Some of the features and
photographs I found on the tinterweb were incredible and I had to get engaged
again. Inspiration came from many places including manufacturers catalogues, an
Adam Wilder article, the Little Norway web forum, the Scratchmod website and
the Panzerwreck series of publications amongst others. I was now itching to get
started; but I had no models! I didn’t have a work space and I certainly didn’t
have any tools, glues, paints or brushes. This was to be remedied immediately!
It didn’t take long to acquire the basics and with the help of a certain online worldwide bidding platform I had my first kit. It was the Tamiya 1/35 Steyr 1500. The first thing I noticed was how soft the plastic was. Even though this was a pretty ancient release the injection mouldings had come a long way since I remembered building a plastic model.
I soon became a member of a few modelling forums and watched and learned
which manufacturers were held in best regard. The information we can all obtain
on the net is vast and there is an abundance of great advice from organisations
and individuals alike. I was however a little alarmed that the majority
of these forum's had a clique of outspoken individuals that constantly bemoaned,
and unfairly criticised other members builds and new kit releases. It all
seemed a little odd to me that they could get so worked up over a 'plastic toy!
I was fascinated in individuals who were scratch building kits and those that
had small business concerns manufacturing kit upgrades and accessories. I liked
the passion they had and the enthusiasm for researching particular vehicles and
military unit locations in different conflicts.
I began researching kits before making purchases and found the Perth military modelling site invaluable. Although the site has not been updated for a long time I am glad that Terry Ashley has recently got back up and running again on FB. His reviews have great step by step build advice on pretty much all the new kits on the market and a neat section showing all the upgrades and accessories available for any one vehicle. His site also offers advice on manufacturer errors, scale reproduction quirks and the relevant remedies available.
Although I only re-started scale modelling in late 2010 I was very much, and still am, learning on the job. Although my eyes need plenty of visual assistance and the old eye to hand co-ordination was not what it used to be, I believe with a great deal of patience and perseverance I can achieve at least a fraction of the abilities of some of the well published and talented AFV modelers.