My model making journey started out like most - back when I was a small child. I would return from the Local Model Shop (remember when they existed!?!?!) armed with a few tinlets of Humbrol paint, a tube of gloopy Airfix plastic glue, a few raggedy old brushes, a bottle of 'turps' care of my dad's shed and a modeling knife that frightened the life out of my mum. I would then excitedly set about trying to recreate the beautiful picture of whatever image was on the kit box lid as fast as I possibly could.

The only area I was allowed to build a model back then meant taking over the dining table which had to be strictly protected by some old towel or cloth with my mum terrified I would get paint or glue or both on the carpet. I would open up the box and pull & twist the parts from the sprues leaving half of the sprue on the part, hurriedly covering them in paint and then while they obviously still wet (but always thinking they were dry enough to handle) attempt to stick it all together. Only a few hours later, and feeling very proud of myself, with my fingers covered in more paint and glue than I had managed to apply to the model itself, it was done and finished. I would have a fingerprint ridden, glue smeared model finished and proudly displayed in my bedroom. Then it would back to the glossy Airfix, or Humbrol, or Tamiya catalogue and begin planning which one to buy next, when my pocket money would cover the fiver or so it cost back then to buy a kit.

Thankfully things have somewhat moved on a little and I am now fortunate enough to have been able to build my own studio converted from an external garage. All my materials and references have their place next to the workbench with lots of natural light and day light, a spraybooth, 3D and decal printer and photobooth. Conveniently I also don't need to put everything away when dinner is ready and the dining table has to revert back to it's designed use.