SPA Modeler

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

Great interview Joe

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!

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Stikpusher wrote: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.