Got a few minutes Martin?
It wasn't a case of what but who...My late father, who passed on 17yrs ago, started me off by buying me an Airfix Bismark and telling me to "Get on with it and see how you manage." I remember building it on the little table in the back of a Bedford Romany caravanette in the late 50s, whilst my dad drove the family around Scotland. I had to stop building it on the move when I was sick down my dad's back!
On our return home he looked at it and said "Not bad for a first go, now put it on the rockery, take my .22 up into the bedroom and sink it whilst I film it for you."
I still have that old 8mm film on a very precious vhs tape.
The next day he took me to the model shop and spent a fortune on models, paints ect, sat me down next to him and taught me 'his way' for the next 5 yrs or so.
I started work as a Joiner in the arctic winter 62/63, then came my introduction to that amber stuff, beer and that other diversion, women! Model kits forget it!!!
I didn't touch a model kit for possibly another 5yrs, then started again when I was banned off the road for 12 mths. with 3 endorsements on my drivers licence ( no points then) 3 endorsements and your out, no question!
Also during this period I was into serious competitive slalom canoeing, going all over the country competing on rapid rivers. I trained every evening on the salmon steps on the Dee at Chester ( Stuff the models!) I was destined to be picked for the British International Canoeing Squad but for an unfortunate incident at a selection competition on the River Tay at Grandtully in Scotland, when 12 of us 'Naughty Chester lads' came out of a pub by the camp site and spotting a lamp post decided to see if we could all get up it...We did, but the lamp post didn't appreciate being mauled by Englishmen and promptly snapped, shorted out and plunged all the lights in the village and nearby Aberfeldy into complete darkness.
I was recognised and hauled before the big noises of the British Canoe Union and promptly banned from all competitive canoeing for the remainder of the season and all the next, that put an end to my serious canoeing, although I still go on the water when I can......Back to modelling again for a bit then a very long break whilst I got to know my wife, 2 sons and god knows how many Grand children, until May last year when I started modelling again after I guess a 30yr. break, joined this, my first forum and the rest as they say.........
Wake up at the back!!
Ron
It wasn't a case of what but who...My late father, who passed on 17yrs ago, started me off by buying me an Airfix Bismark and telling me to "Get on with it and see how you manage." I remember building it on the little table in the back of a Bedford Romany caravanette in the late 50s, whilst my dad drove the family around Scotland. I had to stop building it on the move when I was sick down my dad's back!
On our return home he looked at it and said "Not bad for a first go, now put it on the rockery, take my .22 up into the bedroom and sink it whilst I film it for you."
I still have that old 8mm film on a very precious vhs tape.
The next day he took me to the model shop and spent a fortune on models, paints ect, sat me down next to him and taught me 'his way' for the next 5 yrs or so.
I started work as a Joiner in the arctic winter 62/63, then came my introduction to that amber stuff, beer and that other diversion, women! Model kits forget it!!!
I didn't touch a model kit for possibly another 5yrs, then started again when I was banned off the road for 12 mths. with 3 endorsements on my drivers licence ( no points then) 3 endorsements and your out, no question!
Also during this period I was into serious competitive slalom canoeing, going all over the country competing on rapid rivers. I trained every evening on the salmon steps on the Dee at Chester ( Stuff the models!) I was destined to be picked for the British International Canoeing Squad but for an unfortunate incident at a selection competition on the River Tay at Grandtully in Scotland, when 12 of us 'Naughty Chester lads' came out of a pub by the camp site and spotting a lamp post decided to see if we could all get up it...We did, but the lamp post didn't appreciate being mauled by Englishmen and promptly snapped, shorted out and plunged all the lights in the village and nearby Aberfeldy into complete darkness.
I was recognised and hauled before the big noises of the British Canoe Union and promptly banned from all competitive canoeing for the remainder of the season and all the next, that put an end to my serious canoeing, although I still go on the water when I can......Back to modelling again for a bit then a very long break whilst I got to know my wife, 2 sons and god knows how many Grand children, until May last year when I started modelling again after I guess a 30yr. break, joined this, my first forum and the rest as they say.........
Wake up at the back!!
Ron
