I started building plastic models at about 6 years old and have not stopped for any length of time since. I have changed my focus many times- I started with aircraft - my first model was a jolly green Giant - with my dad's help. Nowadays I build lots of figures and mecha - I always try to incorporate a dio or vignette because I like seeing the subject doing something that relates to it.
I competed a lot when I lived in Norfolk VA. And won my share of awards in the Tidewater competitions -then I won a first at the 1996 IPMS nationals in VA. beach for my sci fi dio "bad water"
I moved to central IL. After leaving the Navy and I dont even have a decent hobby shop in the area! So now I scrounge kits from wherever I can find them - Hobby Lobby (mostly Chinese kits- poor quality) but occasionally I find a Bandai kit or two
After building for nearly 40 years I have been exposed to some fine model builders. I dont really compete any more (kind of tired of the IPMS bias towards armor) but a couple of years ago I won a contest at the Kitbuilders show in Hillside Illinois.
I love to hear about new techniques and to pass along tips and techniques I have been shown- so if you got please share- model building is a constant learning experience and every kit or scratch-build is a chance to expand your bag of tricks.
So after 40 years and about 50 awards later I find the internet a great new source of modeling info - the only problem with the internet is that I miss the good old days when a group of us got together at the local hobby shop to share our stuff you got to know the people and you learned their personality -
The internet does not give you the opportunity to "see" someone’s expression or "hear" their voice. I am trying to gather some people together to form a modeling club - but schedules being what they are in today’s world it is difficult.
