I got started with model making in late 1970s when as a child at the time, I went to the Aldershot army show with my dad and instantly became hooked on military hardware.
Obviously, I couldn’t have my own tank or fighter jet 🙁 so I started building models in Airfix kits.
From there I got into dioramas of military scenes, tanks making their way though burnt-out buildings being a particular favourite. The photo above is of three of the original military figures that I recently rediscovered. Fond memories in miniature!
Somewhere along the line I discovered the Battle of Waterloo — I still have no idea how I became aware of it — and started building models of the La Haye Sainte farmhouse at the centre of the battle and wargaming the battles around it. (I can recommend Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies and Three Battles if you want to learn more about this world-changing battle).
I was hooked and spent hours re-enacting battles, in particular those involving the gallant defence by the hopelessly outnumbered English and German troops.
I also enjoyed painting the Prussian troops with their Green uniforms and making models for my other childhood hobby model railways. I would spend ages in the local art shop (Fielder’s in Wimbledon, London) browsing the artist paints and brushes.
Making scenery was, and still is, also a favourite part of the hobby and I would create the fields and hills of the Belgium countryside around La Haye Sainte.
The enjoyment I got from making the models and scenery continued over the years. I continued model building with scale models, mainly tanks, field guns and army jeeps, but also the occasional Sci-Fi models and played the odd Warhammer fantasy game.
Today, my two boys have just started with Warhammer and I enjoy painting 40k figures and learning new painting and modelling techniques.
I now cover making miniatures of all forms, model-making tips, and model railways on this website — ModelRailwayEngineer. I started it in 2013, and since then it’s gone on to win multi-awards. For a quick overview of the aims of the site, read MRE Mission, or learn more about me.
Thanks and happy modelling,
Andy
Creator and owner of ModelRailwayEngineer.com
Affiliate notice: If you plan to buy the products on this page or similiar, please use the links here. These will take you to carefully selected businesses, including Hornby, Rapid Online, Amazon, eBay, Scale Model Scenery and Element Games, through which you can buy products mentioned. These links are made under their affiliate schemes which means that although the price to you does not change I receive a small commission on the orders you place which helps me maintain this site and allows me to create more articles like this. Please see my disclaimer for more information. Thank you for your support, Andy.
