[skysurfer808]

For me it was the magazine ads and then various websites till I finally ebayed a Matchbox Robert Scott P-40E, followed by a 1/72 Ertl American Airlines DC-3. I first got these things in 2002, hadn't even realized the level of offerings out there. I had built models when I was younger, and was very impressed by these things construction and level of detail, plus the fact that their packaging meant they could be moved without breakage. I spent a lot of time hunting down the original checkertail VF-17 Hellcat, and in the process picked up other planes, including an Armour 1/48 Vraciu, which I discovered needed a Corsair as a companion. Things really started to go crazy in 2003. I was engaged, making great money as a Loan Officer, had some excess cash I otherwise would have spent in bars or dates....so the Skysurfer Air Force grew. At one point I had something like 300 models, just about everything in 1/100, 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32, but now I've really cut back, and only the smaller ones will have a permanant home. The women come and go, but the planes have stayed. I have to agree that this hobby isn't understandable by those of the fair sex (one reason why my Air Force is on stealth mode) but to anyone who really loves aviation, it is pretty cool to be able to buy decent representations of the most important planes in history.

Skysurfer808

[gbeck]

This is my third time to try and post this! For those of you who read my short Bio when I signed in as a member, you should have gotten the drift that I wanted to be a Pilot, having spent 4 yrs in AFROTC, Passed all tests, AFOQT, Flight medicals, OKed for comission to a second leu, only to stop short by three weeks. Always loved flying and A/C. My actual diecast collection started about 8 yrs. ago, I started with the Masito WWII A/C and before I had everything Masito produced, this I have stored away in a box. We went to Washington on vacation about 6yrs ago where I immediately high tailed it to the Museum of Aviation History. After several hours of looking and reading we made it to the gift shop where I saw my first ARMOUR 1/48, F-16, it was a thing of beauty. I told my wife I was going to have to have one of those. I did not buy one there because of the cost, I was sure they would be available on the web for less.I searched a lot of sites, but had not purchased one. Christmas rolled around, and I had a rather large beautifully wrapped package which I spent quite awhile trying to figure out what was in ti without unwrapping it. I had no idea, but Christmas Eve when I opened the package, there was my Beautiful F-16, just the same as the one I wanted. My sweet wife had ordered and bought me my First 1-48th Diecast scale A/C that I had so wanted for about 5 mo's. SO I CAN SAY, IT WAS ALL HER FAULT, as long as she does not read this post! Actually she bought me two more later before I really started collecting.

[Black 6]

This really is an interesting little topic. I find it fascinating to read the anecdotes by our members as to what or how their mental illness started. Good thread!

[Captain Eddie]

Became interested in military aviation history as a teenager, primarily WW I, later moved on to WW II also. Picked up a couple of Maesto WW II aircraft from a magazine offer at $5 each. This was maybe 3 years ago. A year later walked into a local hardware/gift shop and found a few Corgi Legands, picked up a FW 190. This aircraft was way COOL, much better than the Maesto's. Went home and googled Corgi, found their website, found online retailers of theirs, and found MH 1. It's been all downhill ever since!

[Epapazian]

As a kid I was always interested in history and , especially, military history. I recall collecting all sorts of Dinky Toys, World War II "recognition " models, etc. and I also dabbled with a few kits, without success, I should note. Then I went into the business world and, except for buying a few books about combat airplanes, I was too busy to pay much attention. About a dozen years ago, I saw a Franklin Mint ad for a diecast Spitfire in a magazine- I think it was "Air & Space"- and I couldn't resist. Soon I had a few more Franklin Mint planes, plus some CDC Armour models, a few of those wooden wonders and a Specast or two. But the real breakthrough came, once again, when I saw a Corgi ad announcing its first 1:72 scale Spitfires, Hurricanes and BF-109Es. I pounced on these and never looked back. It's been off to the races ever since.

[stalag8611]

I really got started when I was 10, during WW II, by building balsa wood and paper models. Later, I switched over to building plastic kits and I was heavy duty into airbrushes, special paints and unique livery decals. However, during the 70s & 80s I trook a break, work got in the way, and pretty much forgot about airplane models. Then some time in the 90s I spotted an Ertl Texaco release, and I was off. My wife sealed her fate when she bought me special offer of three 1:72 WW II aircrafft offered by Amaco/BP. Now I have 152 models in my hanger. Who says you can't play with toys when you're 73.?

[Spinnaker]

I have always been facinated by aircraft. As a kid I read war comics and dreamed of flying in combat. I wanted to be a fighter pilot! I read every biography of the Word War II aces I could lay my hands - Deere, Bader, Tuck, Closterman etc etc. And I saved my pocket money and purchased plastic models of planes which I made and hung from my bedroom ceiling by cotton thread.

As I got older the idea of flying fighters faded, but my interest in aircraft did not. And I always wanted to have a collection of all the great planes of the world, so over the years purchased kitsets which were stored away for when I would have time to build and display my own airforce. But getting married, having a family, starting a business and all the other pressures of life meant that I never seemed to have time to make a start.

Just before I turned 40, my wife of 17 years announced that our marriage was over. This was a difficult time, and forced a major re-evaluation of my priorities in life. I realised that time is far to precious to waste, and the idea of having a collection of all those aircraft I loved came to the fore once more. So I pulled out some of the models I had collected over the years and started putting them together. But this was a frustrating exercise as I have a strong perfectionist-streak in me, and nothing I built was quite good enough to put on display.

One day I met a beautiful lady, Andrea, and we've since married. very early in our relationship I learned that she also loved planes, and had wanted to fly. Sadly, at the time when she was choosing a career, the RNZAF had not allowed women to become pilots, so she'd had to put the dream aside. But in the course of conversation she had mentioned to me that she had a model Spitfire on her desk at work (you can see why I married her!!!). One day I got to see it - a Corgi 1:72 model of Al Deere's Spitfire "Kiwi". I was amazed by it - the detail was better than anything I'd been able to achieve through my own modelling efforts.

That was the beginning of the end! I decided that I would see if I could find some other, similar models for myself. In a local bookstore I found a few Corgi Legend series models. The P-51D Mustang "Nookie Bookie" came home with me that day, and over the next few weeks a Messerschmidt Bf 109, and a Focke Wulf Fw 190 joined the collection. But I came frustrated that there seemed to be such a small selection available, and resorted to searching the internet. There I discovered The Flying Mule, The Model Hanger, The Diecast Aviation Forum, and the rest is history!

Today my collection stands at just over 200 models, every single one of them in 1:72 scale! I have a mix of World War II and modern planes, and just know that one day I'm going to break down and get some World War I biplanes as well.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Black 6

This really is an interesting little topic. I find it fascinating to read the anecdotes by our members as to what or how their mental illness started. Good thread!

So then, where is your "confession"

[Old Crow]

Like many of you, I built models as a kid and collected, without regard to maintaining condition or retaining boxes, every military hardware toy or model our modest income would allow. And I loved military history, especially anything to do with planes.

When I got into high school and college, sports and classes took all my time and money was, naturally, tight, allowing no room for collecting anything, let alone airplane models or toys. Law school and marriage followed, then 5 kids and there simply was never time or money. And I also lost touch with what was even out there to collect. I never lost the passion for the subject matter; I just never had the time or money to indulge.

Ironically, having kids is what got me hooked. A few years ago I was at an FAO Schwartz toy store while on a business trip looking for some gifts to bring back home. I stumbled upon a Corgi Aviation Archive model (can't recall what, exactly- I think it was some boring, uh... obscure British propliner). I was smitten with no hope of recovery. I loved the heft, the smooth paint and crisp markings. I knew the Corgi name, of course, but had not really seen anything of theirs for years. What followed was a quest to determine if this Aviation Archive line might have anything military. I eventually found a Hobby Store that stocked the line and began snapping up Spits, Hurris, 109s, etc.

I am particularly fortunate to have a beautiful wife who not only tolerates my collecting but also encourages it as my personal morale hobby, ....just as long as they stay in my office.

[larz]

My interest in WWII first developed after seeing "The Great Escape" as a kid in the mid '60s. Was especially interested in tanks and planes. Fast forward to
Spring of 2001: way older, have a decent job and not a lot of expenses, still ham-handed in trying to assemble/paint plastic models, when, looking through a
"Betty's Attic" catalog that my wife brought home, I saw they had some Yat-Ming planes for sale. At this point in time I didn't know diecast planes existed,
from any manufacturer, so I ordered an F4U. I was thrilled (remember, I didn't know about Corgi yet), so ordered a P47, and was thrilled with that. Next
wanted a P51, but they were sold out. Noodling on who might also sell these planes, I tried the Smithsonian Museum Store website and found out about
CDC/Armour. All Yat-Ming planes were soon replaced. Then I hibernated for a while. One weekend at work in 2003 with little to occupy my mind, I found an
Aviation Magazine, and found ads in back for websales--Pete's, Aikens, etc. I logged on and couldn't believe what I was seeing! Now I can't stop myself.

Larz