What was your first model? Don't answer if your name is Rod Stewart!

[stona]

On a rainy day many years ago my dad put a new plug on our Scalextrix transformer. One of the bronze coloured ones with the knurled nuts on the front for those old enough to remember. Unfortunately dad was a naval officer not an electrician and on plugging it in there was a loud bang ,blowing the socket off the wall and setting the wall paper on fire!

In order to stop us moaning he took us off to a model shop in Oxford (it was called Howe's and is surely long gone) and bought us some glue, paints and two 1/72 Airfix models, a Spitfire and a Hurricane. After a brief fight I had the Spitfire and my little brother the Hurricane. That was it I was off and running. I had the traditional fifteen/ twenty year break and came back about ten years ago determined not to get glue on the canopies!

Steve

[Guest]

My first model was a Model Truck, The Black Foot. I was always told it was 'Mums' (I never saw her use it though). From there I had a couple of different cars, which were subject to my new Electrical skills (plastered with LEDs). I then moved onto a small Lifeboat, although this didn't turn out very well and never saw the wet stuff. As I went through the last yaer or two school and got my first part time job, I learnt that my Grandfather was a Landing Craft Instructor in our small town where some were built. My Job being a Sail Maker, I learnt that many who worked there were great friends of my grandfather. As part of my job I had to learn to sail, which I knew all the theory as I had been Making Model Sailing Yatchs for several months.

My first being 4ft, brought from a fellow club member. I then started building my own with Fibre Glass Hulls (which another club member moulded many different hulls for a small cost).

I then got the 'Speed Bug' but this was still with Sail Power. So I had a Fibre Glass 1880 Pond Yatch hull made up (5ft long). The hull was so thin I had to brace the inside with blasa struts EVERYWHERE, and leaked like a sieve. I used alot of SailEta parts - which cost me loads. I also had a Genoa (a sail that normally overlaps the main sail) and this was controlled via another Sail Servo (but didtn't work all that well). The deck was made of Resin and toilet paper in order to save weight, this also leaked, quite alot.

The boat was great and fast (when she didn't have water on board).

From there I wanted to go Bigger, but changing jobs, meeting my girlfriend and buying our first house stopped any further projects, but never stopped me thinking about Making my 'Bigger and Better' Boat.

I have a project which has been ongoing for a few years now. Shes 8ft long 11in beam and takes a 28LB bulb (Custom Made), her sail plan consists of the Norm (Main Sail & Jib) but with a retractable Spinnaker and roller Genoa. maybe in the future I will finish her.

For the moment I have 2 Model Tanks to play with. I also Became a Main Stockist for BMA (BECC Model Accessories) whilst at school and to this day I still Sell their products via my site: Sail-RC.com