First off I haven’t touched a model in probably 15 years. Just no time with work, wife, house, kids etc. I recently purchased a 4 foot long hand built wooden model of the Cutty Sark. At first viewing I was impressed. The more I looked at it tho the less I liked it. It is way too bulky and the rigging is pretty ridiculous. This led to lots of studying up on the actual ship. I then went on ebay and grabbed a 1/96 Revell Cutty Sark just to prove to my wife that I could do it better than the so called pros who built my wood one. Now I am knee deep in reference materials and have fully caught the modeling bug again. My 6 year old son and I just started the Phantom of the Opera model for his room. 
Sadly tho there seems to be a very short supply of LHS here on Long Island. Thank God for the internet. So that is my story of getting back into modeling. Hi guys, it’s great to meet you!
[#welcome] Home
Bud
Welcome to the forums! [#welcome]
Welcome to the Forums [#welcome]. Glad you’re here.
Regards, Rick
[#welcome] You can find anything you need to know here. Just ask.
Hi
I feel your pain, I recently saw a “factory assembled” 1/700 scale model of the Indianapolis circa Aug. 1945. If I did mine circa 1945{out of the box as is}mine would STILL look better than that one. BUT I did mine circa 1938 instead{using a lot of “kit bashing” parts},and mine looked better than that BEFORE I put on the photo etched parts on it!
Steve H.
Welcome Home!! A break from the hobby for the norm. May of us have done it to some degree. Remember what they say “An amatuer built the ark, professionals built the Titanic.” I don’t think anyone is happy until they do it themselves. Good Luck!
I feel the same way about the die-cast models I see from time to time. Speacially the aircraft ones. I look at those and say, “I can build one that looks better than that.” Can’t see how they can ask for the prices they do for them.
Anyway welcome aboard.