discussion "School boy hobby"?!

[Windy]

I only have this brass Swan-Morton knife from my early days Dave, tool stashes were certainly much less complex then, weren't they!

I'm sure I've got one of those somewhere. I'll have a dig around and then try to find blades for it!

 

[minitnkr]

Still use an assortment of Exacto blades, often replaced, but still have the initial 1960s handle.

 

[Gern]

I'm 62, started building models in the late 1960's, with Airfix, then moved onto 1/35th with Tamiya and some 1/32 with Airfix Napoleonics - in those days I could not afford Historex! The choice of makes was down to what our local Woolies stocked as well as the local model shop - which is still open!. Yes i am lucky to have a model shop only 3 miles away.

During the 1980's I became more involved with painting landscapes etc so modelling took a back seat until I returned in the late 1990's.

the modelling world now is completely changed - far more manufacturers, greater availability due to the internet but fewer model shops. One thing which has not changed is that the most numerous kits tend to be WW2 German.

Peter

You got a modelling shop only 3 miles away and you still got money in your pocket!!??

 

[Gern]

IM 70 an feel it but im bit like Gern way back in the good old days yes i liked them days an yes just two channel telly an only goin for the afternoon an eve then had to stand for the qeen with mum an dad but been buildin models nr all my life even when i met girls as they somtimes helped me to build models an built big model free filght planes with jetex engines an always ended up as kindlin lol then built big model railway with hornby zero 1 which in the end dint work properly an spent loads of dosh on that then next 30 yrs or so spent loads of dosh on big r/c warships al which went ok bar this last one lol an just thinkin whatched the moon landing on our old B/W tv but soddin awfull pic had 3" telescope set up out side but as the neigbours came round to have a look at the moon half of them exspected to see the astrnounts walkin around on the moon an made me laugh as i said you wont see them as they are too small on distance but then they would not beleive they were up there because the cound see them had me in stiches lol
chrisb

Only the Gods know where from now, but I remember having a Jetex motor. My dad had to tell me what it was and how it was supposed to work, but I never found any shops that sold the fuel and fuses! I wonder what happened to it 'cos it never got put into any sort of airplane?

 

[Andy T]

I'm still working my way through the huge box of #15 blades my mum gave me years ago during her time at Swann Morton.

Back then anything that failed the sterilisation process was basically scrapped or recycled so freebies were plentiful.

I'm not a fan of the bigger blades most people seem to use like 10a or 11, but instead stick to the tiny 15 & 15a.

 

[Tim Marlow]

I'm still working my way through the huge box of #15 blades my mum gave me years ago during her time at Swann Morton.

Back then anything that failed the sterilisation process was basically scrapped or recycled so freebies were plentiful.

I'm not a fan of the bigger blades most people seem to use like 10a or 11, but instead stick to the tiny 15 & 15a.

15a is my weapon of choice as well Andy, especially for kit clean up. Got lots of others though, and really like 11a for scratchbuilding. As to sterilisation failure, that must have lost hundreds of thousands of blades at a time, you could get a huge number in a Standard size 1 metre cubed autoclave. Surprising they scrap them though, they sell loads of unsterilised blades. Must just be cheaper than repacking.

 

[Andy T]

I'm talking decades ago so it's probably all different now. I'm sure they were irradiated, seem to remember mum saying something about a label changing colour after the process.

For all I know she could have just "borrowed" them and sold me the scrapped story :smiling5:

Edit: here we go. These are Paragon blades, a little independent company that after several name changes were swallowed up by SM.



My memory is terrible some times but certain things tend to stick lol

 

[Airborne01]

I must be unusual in that I didn't model until I retired. I retired in 2005, fulfilled my dream and moved to the Outer Hebrides. I got a job in a little garden centre in Stornoway. I worked there until 2010. I then found I had time on my hands. I was in a newsagents one day and saw a model making magazine. The wife was already moaning that I needed a hobby to stop me getting under her feet all day. The rest is history. I joined the forum that is no more, bought a Tamiya jeep kit and went on from there.

We're all unusual here Jim...
Steve

 

[stona]

It helped that kits back then were reasonably cheap - my pocket money allowed me to buy a 1/72 Airfix kit every week, although I begrudged the fact that I had to buy glue every month or so! :smiling:

I could always cadge the couple of bob or so for one of those little Airfix kits off my grandad. He was a soft touch! I remember the kits being sold in a local newsagents, though for a better choice there was Howes Model Shop in Oxford (I want to say on Broad Street? ) The shop is long gone but Howes is still in business.

I do mean bob as well, we're talking pre-decimalisation.

Now a similar kit will cost at least a tenner and many will cost quite a bit more.

 

[Tim Marlow]

I'm talking decades ago so it's probably all different now. I'm sure they were irradiated, seem to remember mum saying something about a label changing colour after the process.

For all I know she could have just "borrowed" them and sold me the scrapped story :smiling5:

They would use steam autoclaves Andy. Same technology we used in the pharma world to sterilise metal equipment. The bags they put them in have a colour change indicator patch to show correct temperatures and times have been reached. Irradiation is no good in that context as the radiation particle stream can’t pass through the metal, leaving shadow areas that won’t be sterilised.

 

[Airborne01]

15a is my weapon of choice as well Andy, especially for kit clean up. Got lots of others though, and really like 11a for scratchbuilding. As to sterilisation failure, that must have lost hundreds of thousands of blades at a time, you could get a huge number in a Standard size 1 metre cubed autoclave. Surprising they scrap them though, they sell loads of unsterilised blades. Must just be cheaper than repacking.

Mine too - plus a 1lb lump hammer, variety of 'fings' and a 4'' rasp --- I only do fine detail though ... :thinking:
Steve

 

[minitnkr]

Mom was right again. Shame for doubting her.:smiling2:

 

[langy71]

Jetex engines ... wow! Another memory jog! And making 'speed boats' utilising Bicarbonate of Soda! (Anybody remember the little plastic 'divers' that came free with breakfast cereal?)
Steve

Oh yes, I remember those like it was yesterday..

 

[Ernie]

I am 56, I started when I was about 6 with my father, built an old Lindberg box scale BOAC DeHavilland Comet airliner (found another one a few years ago and will give it another try sometime). Continued on through high school and into college. Never really lost interest, even if I did not have time, or inclination, I would often pick up a modeling magazine from the bookstore every month, or sometimes more if they carried several different ones. When Testor's released their F-19 stealth fighter kit, I bought one on a whim and a bottle of black paint and built it. Enjoyed building it and life was good. Found a local hobby shop and there met some guys from a local IPMS club and joined that. Nice guys learned some stuff, but in hindsight a lot of what the club focused on was the local contests in the area. Ended up getting kind of sucked into that mentality and built models for contests, and less for fun. Entered contest for about 10 years, up to the regional level and never failed to come home without "hardware" as they called the awards. Was on the E-Board of the club, President, etc. but didn't really enjoy it, because it kind of sucked the joy out of building models. Also, amassed a modest stash of kits, aftermarket accessories etc.
Now mostly trying to organize all the stuff I have managed to accumulate over the last `~50 years, and keep that which I want to build, and offload the rest. Also, try to share what I like doing with others who enjoy the hobby and build friendships. Swore off contests, clubs, etc. several years ago and just try to do my hobby my way.

 

[boatman]

I am 56, I started when I was about 6 with my father, built an old Lindberg box scale BOAC DeHavilland Comet airliner (found another one a few years ago and will give it another try sometime). Continued on through high school and into college. Never really lost interest, even if I did not have time, or inclination, I would often pick up a modeling magazine from the bookstore every month, or sometimes more if they carried several different ones. When Testor's released their F-19 stealth fighter kit, I bought one on a whim and a bottle of black paint and built it. Enjoyed building it and life was good. Found a local hobby shop and there met some guys from a local IPMS club and joined that. Nice guys learned some stuff, but in hindsight a lot of what the club focused on was the local contests in the area. Ended up getting kind of sucked into that mentality and built models for contests, and less for fun. Entered contest for about 10 years, up to the regional level and never failed to come home without "hardware" as they called the awards. Was on the E-Board of the club, President, etc. but didn't really enjoy it, because it kind of sucked the joy out of building models. Also, amassed a modest stash of kits, aftermarket accessories etc.
Now mostly trying to organize all the stuff I have managed to accumulate over the last `~50 years, and keep that which I want to build, and offload the rest. Also, try to share what I like doing with others who enjoy the hobby and build friendships. Swore off contests, clubs, etc. several years ago and just try to do my hobby my way.

Hi Ernie no taken part in contests takes all the joy out of modelin as i have sold my ship to what i thouht was a freind an he then tells everybody that he built my ship an got a award for it an i stood there with my freind an he said tellem you built it but i did not want to cause a big fuss but i could not beleive my socalled freind would do that to me so no contest just enjoy the hobby
chrisb

 

[boatman]

Hi Ernie no taken part in contests takes all the joy out of modelin as i have sold my ship to what i thouht was a freind an he then tells everybody that he built my ship an got a award for it an i stood there with my freind an he said tellem you built it but i did not want to cause a big fuss but i could not beleive my socalled freind would do that to me so no contest just enjoy the hobby
chrisb

YES Ernie i was angry he did that but my mate went to that exfreind boat club members an told them all that he dint build HMS YORK an that i did an so i heard later that they sent him to coventry an wont speak to him so he got his comuperance in the end but i did not want to speak up in a big show about him as in my opinion it would have spoilt the show an i dint want to do that but it just goes to show there are some horrible people in this world dont it ?
chrisb

 

[Tim Marlow]

YES Ernie i was angry he did that but my mate went to that exfreind boat club members an told them all that he dint build HMS YORK an that i did an so i heard later that they sent him to coventry an wont speak to him so he got his comuperance in the end but i did not want to speak up in a big show about him as in my opinion it would have spoilt the show an i dint want to do that but it just goes to show there are some horrible people in this world dont it ?
chrisb

What a sad and lonely pillock he really is Chris. Getting ostracised for what was, in effect, an extremely limited reward. After all, what exactly is the value of a competition win for something you didn’t build? Not as if he got enough money to retire was it……

PS, agree about competitive modelling (and wargame competitions). I just don’t get it, modelling is a relaxation, why stress yourself by competing with others. Good luck to those that do though, it’s probably an important part of their hobby for them.

 

[Guest]

PS, agree about competitive modelling (and wargame competitions). I just don’t get it, modelling is a relaxation, why stress yourself by competing with others.

I can see the point of wargames competitions — they’re games, after all, and the handy thing is that the winner is normally obvious objectively. Modelling competitions, though … everything about them is subjective, because I don’t think there are any objective measures you can reasonably apply to decide on a winner. Well, other than the very first one I ever entered, age 15, when I objectively won first place on account of being the only entrant in the Youth category Though IMHO the development about 25–30 years ago of trying to judge models on their own merits rather than by comparison to the other entries (so that there isn’t first/second/third place and that’s it) was a major step forward, I still don’t really see the point of competitions that need judges to decide a winner. (Which, incidentally, includes things like gymnastics, talent contests, martial arts [barring knockouts], and what have you.)

In any case, I’ve long ago reached the conclusion that a good road to unhappiness is to measure your efforts against those of others, because you generally find yourself wanting. Which is why I try not to, and just do my own thing the way I want to do it

 

[stona]

modelling is a relaxation, why stress yourself by competing with others.

Amen to that. I stress myself competing with myself :anguished:

Whatever lifts your kilt. Many people clearly enjoy competing, so good for them. It's just not for me.

 

[boatman]

What a sad and lonely pillock he really is Chris. Getting ostracised for what was, in effect, an extremely limited reward. After all, what exactly is the value of a competition win for something you didn’t build? Not as if he got enough money to retire was it……

PS, agree about competitive modelling (and wargame competitions). I just don’t get it, modelling is a relaxation, why stress yourself by competing with others. Good luck to those that do though, it’s probably an important part of their hobby for them.

HI Tim well i treid to be as good a mate as i could be to him an even let him buy york cheaper than it was worth as she was a big 7ft 3" warship type 42 destroyer an one of my other boaty mates heard he had it up for sale so he went to see him with the intent to buy as he said to me i know this ship model is worth it as you built it which was nice of him but he came back to see me to say he dint buy it as that exfreind was askin twice as much as he paid me for it an really he was the type of bloke who has seen an done everthing in the world so really not a nice chap but he died last yr
chrisb