My First Memory of Model Building

I remember when I was about five or six years old, my father sitting at a card table that he set up in the living room. I said, What are you doing daddy? He replied, that he was going to build a model ship. I was fascinated at the concept, even though I had no idea what a model was at the time. I gazed in wonder as he open the box to reveal all the parts. I was amazed as he started gluing the ship's hull together. I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen! Everything was going along just fine and the model ship was coming to life before my very eyes. I really enjoyed talking to my father as he worked on this model. Then  one evening, things took a turn for the worst as he attempted to attach the rigging. He became frustrated, and then mad and then he got up and left the table. When he returned he seemed ready to try it again. After a couple minutes his frustration returned. The next thing I know he was cussing at that model ship and then he threw it in the trash can and that was the end of that!

Unfortunately for my father, he picked a kit that was too hard for him and sadly, he never built another model again. To this day, I have never built a model ship! I turned to model cars and trucks as the subject manner that I enjoy building. The valuable lesson I learned from that day was to start out with an easy model and work you way up to the harder kits as your skills improve. When you do that you will build confidence to try harder kits and you will fall in love with the hobby! Model building is supposed to be an enjoyable diversion from the stress of daily living. Keep it simple and have fun! Go ahead and start building!!

The oldest model in my collection, 1970 Plymouth GTX

Check out my other models at my Fotki photo sharing website. http://public.fotki.com/Wheels4ever/

It All Started With A Corvette!

When I was a kid, my Uncle Jim had a blue book shelf in the corner of his bedroom and on the top shelf was a row of model cars. In fact, they were all Chevrolet Corvettes. He had a model for every year through the 50's and 60's. I was amazed at how beautiful they were. I would go up to his room and stare at them everyday. I admired the details of each model and how well my uncle had put them together. This may also be the first time I can remember giving into temptation. I had been told not to touch the Corvettes by my uncle. One day it was too much handle and I picked up one of his models. It was a '57 Corvette and I started playing with it. Before I knew it, parts started falling off of it and then the front wheel fell off! Oh no, I had done it now. I placed it back on the shelf hoping my uncle wouldn't notice, but I knew he would and that I was going to be in big trouble! The lesson learned that day was don't touch what isn't yours. My uncle was mad at me. I received two spankings that day, one from my grandmother and other from my dad! I guess that's what made that day so memorable. It's funny when you look back and see how the events of one day can change your life forever. That day was the moment I decided I wanted to build model cars!

Check out my other models at my Fotki photo sharing website. http://public.fotki.com/Wheels4ever/