Greetings from an Ageing kit fan in East Anglia

[Hornchurch]

'

Hi Folks. Figured I'd best introduce myself, after arriving here.

 

Started building my first AIRFIX kits around a full-year before the Beatles released their 1968 "White Album"
By the time Jimi Hendrix had passed, I'd built pretty much the full AIRFIX range (all scales)
Revell's (H-285) 1/48th B.25 Mitchell was a 1968 release that I bought & built brand new, too
I can remember that, as I'd built it before we even got/had our first pet-dog (a beautiful Boxer !)
As a kid, couldn't fathom as to "why" my new O/D "Doolittle" B.25 was so vast/huge
when compared to my regular fayre kits & "why" THAT newsagent carried weird stock (FROG He.219)
Some more embarrasing strong recollections which give away my age...
I was building an Airfix Ki-46 Dinah, whilst watching an original transmission of "Peyton Place"
Glueing fuselage-halves on the Airfix Short Sunderland, when a young Barry Norman came on BBC,
saying "And now we'll show some excerpts from the forthcoming U/A film "Battle of Britain"
Down went the Sunderland (on the carpet) & "Help yourself everbody, there's no fighter-escort"
was heard, uttered for the very first time (for me) by the late, great Christopher Plummer.
Saw the film at the cinema a few months later, twice, on initial release & the queues outside were Biblical !

 

I gave up building around 1976 (FROG's demise, too) - Girls, Exams, Girls, Guitars, Girls, M/cycles, Girls !
Two kits alone kept my (kit) interest on life-support - Heller dH-Vampire & a 1/32 Revell P.51-B
Latter, as my Church nagged me to build a kit "Below £2.50" for the forthcoming Eisteddfod competition
Never understood "how" I won 1st-prize with my Essex based"Shangri-La", as a guy had built a superb HMS Victory (large Airfix),

complete with rigging & super-paint, yet only came 2nd, which frankly, baffled me, as he'd put a lot of work in.
Then, aside from THAT brief blip on the radar, it was back to Girls, Guitars, Girls & M/cycles (& Girls !) but NO kits

 

Casting back a mo'.....
By 1971, I'd already built my 2nd Airfix Short Stirling, a plane I was literally obsessed with (then & since)
14-years later (summer 1985) the pretty-wife & I had a fortnight away (2 locations) in Cornwall
Then, "Palitoy" had Airfix in their 'death-grip' & the "Buy one get one free" era was in (but I wuz still "off kits")

 

By chance, whilst out riding, we stopped for Diet Coke's & Cornish Ice-creams (both) at some shop or other.
Walked in & the place was "wall to wall" with Airfix & this (hitherto) unheard of B.O.G.O.F crazy deal.
Guy was triple-scooping Cornish ice, whilst wife groaned "Bloody Airfix $hit", with me, cast back in mists of time

Alpha in me kicked-in & asked - "Do you by ANY chance have the series.7 Short Stirling ?"
"It's on the shelves somewhere" - "No it's NOT, I've looked twice already", followed by him saying....
"Hang on, I'll go upstairs & check the stockroom" (which, given 100-kits on sale downstairs, gave hope)

 

"Yes. Here it is. Last one in stock" - "Great, I'll have it" - "Erm NO, YOU WON'T" (with me saying "Why not ?")

"No. You have to buy one first, off the shelves - I can't let you have it, unless you buy one. That's the deal"

Exasperated to the max (with both him & 'Palitoy's rules), I got rattled & said.... "Listen Guy !"

"I've got a Kawasaki Z.1000 outside, NO LUGGAGE SPACE & I don't wanna be saddled with dross I don't need"

But he, the newsagent/large shopkeeper 'stuck to his Palitoy guideline sheet' (Jobsworth) & was adamant.

Losing my rag, I went... "Alright, I'll buy THIS ($hit) but I don't want it AT ALL" - picking-up an RAF 1/44th VC.10

"Now can I have the Short Stirling & you can put THIS unwanted dross (VC.10) back, as I've got no room for it"

He burst out laughing (embarrassed) & said, "God, you must want that kit badly". (Like, does a bear soil the woods ?)

Nostalgia does funny things to people...

 

We lugged that bloody Stirling kit around for the rest of the fortnight. Awkward, as we did an additional 1,000+ miles

To add insult to injury, when we got back (chalet), it had TWO sets of wings & NO tailplanes - (Jeeez = Trun, France !)

1988, started going to the "Southern-Expo" at my namesake, then joined the Hornchurch IPMS for 10-years.

Built-up a crazy sized vast kit-collection & kept buying & selling, over the years, upgrading etc

Didn't help remotely that the Wife's Dad (a Police officer) had a lovely 'holiday-home' at Pakefield, near Lowestoft

Practically "lived" at the Hannant's Trafalgar St warehouse, (before Oulton)  & spent a shedload between 1986-1995 there.

Attended ALL the IPMS shows (whilst a club-member), plus airshows & touring European battlefields (same Kawasaki, w/mates)

Went to many airshows, i.e "Fighter Meet" (North Weald) with Carmel.Z  -  (some of you will know him from Colindale, Hendon ?)

Had kids, moved away - Still had the kids & things went very quiet, as I live in a fairly remote area, now

 

Lurked on here for around 9-10 years - Finally took the plunge & registered on the 30th Dec' - (came thru today, 1st-Jan'22)

Mainly been in 'hoarder mode' up till recently, as family members & 1/48th made up kits tend to clash !

 

Mainly into Bombers & large Transport a/c, but mostly Bombers, with B.26 Marauders & Short Stirlings being my faves.

Do have quite a few armour kits - mostly 1990's & 2000's Tamiya 1/35th & a few trucks, too.

 

Lastly - Happy New Year folks   ('Hawny')

P.S ; Went to "the dark-side" (diecast) from around 2004-2015, but prices (on good stuff) got silly.

 

A few of my elderly kits, ageing just like me !

 

Hornchurch_Aerodrome, on Flickr

 

Hornchurch_Aerodrome, on Flickr

Edited January 2, 2022 by Hornchurch
Add pix

[JohnT]

Welcome aboard. As you’ve been lurking you know what you are letting yourself in for 

 

Started in 1967?  You’ll be in the Youth Group here then 

 

Seriously though glad you took the plunge. I well remember the Stirling kit arriving. I was very fond of it too. I met a tall RAF flight engineer from WW2 who had flown all the “heavies” and asked him which he preferred. I expected the Lancaster but he said Stirling. It was the only one he didn’t have to stand in a stooped position giving him a sore back. He also rated the Halifax III with the Hercules once they had the bugs ironed out. As good as a Lanc to be flying it. He finished on Lancasters. 

 

Look forward to seeing your postings 

 

John
 

 

[adey m]

Welcome Hornchurch, that was some introduction.

 

We must be of the same era, I also associate music and what was on the television or radio in the 60s and 70s with the model I was building at the time ( usually Airfix or FROG ).

 

 

Something familiar for you just to make you feel happy and at home, the actual box from the Stirling I built over Christmas 1972.

 

regards, Adey

[bootneck]

Hello Hornchurch,

you should feel quite at home here, I also like collecting aging kits.  

Mike

[Don149]

Greetings Hawny , most welcome from this ageing modeller who made his first models from wooden Airyda and Warcraft kits while listening to the

BBC Home service and having a laugh at Lord Haw-Haw , ( though not on the BBC ) .

      From your intro. , I assume you`re also a writer .

                                                                                Don .

[dnl42]

Welcome aboard! 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Hello Hornchurch …  from the windy city Chicago. Im an aircraft builder myself, mostly 1/72 & 1/48. Been building since 1979 with time off in the mid 2000’s from competition burnout. Came back 7 years ago and never looked back. 
 

Dennis

[12jaguar]

Hi Hornchurch

 

welcome aboard. Seeing as you're in E Anglia. you're probably not too far from us in the Stirling Project. You're welcome to visit for some up to date progress 🐵

 

John

[Steve86]

Hello and welcome along, interesting story.

[TonyW]

Welcome aboard. A fine introduction post as well. Your kit history sounds very familiar somehow, as it will to many others on the Forum.

 

Airfix Stirling fixation eh? Have a peek at one of mine then. One of my favourite Airfix kits.

 

 

[Hornchurch]

On 03/01/2022 at 14:07, 12jaguar said:

Hi Hornchurch

 

welcome aboard. Seeing as you're in E Anglia. you're probably not too far from us in the Stirling Project. You're welcome to visit for some up to date progress 🐵

 

John

 

 

Hi "12jaguar"  (John/St.Neot's) Et-Al,

 

I immediately recognized your call-sign, from the old "Flypast Forum"

(seemingly now, "in slumber mode" !)

 

I've been a member there, since around 2004/2005 & used to post quite often, too.

Alas, since the (seemingly catastrophic 'meltdown') it's crawled to a dead-near halt.

"Dead Snail in Molasses, Encased in Concrete" would indicate the latterday pace there (sighs)

 

Complete contrast here, as this forum seems to be thriving well & strong membership.

I do have some (a few) questions John, as to the RAF's "stash" of Stirling parts.

 

What happened to that "smashed" tail section they have / or / had in store ?

From memory (don't quote me here), I believe it was 'LK.712' ?

It's late & I can't be ar$ed to check the serial just now, but I believe it's correct (?)

Also, by chance.... (whilst I'm asking)

 

What happened to that large chunk of rear-fuselage in Vraux, in France ?

Do they still have it & is it still on Public display ?

(I may be getting 'LK.712' muddled-up ?)

 

I'll type out a separate post for the other lads, who've been most kind with my welcome !

Cheers.

Edited January 8, 2022 by Hornchurch

[Hornchurch]

On 02/01/2022 at 20:13, Don149 said:

Greetings Hawny , most welcome from this ageing modeller who made his first models while listening to the BBC Home service and having a laugh at Lord Haw-Haw , 

      From your intro. , I assume you`re also a writer .

                                                                                Don .

Hi Don, et-al.  =    Stunned at the 'Lord Haw Haw' bit.

Man, that makes you old enough to be my Grandad 🤗 

On 02/01/2022 at 19:03, bootneck said:

Hello Hornchurch,

you should feel quite at home here, I also like collecting aging kits.  

Mike

 

Cheers to ALL you guys, one & all

I'd hoped to answer 'em all, individually - Nice to know many ARE my similar-age

With that, I then read Don's comment - Above !

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Wanted to thank...

 

adey.M > Dnl42 > John.T > Don149 > TroySmith > PZR.GREN > bootneck(Mike) > 

12jaguar > Steve86 > TonyW  & CorsairFox4 - (& hopefully any others I've missed?)

 

For the especially warm welcome from you guys, to me, as a "newb" here - Cheers !

 (it's much appreciated, too)

 

As a "newb", I'd like to respond to your posts, especially the Short Stirling ones (Laughs !)

It's not that I wanna "hang it out" (this intro' thread)

Just me being polite in answering (methinks)

So, please forgive me "if" I'm answering your welcome posts, one at a time (or so)

Makes it rather easier, as a reply (from me), to all your welcome comments & stuff.

Thanks once again, "Hawny".

 

[bootneck]

5 minutes ago, Hornchurch said:

Hi Don, et-al.  =    Stunned at the 'Lord Haw Haw' bit.

Man, that makes you old enough to be my Grandad 🤗

 

and me, and I'm 73!

[Don149]

You`re still a young lad , Bootneck . I was 13 when you were born ! .

     I like your subtitle about growing old , how very true .

                                                                                            Don .

[bootneck]

Don, you have my esteemed respect! 

 

Mike

[spruecutter96]

Hi, Hornchurch. 

 

A very warm welcome to Britmodeller. I hope you enjoy your time here. 

 

By coincidence, I was chatting to Carmel in Hannants London this afternoon. 

 

Cheers. 

 

Chris. 

[Hornchurch]

On 09/01/2022 at 20:52, spruecutter96 said:

Hi, Hornchurch. 

 

A very warm welcome to Britmodeller. I hope you enjoy your time here. 

 

By coincidence, I was chatting to Carmel in Hannants London this afternoon. 

 

Cheers.  Chris. 

 

 

 

 Hi Sprue.C / Chris.

 

 Thanks for the warm welcome, along with the other fine lads on here, doing the same - Cheers, it's appreciated.

 

 We used to go to the 'North Weald - Fighter Meet' each year, plus Biggin Hill & Mildenhall & the like....

 

 His idea was (just for laughs) "smuggle" one of us in, each year, at North Weald, in the boot of his large motor.

 

 We'd each take turns, year after year - Just one of us "scrunched-up" in the boot (trunk) area (I did it twice)

 

 Then he got a 24v Cosworth Scorpio & it was HIS particular turn, that year.

 

 As the queues took absolutely AGES, he got fidgety & asked "can I get out yet" & "what's the hold-up" ?

 

 Yakking (blind) whilst we were at the ticket-area (from the boot) was never gonna be a 'good idea'

 

 As I was driving, I switched-on the stereo, just to drown out his inquisitive calls - (car at crawling pace, by ticket stand)

 

 Unbeknownst to me, the radio, hitherto switched-off, had been previously set at a very loud level !!!!! 

 

 So, NOT being my car, I just hit the "on" button  (to drown him out from the ticket guy, now leaning on the drivers door)

 

 "Is that someone in the back of your car ?" - We responded "Nah, that's just the radio on, at low volume" - (It wasn't, as it was OFF)

 

 So when I actually DID hit the stereo's "on" button, the damn thing immediately started "booming out loud", like a night club in Ibiza at 2am

 

 Carmel was SO spooked & startled by the "instant deafness", that he accidentally & inadvertently, hit some sharp point, in the boot area

 

 By chance, the "impact point" was slap-bang in the middle of Carmel's forehead (!), thereafter giving him a Red-Dot, like a Hindu marking !!!

 

 For the next 45mins (larking about), the other three of us started calling him "Mr.Patel"  -  (purely banter, of course)

 

 Hit the "trade stands" for about 90-mins/2hrs, then, settle down to the (fine) airshow - Miss those days at North Weald "Fighter Meet", hugely

 

 Back then, a wide variety of aircraft AND also a wide-variety (tremendous), of differing venues  -  Not a patch in comparison with thesedays.

 

 We bought his "Eismeer over Herdla" (Fw.190 / Norway) print at one of those Mildenhall shows (I think it was 1996 ?)

 

 Anyways, "if" ya see him again, give him my best regards.

[Valleyforge]

Wow that is some intro, I built a Short Sterling in my youth and remember one of the main parts missing from it. The canopy. Still remember to this day the art work on the front of the airfix box, and it haunts me. that bloody canopy. Cant remember if i sent away for it. I am working on a lot of older kits to get practice back in as I work with an airbrush now and they seem a good way to get started again. Remember all the old names you mention and it certainly brings back memories of those early days. Hope you enjoy your time here. Ive not been here long but there seem to be some really helpful and enthusiastic folk on here. All the best 

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

1 hour ago, Valleyforge said:

Wow that is some intro, I built a Short Sterling in my youth and remember one of the main parts missing from it. The canopy. Still remember to this day the art work on the front of the airfix box, and it haunts me. that bloody canopy. Cant remember if i sent away for it. I am working on a lot of older kits to get practice back in as I work with an airbrush now and they seem a good way to get started again. Remember all the old names you mention and it certainly brings back memories of those early days. Hope you enjoy your time here. Ive not been here long but there seem to be some really helpful and enthusiastic folk on here. All the best 

Valley if you are refurbishing your Airfix Sterling in 1:72 I might have a canopy available?  Did this kit 20 odd years ago and lost the decals! 

Andy 

[Mr T]

Hi Hornchurch, I started building about a year or so before you, although not to very high standard, having only just discovered paint. I have been modelling ever since with a slowdown whilst I was at university and starting work. I seriously got into building after a disastrous first marriage (where I found I seem to have married my mother in law as well as my wife, judging by her level of interference). I well remember Mildenhall with the barbecues. After a couple of work, health related and family slowdowns, modelling is my main hobby and I have been on the forum since July 2011. It is generally a good place with people willing to help and who by and large don't take themselves too seriously and have a wicked sense of humour. 

I am a strictly 1/72nd scale builder with a strong lean to British operated military aircraft.

Welcome to the forum, Martin. 

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

On 02/01/2022 at 18:15, adey m said:

Welcome Hornchurch, that was some introduction.

 

We must be of the same era, I also associate music and what was on the television or radio in the 60s and 70s with the model I was building at the time ( usually Airfix or FROG ).

 

 

Something familiar for you just to make you feel happy and at home, the actual box from the Stirling I built over Christmas 1972.

 

regards, Adey

Love it Love It LOVE IT! Omg.. that box art takes me back too... am I right in thinking that's the Roy Cross box art? 

I was an 8 year old when you built that! Lurking around Woolworths in Stoke Newington High Street , North London salivating over such beyond my pocket money Airfix kits! I could Only afford the card and plastic bagged 1:72 kits and badgered my Dad to make a special monetary dispensation so I could sit in the back office of his jewellery shop getting glue all over the canopy of a spitfire lol.. we couldn't afford the Humbrol paints either😂. I hankered after getting a big kit each birthday and at Xmas. I remember getting such joys as Revell Sr71 Blackbird...Airfix Bismarck...Airfix  He111... 

 

loved reading  your initial reminiscences ... it's kind of embarrassingly emotional to see your own childhood reflected in those of others! 

A very warm welcome to BM from me!