2996 Victor

Barlborough

I've always been interested in model-making since a very young age, working my way through a myriad of mainly Airfix and Matchbox 1/72 scale World War 2 aircraft, until, with a bit of direction from my late Dad, I found railway modelling in my early teens. Dad and I embarked on several GWR branch line model railways, never quite finishing them before they evolved into bigger and better schemes, and then through my mid-late teens I became interested in vintage sports cars, MGs in particular. Again, Dad's influence!

My twenties saw a resurgence in my interest in military aircraft modelling, although now in 1/48 scale and primarily First World War subjects, which ran alongside railway modelling. Unfortunately, the results were never quite "good enough" for me and although the interest remained it went on the back burner. Years later, and having lost Dad to cancer at a far-too-young age, been through marriage, children and divorce, my interest rekindled.

The railway-orientated part of my modelling currently centres on a project for the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway (OO9 narrow gauge) which is under way and another for the Denver & Rio Grande Rail Road (HOn3 narrow gauge) which is close to beginning build. I also have Cambrian Railways (standard gauge to EM Gauge Society standards) and the Midland Great Western Railway (Irish 5'3" broad gauge to EM standards) layouts envisaged.

Meanwhile, the thought of adding aeroplanes to add variety to my modelling diet sounded like a good plan, while the idea of a group build with my two sons (14 and 13) of a simple aeroplane kit also seemed like a good way to bring us together even though we're 300 miles apart. And although we've yet to compare the fruits of our labours, I'm hoping it may have sparked an interest in them, too. My interest here lies primarily with single-seat aeroplanes from the beginning of World War 1 through to the end of World War 2, and so excludes kites and jets!

Scale-wise, the railway side of things is 4mm/1ft (1/76) for UK and HO 3.5mm/1ft (1/87) for American subjects. So that there is a degree of parity, the aviation side is resolutely 1/72. And my choice of subjects leans as much toward the more esoteric as to the mainstream.

Trains, planes and automobiles! But not necessarily in that order.....