Hi Shipmates,
I started to build plastic kits about the late 50's like most at that time it was bought for me on my Birthday's,it was the time when you where given a large kit box and when you opened it you were extremely disappointed to find all the compartments were half empty or half full which ever you looked at it.However new materials had just started to arrive in the UK,Balsa wood it was called, you were able to buy it in large blocks very cheaply so this was to be my first wood build I called it H.M.S Bread carved out by hand with my mothers bread knife and sanded down with Barry Bucknels DIY sandpaper plus assorted plasters from the same store.
Paint work was good my father was painting his wood greenhouse at the time, so you think that will do,green was the colour it did influence my friends.The next thing was to power my boat, this I did with a empty metal cigar tube with a pin hole at the back filled with water and heated by a candle,this was tried out many times in the bath but just the once at the lake,this was the end of my boat experience until now.
I moved on model aircraft spent a few years building plastic kits.By the time i was in my twenties and spending weekends getting you know, drunk and club's but I was still building occasionally.Then the wife,then the family,then no build,the nearest I got to using my hands was decorating!
Coming up to date I had not built a kit for some time and wanted something to do as a hobby.On looking at a few web sights I have discovered how far forward wooden models had progressed.I decided that I wanted to build a ship again so when deagostini started the Victory (which i had long admired)this was a good start for me.
To date I am on and around issue 31 but have issues to 49, I know I am slow to start but catching up now.I have followed you all from day one so I know all your builds and may I say they are to a very high standard.I haven't many pictures but I will be sending soon.
Regards tf64.





tf64 attached the following image(s):
Work in progress: Tombstone (Scratch) - San Francisco 2. -The Mayflower ( scratch by plan).
OcCre- Santa-Maria (Kit).