Graham James - I returned to model making in 2010 after a 30+ year absence. In doing so, I decided to focus on one aircraft - the Harrier - and in one scale - 1/48th, although I did start with a 1/72nd scale to get back into the swing of things! My current plan is to build an example single-seater aircraft for every variant that has served with every Air Force and Navy since the Harrier entered service in 1969. By my calculations, that is 20 aircraft. I'm also doing two examples from Operation Corporate and may later add the Gulf War and Operation Herrick - space permitting. As you can see by the gallery below, 7 have been completed.

Since starting this project and to ensure I do not get bored, I have also decided to try 1/144th scale, something that I do not recall being available when I was a teenager. It gives me the opportunity to build a variety of aircraft (as I did as a youngster) without spending a lot of money, losing a lot of shelf space (B2 excepted, of course!) or taking time and effort away from my main project. Although some of the old kits are very basic, some of the recent Revell mouldings are excellent for their scale and put some larger scale kits to shame.

I'm still very much a novice and learning the ropes - and the chaps in the club have taken me on board from day 1 and helped out. It's nice to take a work-in-progress model down to the club and get advice and help on how to proceed. My models are mainly built from the box and brush painted with acrylics. Some scratch work is undertaken to improve accuracy (and reduce quality!!).

I'm an active member in the IPMS(UK) Harrier SIG and I'm also a fledgling member of the IPMS(UK) 144 SIG. Aside from being a member of this club, I also visit the IPMS Farnborough Branch meetings on a regular basis. Where possible, I try to combine my love of photography with model making and have contributed a large number of images to the Britmodeller Walkaround photographic section. I have recently started up a Picassa Web Album for my aviation images which you can find here.