What got you started in modeling?

[Hankwilliams]

Hi, all!

Today is my 57 th birthday. I think, it`s a good moment to look back in the life.

When I was 7 years old, my father build an electric radio controlled motor yacht model (85 cm). It is still in my own. We had much joy which this little ship. In this time, not all people knew the princip of radio controlled models and for someone it was surprising to look at a controlled ship without any wire on a pond.

My first self made ship I build, when I was 12 years old, it was the tug boat "Hamburg II" by Robbe, a christmas present from my parents. It has layed the ground for the model enthusiasm in the following years and decades.
Short time after this, about 1966 and 1967, I made the first paddlers, the "Hjeilen" and "Rigi" kits of Billing Boats.

My greatest desire in this time was, to have a steam driven paddler, but lack of skills, experience and money delayed it. In 1967 and 1968 I built the sternwheelers "Marieville" and "Chaperon", electric powered and in 1969 the Billing kit "Bohuslän".

The next 20 years went on without building models , because of studies of art and education, painting and exhibitions, also with long travels througt the African continent, last not least the
occupation.
Meanwhile it was 1989. A strong desire to have a staem propelled boat has developed. To get some experiece, I ordered the Krick Kit of "Victoria". A nice model, but the power of the Wilesco steam plant wasn't sufficient. In the same year I built the "Pilat" with a used oscillating engine and my first self made silver soldered flame tube boiler. This becames a really sufficient and enjoyable model.

Since this new beginning I have built 14 more steam driven paddlers and screw steamers, mostly after plans.
Last year I bought a little paddleengine for a steam canoe from Canada (was announced in this forum in ebay  one year ago in april 2009). But this will be a long time project, I hope, I will start of building in next year.

In the moment a made the CSS "David", a screw driven torpedo boat of the confederates. Of course, the model will also be steam driven.
I'm glad, that I've found this wonderful paddler forum two and a half years ago. many thanks to Eddy and others.
I hope, I will make steam driven models still a long time in future, althougt it becomes difficult with space: Nearly all models since 1966 on are still in my own...

Best regards and wishes to all!

Thomas

[Eddy Matthews]

A very happy birthday Thomas 

Great to hear how you got into modeling and how you have progressed over the years - Here's to many more years of happy modeling my friend!

Regards
Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

happy Birthday Thomas!

 

all the best

Stuart

[Talisman]

At the NE Show this weekend I met a lot of great people one of whom was Sandy who produced a great collection of photographs of the Marchioness of Lorne all mounted on what looked like sugar paper – this reminded me of my childhood….

My mum being a Head Teacher thought it would be good for my writing skills to produce a book on my first build … the result – my building skills improved but my English and grammar didn’t.  I’m sure hope she’s still proud !

Anyway my build was a 1:48 (ish) Clyde puffer called Starlight after a bed time lullaby she used to sing to me.
 (Starlight, Starbright first star I see tonight. I wish I may. I wish I might have the dream I dream tonight…… I’m guessing at such a young age I dreamt about boats and not the winning lottery numbers …..)

So, Starlight was eventually finished … if I’m to be honest I didn’t do or help much but I was allowed to watch … I always remember the smell of Humbrol  paint and the sense of excitement that one day I would eventually be the proud owner and skipper of my own boat….. A feeling and sense of excitement that I have never managed to get over - my first Canoe … totally unfit for what I wanted to do, but it was mine! My first boat… too small …. But it was mine! My first big boat…. ideal if a little expensive to run ….. But it was mine!

I always wanted to do something with boats on the water and fancied being a Captain. Fortunately my Dad was friends of a Captain for Western Ferries and occasional Captain of the Waverley (Wee Jimmy) …. Ideal Job I thought!
While being allowed to hold the steering wheel of his ferry I plucked up the courage to ask how to become a Captain …… My hart sank when I heard the reply ….. Stick in at School and be good at Maths he replied…

Anyway my love of all things that float was kept alive and every Saturday I would be excited to go sailing at the pond, even more so if my Bob’s board speed controller had packed up as that meant I would get a shot of Dad’s boat when he went in for coffee …… I think I can admit this now - Not all the problems with that speed controller were fatigue I would occasionally help the solder joints break ….

Anyway time rolls on and I had to leave school (one of the best days of my life along with my wedding …. Incase the wife sees this ) and long story short I went on to become a Kayaking and Sailing instructor …..great fun but it wasn’t really a Captain type job ….
Time passed and I became a Boat Master and eventually went on and became an RYA Advanced Powerboat instructor so I never became a Captain … but am qualified to teach people to handle boats to an advanced level both at day and night … Am I Satisfied? You bet! Beats working for a living!....

Time rolled on again and I wanted a hobby…. I have a fear of flying so what better way to understand than build a working model?…… I won’t bore you with aircraft stuff, the net result – I’m even more scarred! (If anybody’s interested I still have a lot of Wendle Hostler Plans available) 

So a Joffre was made, quickly followed by a Cumbrae…..A chance of a Maid hull and that was me on my first scratch build … cutting out windows nightmare! There must be an easier way I thought…. So my interest in CNC was ignited.
My next model was a King George V with (if I remember right) 64 windows on the upper superstructure. So a CNC Mill was bought with the intention of producing Dolls houses to pay for its existence.

The CNC machine didn’t last long but the machine & what was learn’t worked out cheaper than going to study how to do it.

And now approx 10 years latter….… My Maths has improved through CNC and Navigation and I’m now starting to produce models commercially….. Once again I still don’t regard my work as working for a living it’s a pleasure and passion!

My English and Grammar are still pretty bad …. I wonder what would have happened if I wanted to be an English teacher….

Q. How did I get into model boating?
A. Mum & Dad - Thanks!!!!


I will dig out my 1970’s Build Thread / book and get some pictures up soon.
Kim

[Roderick Smith]

I am having little luck finding the petrol advertisement which featured 'Methyl Ethyl': a glamorous read-haired 1930s or 1950s girl, wearing a spotted headscarf in an open car, zooming along because of the additives in the company's product.
I did find these ones: www.oilgascollectibles.com/ethyl-gas/

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[gbritnell]

Boy, that's going back so far I have to try and put things into the proper order. I was probably 7-8 years old and would buy bulk balsa from the local hobby store. I then tried to copy planes and cars from comic books. The local YMCA also had a stick and tissue building program for kids. My father made a trip to the U.S. for a job opportunity and he came back with a couple of plastic models. The one I remember was a Fury jet. That was my first 'real' introduction to model building.
 Since then I wouldn't want to try and count the number of plastic and wood kits I've put together, not to mention all the scratch things I've built.
 It's been a great and enjoyable hobby and at one time a very good learning tool. By that I mean the early kits (aircraft etc.) would spell out exactly what each part was called.
 The direction my interest has taken over the last 20 some years is machining and building live steam and I.C. engines. I still do plastic on occasion but really enjoy cutting metal.
George

[Eddy Matthews]

Great to see your still around George, its been a long time since we last heard from you! Hope all is well?

Regards
Eddy

[Peter Webster]

Jim,
      In addition to my N Scale modelling and old age creeping up I have got into On30 trains as well. Still boats remain king
Peter W

[sandystrone]

Talisman

Kim,  I remember the captain wee jimmy.
Jimmy Addison was an excellent ship handler and it was WSN loss when he emigrated to New Zealand, I think.

He always had his collie dog with him on the bridge.