I’m a 40something old guy who used to do models in his youth, some planes for sure, but also an entire wooden fishing boat - to this day my pride and joy, and something I sure hope to be able to do again in the future.
Returning to the hobby after 30ish years is fraught with new challenges and obstacles, but seeing on Youtube how far models and techniques have gone, I couldn’t resist anymore and jumped into the fray !
And, ah, it didn’t go that well, as those poor Hasegawa Corsair AU-1 and Revell Spitfire Mk. II would no doubt testify. Though, to be honest, I had already decided to sacrifice the Corsair and use it as an experimentation slab (not to mention it was a 20+ years old kit, decals were D.E.A.D, total lack of details in the cockpit, etc ), while the Spit was… Let’s say a very frustrating kit all around !
Anyway yeah, this is gonna be a long journey, but it’s already giving me a nice change of pace and some peace of mind, so I might as well go on and see where it leads me !
Welcome back to the hobby. Many of us are back from some time away. Although you may not be happy with these two kits, you have completed them, which is more than I have managed in the last few years. Each one is an improvement over the last and as long as you enjoy, that is the critical part. Looking forward to seeing more.
Also, I travel to Paris on a somewhat regular basis. Are there any shops that you could recommend visiting on my next trip there? I usually stay in a hotel near the Arc de Triomphe and would prefer to walk (up to 10km) or take the tram if possible.
Thanks for the welcome and the kind words, everyone ! I sure hope I’ll improve and retain that feeling of peace and relaxation the hobby can bring.
Except with raised panel lines.
Nah, not a trauma at all. I’ll get over it. Someday.
Aah mate. That’s something I haven’t been able to find either.
In the 14th arrondissement ( is it “district”? ) there’s a little shop called Passions, but they work mostly with Revell and have very little choice in other brands. Also, they have a good chunk of the room dedicated to trains. It may be a bit hard to reach from the Arc.
There’s another shop called euro-maquettes in the 15th, which I haven’t been to yet. I actually had forgotten I wanted to visit, they look a bit more stocked. But it’s almost right on the Tramway T3 George Brassens station !
Other than that.. It’s mostly RC cars, prebuilt models, lots of trains, some gunpla, some warhammer. I was sure I bought my stashed Tamiya Mosquito in a big giant store circa 2015, and sure enough, there was one, called EOL. Sadly, it closed in 2020~.
Honestly, wherever I went in France, I haven’t been able to find a nice, well stocked store. It’s a bit heartbreaking, it seems they just withered away and died, bringing the french community down with them. Not easy to share and exchange when there’s not physical place anymore
Thanks for the information. I will try to visit when I’m there next. It does seem like trains and die-cast are more popular in Europe overall and it is more difficult to find good stores anywhere now.
I hope this forum will help you stay motivated and building. If there is anything you might be looking for from the Canadian side of the pond, let me know…. I might be able to get it over to you at some point.
