I am lucky enough to be born to a family of modellers-My dad has been a major influence on the fact that I now enjoy modelling- He has been Modelling for 60yrs and is a great modeller even now although his eyes are not up to what they used to be- I must admit I do a lot of things my Father Doesn't but he has allowed my brothers and sister to follow our own paths - I paint with Oils,Do figurines,SCulpt and do model Railroads- My eldest Sister started with Historex the Aifix Napeolonics My next brother does cars and my youngest Bro does everything and has the Greatest stash of modells of the lot of us- I hope you understand I just want to thank him because I now owe so much to his leading that I now can enjoy such a site and friends as those at Armorama

My father introduced me to the hobby, a friend introduced me to armour. I guess they both have had their influence in what I do now in scale modelling.

And euh....don't forget armorama. You people here openend a new world for me!

Big thanks to all of you

Martin

I honestly can't think of anybody in my far past that influenced my modelling? I think the fact that drew me into modelling was the fascination I had for anything in miniature. That and the fact that Airfix kits were widely available for buttons in nearly every corner shop.

Vinnie

I'm the same as Vinnie, except the kits were Mongram and Aurora.

SNAP !
1s10p for a series one kit (proper English money!) about the same for a Frog kit in a box, whereas the Airfix was in a plastic bag with the instructions stapled over the top!

My father, friends at the hobby shop, my club, modelling shows, modelling books and Armorama. There are great modellers everywhere and I hope to follow their footsteps and inspire others to this great hobby.
capnjock

Three people made a big impact on my modelling life,
firstly my good wife whom was in fact the very one who got me started in all of this with a gift of the Katyusha
rocket launcher and the Military Modeler mag to go with it. The next two are Shep Paine and Francois Verlinden(hope I got their names spelled right),the popular models for me were Monogram,Peerless and of course Tamiya so I guess it was inevitable that I would soon learn of these two mastermodelers!
I`m having more fun building now than I ever have.

I started models on my own interest but I think building a few of those Monogram kits with Shep Paine's brochures turned the corner for me. I would also have to say my parents, although they never encouraged me to model they didn't stop me and purchased all those kits for me.

Dave ......your age is showing ...........thought I was one of the"few" in that "AIRFIX" bracket...........my influence....going past "Brian Sherriff's "shop in Dundee on a Saturday morning(1950's)---all the modelsin the window----wow(Airfix at 1/-.....still got a couple) ....thats inspiration
aye
BARV

As a child I always played with toy soldiers, and as I got older my mother bought me my first kits. Then my wife bought me my first kit, almost 5 years ago now.
Who would have thought that 2 women would be animportant part oftheir favourite hobby?
But actual inspiration I get almost everyday ... from different modellers, diomakers, figure painters, friends, etc. I dont have actual favorites, but Mirko Bayerl has a few kits displayed in my local hobby shop, and it always takes me about 10 minutes to look at them,every time Im there. Pure class!

Thanks for the stories and how everyone started I must also thank Auburn-(Phil Walden) for his friendship and help in the last 4 years of introducing me patiently to sculpting and also showing it is a gift that I can give with and also possibly make a living out of-(I Hope)
Ian

I never had a father who influenced or encouraged me in anything I built models for many years, mostly cars and motorcycles. I did build some aircraft and armor, but never the level of detail i'm doing know.

Since I’ve joined Armorama most of my influence came from members like HeavyArty, Sabot, Jimbrae, Vodnik, Merlin and the rest of the Armorama gang. Their work and knowledge influenced me to become a better modeler. Today I paint differently and pay more attention to my work and detail.

i remember my moms cousin building them, and decided to try it out, ever since iam in the hobby

Frank

My late father was my greatest influence. He introduced my brother and me to military scale models, slot cars, model railways, Lego, radio control cars, football (soccer), tennis, cricket, baseball, rugby, and the list goes on and on... I sometimes think he was living his 2nd childhood through us, as he wasn't as fortunate as us to have as priveleged a childhood... he also instilled in us a sense of pride, and ambition... and in me an interest in military history...

Here's to you dad!

RR

Hi, Other than the fine folks on this site and other modeling sites on the Net., nobody in my family has given me any inspiration in the modeling field. In fact, the family members think the 'old man' is just a tad touched to do something like this. But, hey, I can live with that. It keeps me out of the bars or sitting around veggitating in front of the electronic idiot box in the front room. Plus is helps me in my study of the history of the World War II era.

Take care, Sgirty

I've have been influenced by my brother.
Also I think I started this hobby because my parents bought a small kit for me and got interessed in it.

I cant think of any relatives who have influenced me. So I guess I owe it all to the members of Armorama.

Thanks everyone.

My grandfather,Father and all my uncles were in either the British or the Irish army. Their stories and watching the World at war TV series got me interested in things military. The wide availability of kits helped. Although my dad didn't build he bought me my first kit -a Frog Focke Wolf 190. Ironically when I joined the army myself I lost all interest in kit making for about 15 years

If I had to pick one person that piqued my interest in models it would have to be my grandfather.. He had several kits of boats.. Had the Titanic, Bismark and the Hood along ith a few more that I cant recal, mounted up over a window in his living room..I still remember looking at them when we would visit.. I soon began to pester my folks about them.. Once in awhile they would surprise me with a kit of a plane or a car.. I recall building a top fuel rail car and getting frustrated because the "chromed" bits wouldnt stick..

As Martin said, it was a friend who introduced me to armor. We would pick up odd jobs cutting grass then head to the hobby store and pick up a Sherman.. Seems that was the only tank I would build... :-) Funny how many of them ended up being stuffed full of home made incendiary devices..

Dave

My Dad kicked me off with a Airfix Lanc back in the fifties then the Bismark. Yes I remembr the airfix in a bag at woolworths. My latest inspirations come from Shep Paine and a couple of second hand military modelling (U.S. version) I was hooked well and truly I now like Steve Zalogas work but the Big "A" is my main inspiration.

Ditto on all that for me. Shep is DA man!

Jim

I remember once my dad built a model, one of those early Revel Hi-way Pioneer Kits..... the ones where you had to heat the screwdriver to melt the plastic to keep the wheels on.....
well, he couldn't find a screw driver, so held the model by the gas burner.........
Needless to say it was the last model mom let him build...... :-) :-) :-) and it certainly didn't set the modelling bug in me, but I was impressed with all the fire engines outside our house..... :-) :-) :-) :-)

Over the years many excellent modellers have influenced me, I guess like most in my early years the old Shep Paine folders, and his yearly attendance at the old Chester and Jersey shows, where you just sat around drinking beer and BSing with him, and other Grand Masters, was the beginning.
Today I am high influenced by many of the members of Armorama. I can truely say we have some of the best modeller/figure dudes displaying their work, sharing their insite, and willing to teach and help newcomers and returnees to the hobby.
Nice work guys.

Hi fellas.had to think about this for a time,no family influence, there are artist and figure people whos work I do enjoy,..... from a very small boy I had apencil in my hand and have drawn only people, allways peopleand then as I became older History came into it,..I started drawing and painting historical art and still do. After my children came I found figures Military Modelling NO1and have picked it up every week since, purchased commercial figs, converting.,untill I spat the dummy and did my own thing, self taught...Influence perhaps the Australian war artist Ivor Hele..he was called the soidiers artist,I felt if he could paint soidiers like he did, that was what Id try to depict in my figures, the bloke you had a beer with or.. the guy next door.....
Competition no influence , enjoy more display and helping other figure people.love talking to you blokes from all over, you are the real influence...

THANKS VERY MUCH PEOPLES phil