SPA Modeler Member Interviews.

[BlackSheep214]

Another fantastic interview. Congrats on 6 years sobriety, Joe!

[Tojo72]

Great interview Joe

[Duke Maddog]

Bravo Joe and well done on your six years of sobriety. That is an incredible accomplishment. I commend you!

Great story too, I love getting to know so much about everyone here. I'm gonna start from the beginning someday and read everyone's to date! This Thread should be stickied at the top!

[mustang1989]

Thank you Lee, Stuart, Tom, Tony and Mark. You guys are all tha "bee's knees".

[speedgraflex]

Scale Plastic Modeler member interview

Bolleken (Marius De Bruyckere)
Wuppertal, Germany

1. First model kit?

If I remember correctly, the first model kit I ever built was a De Havilland Mosquito by Matchbox in 1:72. I was four or five years old when I saw those great boxes in a drug store around the corner. My aunt bought me a Mosquito and a Me 109E. Both together for 3 € or so. I took the kits home and started pretty soon after I fetched some glue. I could not read the instructions, but I knew how a plane should look. The virus was implemented and never stopped....

2. Preferred scale?

Definitely 1:72.

3. Preferred subject or subjects?

My preferred subject is aircraft. In the beginning, I built German Luftwaffe WW2. From there I changed to X-planes because that subject was of great interest to me. I purchased X-plane kits, but never built them. During this time I was more interested in building my inventory to make future projects. Today I really like building What-ifs and items smiling at me from the stock-shelf: planes, spacecraft and helicopters.

4. Favorite model built to date?

I really loved my North American F-51D Mustang by Airfix in 1:72 scale. However, my latest finishes like the Chengdu J-10, the Convair CV-258-1 and the F-117 I like too. Nevertheless, the most fun so far was the Mustang.

5. Hardest model built to date?

Hughes XF-11, Anigrand, 1:72, which is still ongoing (Since 2005). Very hard to scratch build almost everything.

6. Holy Grail kit?

For me it is the Amonster Hughes HK-1 in 1:72. So large, so impressive, so expensive... and I always have to tell the “devil on my shoulder” not to order it.

7. Favorite kit maker?

I really love the old makers: Matchbox, Heller, and Airfix. Those kits mean a lot of extra work, but the extra work is fun to me. In addition, it is very interesting, that the old toolmakers sometimes match the originals better than the CAD-generation.

8. Favorite glue or glues?

I prefer Tamiya Extra Thin because it is quick and reliable.

9. Favorite paint?

Tamiya, Gunze Mr. Hobby. For metal finishes, I prefer Vallejo Metal Color. There are better choices, but these satisfy me and they do not smell like hell.

10. What started you as a modeler?

Visiting an Air Show as a kid at the age of 4 where I saw and especially heard a B-17 Flying Fortress on flying display.

[Stuart]

Great interview guys - I fully agree with the love of Matchbox!

[Floki]

A great interview guys, are the Vallejo metal colors acrylic?

[LyleW]

Neat-o-reeno! What a great read , but sadly...no pictures. well, okay there are a couple.

[Stikpusher]

More great stuff! Interesting how so many started out in this hobby at a very young age.

[LyleW]

More great stuff! Interesting how so many started out in this hobby at a very young age.

So true. A great number of similarities in the journeys we have taken.