[Rush104]

Originally Posted by tank nut

Roots go way back to about 1976

Actually, it was first shown in 1977, on ABC...

[coldupnorth]

For me it all started when I was 8 or 9. My father used to buy me book and magazines. I used to know all the stats of modern fighters. I made a couple plastic models. I wanted to become a fighter pilot so bad... but at the time I didn't believe it was realistic. So I went off to college and got a job in another field. I kind of buried my passion for a couple years as my professional life took more space. Then it struck me back 3 months ago when I discovered the diecast world.

What have I learned from this?? I'm gonna push my kids very, very hard to pursue and live their dreams.

[Art LeBrun]

My first book was Queen of the Flattops starting me on USN aircraft and I had a large pictorial book of WWII aircraft. In addition I had all kinds of MATS aircraft flying
overhead in and out of Albrook AFB. Revell, Monogram, Aurora and Lindberg Line were my kit choices. Then there was Armed Forces Day at Moffett NAS with the blimp
hangers. Wow - what fond memories.

[coldupnorth]

TopHat, nice avatar you got there!!! Does it actually works??

[tank nut]

I asked him already and the wife is still laughing that it won't work for him!

[coldupnorth]

Originally Posted by tank nut

I asked him already and the wife is still laughing that it won't work for him!

Yup, and he probably bought so much that they are paying him to advertise... where do you think he gets all his money to buy all these airplanes??

[Cavtanker]

I had all sorts of Hot Wheels and diecast planes during the grade school years. Combined with my family's military history, I was pretty much hooked at a young age. And here I am, still collecting.

[smartd]

Originally Posted by tank nut

Roots go way back to about 1976, my mom got my some tanks and I was hooked on planes

Figures.

[Elmer]

I have enjoyed reading how it all started for all ya' boys.

Hard to say how it started for me. I guess my dad and uncle (WWII vets) influenced me at an early age with lots of WWII literature around the house. However, I know I was hooked by 7th grade. That year I read Lawson's book "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" for the foundation of an required oral report and tangible product project. Part of that project was building two manipulatives: a 1:48 scale Revell B-25 (badly built, but my first build) and a rather oversized metal with a drawing of the "Ruptured Duck" nose art on the face of the metal. Having that badly built model was just the thing for me. It brought my imagination alive. No longer did I have to imagine warbirds from pictures in a book, for I could hold a miniature in my hand.

Each time I acquire a new diecast model, I get that same thrill... still.

[JustPlaneNuttz]

Well, my interest in this hobby of ours developed like many of the ones I hear here -- as an extension of an early passion for all things aviation.

That said, I guess my Father was the root of it for me. Back in Prince George, BC, when I was old enough to skip Sunday School, we'd drop Mom off for church and Dad would ask my Brother and I if we wanted to go to the airport. I didn't matter what the weather was, we always said 'YES!'. That in combination with the aircraft recognition book of Dad's that was always lying around. This would have been about the early 60s and I would have been around 7-8 years old.


ABOVE: To my Brother and I, this was OUR 'Bible'!

That airport was a great inspiration for us. We got exposed to al sorts of new and ex-ww2 aircraft being re-purposed. My 2 faves were the Avenger and Catalina being re-used for fire fighting purposes. We also saw the 'Golden Hawks' there as well as the 'Red Knight'. Canadian Pacific Airlines ran their Bristol Britannia 314s, DC-6Bs, Convair 240s and Curtiss Commandos through Prince George routinely. Frequently we would be visited by various RCAF aircraft of the era.Sweet airport!!


ABOVE: The Prince George, BC airport (YXS) ca. late50s/early 60s -- MY happiest place on earth! The large hangar (center) I always refer to as my 'Temple of Aviation'.

DADoser mentioned he had 2 books borrowed from the library on near-permanent loan. I find that funny, as I did too. Mine were 'Flying Fortress' by Edward Jablonski and this MASSIVE Jane's Aircraft of the World (circa 1966?). I have so far been only able to buy the Jablonski book. That EDITION of the Jane's book keeps slipping through my fingers!

Model building came next, of which I built scores of aircraft between 1961(?) - 1967/8. I let the model building part sit as I pursued the other parts of my life -- which brings us up to now. A few years ago (2000-2001) I started recollecting my old Dinky Toys in as mint condition as I could get and afford. That brought me to a couple of very large sized vintage Toy Shows here in my area where I was also exposed to the wonders of the NEW Corgi for the first time by vendors of newer merch! The 'diecast-madness' for me, started around 2000.

JPN