SPA Modeler

Scale Plastic Aircraft Modeler
Member Interview

Norman Gruss
Hamburg, Germany

1. First model kit?

Mid-1980s 1/35 Tamiya Sturmgeschütz StuG IV and Panzerkampfwagen V Panther built with my father without color but with decals. Later after the TV Series "North and South" I started collecting and painting 1/72 scale figures, American Civil War and the Napoleonic period. The hobby stopped at some point with getting older and then restarted in 2008, after a chronic illness I needed something to relax and distract.

2. Preferred scale or scales?

Aircraft 1/48 and 1/35 Vehicles, mostly tanks. I also have some selected kits in 1/32 scale, Su-27, Phantom, Spitfire and Focke-Wulf FW 190. And I am a submarine fan, especially the Revell 1/72 scale submarines.

3. Preferred subject or subjects?

Soviet jet Aircraft, WW2 Luftwaffe Bf-109 and FW-190 1/48 scale. F-4 Phantoms and some other British military aircraft. The British are different at some point in development and I like that.

4. Favorite model built to date?

British Hunter, F-4M Phantom FGR.2 and Tornado

5. Hardest model built to date?

The old Eduard 1/48 Focke-Wulf FW 190A/D, If you make a error at the beginning, it accompanies you to the end.

6. Holy Grail kit?

Trumpeter 1/35 Mil Mi-24V Helicopter, Too expensive and no space in the showcase.

7. Favorite kit maker?

Miniart and Tamiya, Miniart with such a large selection of T-55 tanks

8. Favorite glue or glues?

Tamiya Extra thin and Micro Kristal Klear

9. Favorite paint or paints?

Gunze, AK real colors, Tamiya, MR.Paint and Mission Models. I secretly collect colors from almost every manufacturer I can get.

10. What started you as a model builder?

I got the hobby from my mother's side, her father was crazy about building scale models. Unfortunately, I never got to know him.

That's my man! It's a pleasure to know you and to share this hobby with you, Norman. I also admire you for staying strong in your battle against your health issues. Looking forward to our next session at your house!

Thank you for sharing Norman. I like those Soviet AC as well. Too bad you never got to know your grandfather. I had a grandfather on my father's side I never got to know and I feel I missed so much.

Great stuff, Norman! This is such fun to go through and learn about our members!

You are my kind of modeler Norman! Great taste in subject matter and scales! I can’t wait to see more of your work here.

Great interview!,

Fantastic interview Norman! I also got my modeling from my mother's side: specifically from my mother who built models in her youth and teens. I'm so glad to read this.

Nice to get to know you better, Norman. Best of luck with the illness. I got to spend lots of time with my grandparents and treasure my memories of them both.

Scale Plastic Aircraft Modeler
Member Interview

Stuart Templeton

First model kit?

An old Airfix 1/72 Hawker Typhoon my dad bought me around 1980. Built in about an hour and decalled with no paint!

Preferred scale or scales?

1/72, I keep trying to get into 1/48 as I love the size of the models, but I’m always drawn back to 1/72. I guess it’s what I’m used to. I love 1/35 for armour though, and 1/76.

Preferred subject or subjects?

First and foremost I’m an aircraft guy, which I guess comes from a lifelong love of aircraft, however I do like to build the odd military vehicle from time to time. As far as aircraft go I love WWII RAF subjects along with Cold War jets. Particularly themes I’m working on are aircraft  flown by the Albanian Air Force and Late Fleet Air Arm aircraft.    

Favorite model built to date?

Airfix’s old 1/48 Tornado GR.1 in Gulf war markings.

Hardest model built to date?

Probably Airfix’s new tool Buccaneer S.2C. It’s not a hard kit but I just found it rather boring. It took a lot of effort to get it finished.

Then there’s that Matchbox 1/72 Victor…

Holy Grail kit?

I’ve never really had one, I jump from subject to subject too much. How about a 1/350 HMS Ark Royal from the 1970’s with a full airwing of Phantoms, Buccaneers, Ganets, Wessex and Seakings.

Favorite kit maker?

For Nostalgia I guess it’s Matchbox, FROG and Pre-Hornby Airfix. I love classic kits and have built more of these then anything else.  

Favorite glue or glues?

Tamiya Extra Thin, although I still use a lot of old school Humbrol tube glue.

Favorite paint or paints?

As a non-airbrush painter it’s either Humbrol Enamels of Hataka Blue or Red Line. Both are excellent for brush painting although if I had to choose one it’d be Hataka – I love their paints!

What started you as a model builder?

I’ve always had a love of military and aviation history, and a love a scale models, but although building kits was a part of that growing up, it wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I really got into model making as a hobby.

Good interview Stuart! I do like your themes of Fleet Air Arm and Albanian Air Force. That’s a combo one would be hard pressed to pair up out of the blue.