So do I, an Airfix and Revel regular until I went to sea at 16. The construction site spare room at home was full of all kinds of builds, including Spitfires and Hurricanes duelling with Messerschmidt Bf 109’s, FW 109’s, Heinkel 111’s, Do17’s and Ju 88’s. There was also a B17G being attacked by a Bf109, chased by a Mustang P-51D and another P-51D being attacked by an Me 262 jet. All of this was hanging from the ceiling on very fine, almost invisible nylon threads.
On a big old table was a Diorama: a lone Tiger tank confronting 3 British Firefly tanks in Normandy:
http://tinyurl.com/yd7chztr
And behind a wall, a British infantry section with a PIAT anti-tank weapon. Another Diorama had a Type 97 Japanese tank in what I imagined was the Burmese jungle, being pounded by two British 25- pounders on a hill.
http://tinyurl.com/y7en3f3q
I built all this stuff between about 8 and 16, using lots of papier mache and Humbrol paints. It used to take me longer to build the Diorama’s, than the kits! Until I found the big Revel Chevvy V8 on a stand, which took me the best part of 2 months. Half the body of the engine was clear plastic, the crank could be turned to see all the pistons and other working parts, moving. It was spectacular, but I had an idea what would happen to it when I left, as my two nephews were interested in it and they always fell out over playing with stuff. So I sold it to a mate who is now a retired London dentist and still has it.
The nephews used to ask to see the room while I was away: dad would not allow that but mam would. Sure enough the whole scene was trashed when I came home. Some idiot (my brother, their dad) had bought the eldest an air pistol and he used my displays for target practice. If you have never seen a plastic kit shot by an air pistol at close range, it is every bit as disastrous as you might imagine. It was 3 sea trips before I spoke to my eldest nephew again and was never as close to him as his younger brother. All 3 are passed on.
Like many kids of my generation brought up on tales of WWII, I was interested in war and war weapons.
When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.
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