FROM AIRFIX TO SCRATCH-BUILDING. 40 years of model making | ASPW
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- From Airfix to scratch-building tells the story of my model making since 1965. Welcome to "ASPW,", Andrew St Pierre White's living life to the fullest channel.
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It's fantastic that you still have the old children's films from the past. I see a lot in common, I was born in Germany in 1961 and I still build model airplanes to this day. Even professionally, airplanes have never let go of me, I've been with the German Air Force for 42 years, 38 years as a crash rescue firefighter. Greetings from Germany Ed
As a Sussex local I’d like to correct you on pronunciation of arundel. Arran dl.
Love the models, you’re quite right when you say the satisfaction is ongoing, not just at the completion. Going to bed with your brain chewing over a process and coming up with a neat , relatively simple and easy solution is a nice way to fall asleep.
I envy you your childhood! Great work!!
Hello from Germany, great Video , I am Born 1961 , and I have exakt the same experiences with Airfix and other Model Kits like you . I was the whole Life interested in Airplanes , and I am now 37 years Crash Rescue Firefighter in the German Airforce. Greetings Edward
I was totally immersed in your story, It reminded me so much of my late father who was an RAF veteran in Nth Africa during WW2 and later returned to photography in Manchester and emigrated some years later to Australia to open a Camera & Hobby Centre in Ballarat. My childhood was full of aircraft models and humbrol paints as well as a fair array of Balsa wood, as it was just too expensive for customers to buy in the 70's. I migrated from planes and trains to WW2 tanks and infantry, painstakingly assembled and painting faces on 1/64 scale soldiers. My father would drop me off to a group of friends on a Saturday afternoon where I met up with others with a similar box of army soldiers and tanks, a dice and a ruler included where we would battle on home made diorama for hours, each piece could move a proportionate distance when it was your turn and a hit of miss was governed by strategic throws of the dice, this of course would be boring by todays standards of excitement but the inner child in me would love to relive that time, albeit somewhat tougher to get down on the floor for several hours. Thank you for sharing your indulgence Andrew, it certainly sparked some wonderful memories of my own. Regards from the East.
Absolutely brilliant you made hand built modelling come to life, 24 minutes of heaven. No repeating (saying the same words over and over) yourself, speaking quietly and calmly. This is the best video I have seen you do.
The level of model building as a hobby has risen so much in the last decade thanks to social media it is mind boggling. So many young builders with TH-cam channels who all do things that would have blown my mind when I was struggling with my model kits as a kid.
WONDERFUL. I,m 68 and didi the same things you did growing up. Spent my childhood,building and flying RC airplanes and boats,and building models of them. What a GREAT time to grow up. My brother went on to become a pilot,and i spent my time on boats. Both sailing and motor, doing underwater photography around the World. Spent a month in Austraila,years ago. Enjoy your videos very much,keep them coming.
As one ship modeler to another, I have to say how much of a thrill it is living vicariously through your models as well as enjoying mine.
Hi, thoroughly enjoyed this short film. My Nan used to work at the Airfix factory so Christmas was a time we got the kits that were ordinarily out of reach of our pocket money. Sometimes my Nan would buy models that were discontinued for pennies rather than see them get melted down - I once built a squadron of RE8s this way as they were just 2p each! We also had pretty much every Airfix toy they made too! I carried on making model kits until I was about 16 then under much pressure to 'grow up' I eventually stopped. Years later though I built some of them again with my son but only have 2 left; a 1/72nd scale Spitfire and the Apollo 11 rocket. Fond memories...thanks.
I really hope you enjoy building those last two - (if you do).
@@jjs3287 I definitely will!
Andrew, I was born in 1951, and grew up in West Wickham, I used to collect ship deck plans during my youth and had ambitions to become a Navigating Officer in the Merchant Navy when I left school. However, despite gaining a place at the King Edward VII Nautical College, I was unable to take up my place, after failing the Board of Trade eyesight test. I then decided to join the Royal Navy as an Artificer Apprentice. At the same time a school friend joined the Ben Line as an engineering cadet, as spent his first years on vessels carrying bananas out of Cape Town.
I well remember my dad taking me to see the Biggin Hill Airshow, a number of times around the late 50s and early 60s, and your film brought back many happy memories. Not having a car we walked the few miles across Hayes Common and Keston Common to RAF Biggin Hill. My dad's mother lived in a small house in Greenwich, we would visit often, on the 47 bus from Bromley, I would regularly visit The Royal Observatory, and the Cutty Sark, and on occasion I would also visit the National Maritime Museum. Viewing their collection of model ships was always a most enjoyable pastime, and they were all crafted to the highest standard.
Revisiting years later with my youngest son, I was dismayed to find that the ship model collection had been placed in storage, although I was told that some had been transferred to Chatham Dockyard. Visiting there a few years later I found that only a fraction of those were on public display.
I have since found that the bulk of the Maritime Museum collection is in storage, but can be viewed by appointment. Something that was not known at the time.
www.rmg.co.uk/collections/our-collection-worlds-largest-ship-model-collection. This would be well worth a visit.
I imagine that travelling as you did with your family would have been very exciting for you and your brothers.
Your video was a fascinating insight into your hobby as you grew up.
Bonjour et merci pour votre vidéo
Je me suis retrouvé dans vos archives de famille quand J était enfant et que mes maquettes prenaient leur envol😭
Aujourd'hui à 57 ans je construit toujours comme vous
Merci pour ces jolis souvenirs
Jean Luc
75 now, been building models for at least 65 yrs, remember building 3 Airfix HMS Cossacks, and one of my favourites USS Constitution, went on eventually to scratch build Boats, it’s helped keep me sane.
You bring a smile to my face understanding that your parents encouraged your creativity all through childhood. …and you found a woman who understands, respects, and share your passion. ❤️
- Now I understand why you’re so creative and meticulous when it comes to your vehicles. You impress me.
Brings back distant memories growing up in England. I built a harrier, Japanese zero, spitfire. Look those airfix model. Funny how a childhood becomes a career.
From a boy I have always been into building model planes, particularly from World War 2. I am much older now but watching you video has inspired me to get back into it! Bravo! Thank you for the video and the inspiration!
You are the GOAT of model ship building.
I was born in 1970. I went to Finigley Airshows in the 70s! The Vulcan,the Lightening, Tornado jet plans love them!
Brings me back in time, A authentic warm docu of An artist Weldone.
The comment about the little rewards all the way through the build is a good explanation. Love solving the little problems. It all comes together at the end.
Faantastic video. Why would anyone watch television when they can get content of this quality on TH-cam.
I have built many kit motorcycles in the past. I am thinking of getting back into it. Model building is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.
Marvelous video and beautiful models. As a child, I lived in Northern Rhodesia and we had two trips on Union Castle ships. The first I believe was on the Bloemfontein Castle and the second was from Durban back to the UK on the Rhodesia Castle. I loved that ship and the journey. They were real ships with a mix of passengers and freight so there was always a lot of activity when they called in at various ports on the way. I spotted the distinctive lilac coloured hull of a Union Castle ship in the thumbnail of your video which is why I clicked on it in the first place.
I built that Helldiver kit! My family drove down to Harlingen, Texas to attend the Airsho '79, and the Confederate Air Force had the Helldiver on display and I fell in love with that plane. If I recall, it didn't fly but we were able to walk right up to it and they had assembled some elevated stairs and we were able to get up and have a look at the cockpits, front and rear. Being a little kid, that plane was enormous. I remember I bought an Airfix Helldiver model kit a short while later. Ha! The C-130 was another favorite of mine as well!
You are gifted my friend,a facinating hobby. In the 1960s as soon as i had enough money i used to buy a airfix kit. I had no money for paint and put the decals on grey plastic. I now buy built models from ebay. Im 61 now and cant see well enough to build my own kit.
Dear Sir,
A Craftsman of Passion.
Lots of resonance here. My grandparents travelled on Union Castle, and on the the Vaal. My bro + I collected Airfix models - Canberra, Q Eliz, Bismarck, Hood, Englsih Elec Lightning, VC10 - &c - when we lived in Dar-es-Salaam. We sailed on the Lloyd Triestino 'Asia' when my father took his home leave entitlement. En route we saw Chusan, Northern Star & Ocean Monarch, and we stopped to take aboard a stow-away from our sister ship 'Africa'. Happy days.
Hi wow I too built models mainly planes and cars, lots of airfix but also revel and tamiya motor cycles. We also went to bigin hill a few times same era you did. Never got into scratch building. Thanks for sharing. Brought back lots of memories of my childhood.
Just wonderful. Thank you. Took me back 60 years plus.
Wonderful. Seeing the Arundel-Castle was particularly interesting as my dad served on her.....lost to cancer last year, miss him terribly.
Thanks for your inspiration video :) I've been modeling since I was about 5 years old, and recently the past 2 years I was really on and off again with my modeling due to difficulties in my personal life. The past few months I've really been at it building and strangely found a new sense of fun, which is great as I don't want to lose this hobby.
This was beautiful. I have recently got back into model kits in my adult life - partly for photography purposes, partly for the sheer fun of building something with my hands! Thanks for sharing this.
Well said 😊
I too enjoy building models for the purpose of of photographing them.
Me too !
Existe algo realmente especial em criar alguma coisa com as próprias mãos! AWE!
Thoroughly enjoyed this - I followed a similar path building many kits as a youngster, mostly 1/25 big rig trucks and some of Tamiya's 1/35 military vehicles. Although I used liquid cement rather than tube cement, "glue bomb" still is the best description for most of my models back then! Brushed on paints were the order of the day, usually Testors in the little square bottles. Occasionally a tin of Humbrol would find its way into the collection - living in Canada, I thought of Humbrol as a rather exotic overseas brand!
HO scale model railroading became a hobby interest for a years in my early teens, then model building faded away for many years after I completed high school. I did drive big rig trucks for a few years and there were a couple attempts to replicate tractors I drove in scale model form but none of them got very far.
In the early 2000's N scale model railroading caught my eye and I became active in that field again. Around 2010 I started seeing reissues of AMT's 1/25 truck kits and bought one which I had not built when I was younger, the 40' flatbed trailer. This brought me back into the model truck hobby which I have been active with ever since. A few of them are here:
th-cam.com/video/nGENje_4LAo/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/PwFs5rOG_LM/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/MXQstqBMepo/w-d-xo.html
In "Building Model Trucks", an early 1970's book by Phil Jensen, the author mentions reviewing his "shelf full of kits" in one of the chapters. I received a copy of this book as a gift one year (I think for Christmas), back then I couldn't envision a shelf full of kits as those were items I received one at a time, either as gifts or, as you mention in your video, purchased with saved up dollars.
Now I do have a "shelf full of kits" and have slowed down on the kit collecting front - it is time to build some of them!
I enjoyed building the Hudson as a kid. Loved the plane ever since
Bloody hell that bought back memories. I grew up with Airfix kits. Superglue all over the place.
Really impressive! Thank you for sharing the story of your modeling evolution. For sure a much better way to spend time than watching mindless TV.
Very inspiring to those of us who are at the beginning of the modelling hobby!
Thankyou for sharing. This was a lovely salute to your family, your parents and your brothers. As the eldest of three brothers, your storey brought back to me some great memories of growing up with them.
Instead of watching mindless television I enjoyed watching your story. Very rewarding hobby, thank you.
Hi there my father was in the RAF and I worked at Biggin Hill I grew up in Chelsfield and now live in Canada . I have a huge collection of vintage Airfix kits . Your channel is amazing ty .
David Attenborough of model building !! Thoroughly enjoyed watching, thanks ! 😉
Wow how amazing. I am a ship modeller myself. As a kid I built kits, until got married in 1974 and began on scratch build models in card. Won't go in detail as this vid explains a lot of the hobby.
Very good job Andrew !🙂
I so very much enjoyed watching this today. Beautiful models, suburb workmanship.
Lovely video. I loved building models, and still do. My interest, though, is in building 1:24 scale vehicles and modifying them, Scratch Building/Kit Bashing Sci-Fi ships, and Model Railroading. When I taught art, I also ran a model building club, and then taught a class on model building. I loved to see how the kids put their creativity into unique vehicles.
Thank you for such a wonderful look into what inspired you to model build.
Going to an air show and buying a kit or one of those rubber band/ balsawood flyers. Ahh, memories. Thanks for the video!
This brought back some great memories for me. In July 1967 I sailed from Southampton to Durban on the liner S.A.Vaal (originally the Transvaal Castle). It was just before my 13th birthday, my Father was working in Witbank, Transvaal (now Ehmalahleni), and my Mother was terrified of flying, so we went by ship. Nearly three weeks at sea, calling at: Las Palmas, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London and Durban. I had the most wonderful time of my life!
Wonderful video, thanks. I'm just getting back into aircraft model building after many years and envy you your long, unbroken innings. Pure joy I image, especially with your brothers also involved. We sailed on the SS Oceanbreeze which was an extremely beautiful ship even among the jazzy new megaliners. It started out as the SS Southern Cross, sailing between the UK and Australia in the 50s. From what I read, it was a revolutionary design. Easy to see how you love these ships.
From the age of 11 onwards until 16, I built about 27 airfix planes. Then I hung them all from my bedroom ceiling. The biggest one I had was the Lockheed Hercules complete with a land rover and ground crew, wing span of 15 inches. I became a complete fool and gave them all away to my school chums in 1979. That was my biggest regret until today. They were cheap to buy and affordable in those days. Very good video, takes me back all those years ago.
my little brother and I had a similar childhood. we were obsessed with models. cars, jets, tanks, ships and planes. I got into it a bit more but this biography brought me back to my childhood, bigtime
And there was I thinking you were only interested in overlanding in off-road vehicles Andrew. Your talents never cease to amaze!
I thoroughly enjoyed your video and I agree, that it is far better than watching mindless television. I had stopped building models for close to 30 years and have recently gotten back into the hobby, with armor kits of all things. And you are correct, the quality of these kits from that of those from the 70s and 80s is magnitudes better.
Wow, this is fascinating. Your great passion and dedication are very admirable. huge respect for you and beloved brother
Totally mesmerising....I used to work on the cruise liners ,Sterling Castle,Arcadia,Orcades just to name a few,talk about a trip down memory lane.....Thank you .....👍🏻
I grew up in Durban and the Union - Castle liners were a daily feature of my life. Travelled on Windsor Castle twice. Love passenger liners and collect die cast 1:1250 models but wasn’t very successful at building them. Yours are superb! Would love to see them one day.
And the Canberra is superb. Thank you for this!
Thanks for this I was an engineer officer with British and Commonwealth and Union Castle were part of this outfit. Proper liners the Windsor especially. I sailed on the cargo ships.
Amazing collection and brilliant video👍 I build model RC trucks and 100% agree with you on the small rewards along the building process. I got rid of my TV 7 years ago and have enjoyed working on my models ever since.
thanks for your lovely story great model building brings me back as a child loved airfix
This video should be on tv, it’s so good!
'Mindless television.' I am with you 100% there! I love ships and therefore model ships really do float my boat. You have some amazing skills and thanks for sharing them with us.
God, watching this really brought me back to my childhood. Buying models with my paper route money and finally getting into building very detailed models and dioramas. Building a Canadian corvette diorama from WWII picking up my dad after being torpedoed and that was the first time I saw my dad cry when I gave it to him. Thanks again for bringing back some warm memories Andrew. Beautiful workmen ship by both you and your brother!
I'm welling up myself here. Damn you.
thanks for that anecdote my late father served in the the war as leading yeoman of signals attached to whatever the convoy commodore particular vessel of choice and one trip involved the "dominion monarch" i discovered there was a huge of model of said ship in the science museum in south Ken i took photographs and executed a painting from the same and gave it to him as a christmas present My dads response was emotive as yours and the following year i exhibited it at the Royal society of british Artists ' (Mall Galleries) i think one of my relatives hangs it in pride of place somewhere in the home counties David P Rowan RBA (sen)
Thank you for that story I’m a modelling amateur at 56 have been building nearly my whole life ,I’m still learning and yes mindless tv sucks not many people know of my addiction I’m glad your story telling has shown me there are others out there thanks again and cheers from Queensland Australia 🇦🇺 mate
I'm 60 and my big issue now is eye sight lol......and steady hands hahah.
I built a CNC router that is also equipped with a laser so when it comes to wooden ships, I can pretty much cut out or "make" any part I need.
I even got into casting of aluminum so I can cast any fittings I need as well.
I enjoyed listening to your stories about model building with your brothers and your scratch building. Thanks for sharing.
I remember the day my auntie bought me my first air fix kit. Tanks and planes from WW2 were my thing
I love modeling my first model was a spitfire mrk 1 starter kit
Great story! I am smiling from ear to ear because I am reminded of the times of my youth and the beginnings of modelmaking. Time is damn short, but I still hope to get back to my hobby and that moments of relaxation and enjoyment with the finished model.
Greetings from Poland.
You are fantastic. I also got the ship fever starting from my trip in 1960 Pendennis castle to Southampton and return on the Africa… thank you so much
Love your Castle Line ships. Very handsome vessels, beautifully modelled.
Wonderful guy, wonderful stories and amazing models, great Airfix collection too 👍😀
The Arundel castle really was a beauty
I am absolutely impressed by people absorbed by an activity that requires so much skill. And then know how to tell so many details.
First went on the Union Castle Ship "Dunnotar Castle" from Mombasa to UK in 1948. I was 12 months old. Many a time did I see the Castle Line ships in the Port of Mombasa. The BI (British India) Line ships were considered a cut above the Union Castle. However I don't really think there was a lot of difference. My first airfix kit was the JU87 Stuka, which I built in 1958. There was not a great deal to choose from then. After that I built many more, but nothing to the standard you have achieved. They use to cost 3/- (3 East African Shillings). ! I use to save up to buy them. I think your models are absolutely stunning. I only wish I could build anything half as good. Enjoyed your TH-cam video very much, and the 8mm film ? of your early days. Cheers Ted
It’s funny, I lived near Chichester in West Sussex for about five years, so the town of Arundel was just up the road. I’ve always known it to be pronounced “A-run-dell” and not “Arun-dull” as per ASPW. I daren’t question it of course, as I know the old curmudgeon will show me up!
Great story Andrew, really enjoyable, thank you. Love what you do!
Time for a Master Class. I'd sign up in a heartbeat! Fantastic work.
I love ships. I was in the US Navy for eight years, where I spent plenty of time in the ocean all over the world. I build RC Boats and ships. Very nice models you have built and a great story of your family. Greetings from the U.S. 🇺🇲
I have no interest in building models..however I could listen to you at length....the history, the personal reflections and the passion is beautiful thing...thank you for sharing...
lovely i went on a cruise round the med with my mother and father when i was 10 years old on the raina del mar thats 48 years ago!
Stunning workmanship Andrew.
Loved model building and still do it. Fond memories of getting Airfix kits In Rhodesia
A world that came to an end still lives on.
Excellent trip down Memory Lane for me. thank you.
What a great story behind your art! Thanks for telling it in such an enjoyable way!
No idea why TH-cam recommended your channel, sitting here sipping coffee at 8am, got to the 3:46 mark and wow! The 'This Is It' Mustang sparked a memory of my late brother building this in the 1970s. Judging by your family photos we are a similar age (born 1964) and I recognise so many of the Airfix kits that I have built as a child. I too had to wait until birthdays or Christmas to get the kit I desperately wanted! Tried to get my kids interested in model making but the interest and patience is simply not there.
Don't know why TH-cam recommended this Video but watching your childhood pictures reminded me of my time as a child building warplane sets , I never got as far as to paint them though .Talking of warplanes a little story if anybody cares , before I built models I liked drawing them so one day at home doing my homework I got distracted and started drawing a dogfight between a Spitfire and a Messerschmitt of course the Messerschmitt was going down in flames . The next day im primary school my maths teacher was checking our homework and as I opened my excercise book I realized I had drawn the whole thing in my book I can't remember her facial expression but she was not pleased to say the least all I remember hearing her say was consequences and having a word with my class teacher . So when school ended that day and everybody in my class could go home I had to go and see my teacher .As I opened the door to my class he was sitting on a chair waiting for me he must have been in his 60s greyish hair with a matching mustache a little bit like Albert Einstein but better groomed , he was smiling and asked me to come closer I was so confused because I was expecting a beasting not a smile . As I sat on his lap he started explaining to me im a calm voice the bad things that had happened and that I shouldn't draw things in my exercise book especially warplanes with swastikas all over them as we are in Germany and it is not allowed to draw that symbol . Maybe I got off so lightly because I was a brit but I like to think that Mr.Wolf was simply a cool person and he would have been the same with a German child or maybe it was because he served in the Wehrmacht who knows .
i was a "ten quid tourist" on the Canberra from the UK to Australia in the 1960's, i think it was quite new then, good time's,
there was a grace and beauty to ships like yours, nowadays the are floating apartment blocks
Fascinating. We made the trip from Southampton to Cape Town on our way to Australia, on the Elenis.
I enjoyed that story a lot. I am 70 and modelled since I was 10 just like you. Was that Farnborough air show 1966?...I was there with my dad's Nizo cine camera.
I liked your cine camera shots from the boat trips .
I have made boats but back to tissue and dope flying planes now.
I find that making these balsa wood and tissue planes reminds me of my boyhood which makes me very happy
Are you the same?
I too do not watch television as it is such a wicked waste of time.
I retire to my shed and get on with creating something
Thank you for sharing that with us .
Ohhhh...my next build will be. 24" RC model boat designed by Vic Smeed.
Its tug called TID.
Well ..the real ones were called Tid but the model because it is so small is called Tiddler!!!
Very impressive. Have you ever considered building the SS United States. I build aircraft kits myself but have nothing but admiration for you scratch builders. Making works of Art from basic materials amazing.
What a delightful video which brought back many happy memories. Thank you very much!
I followed a similar route here , except i moved to full size . In the main it vehicular repairs , but i have gone in other directions with modifications , even scratch build , to houses and boats . Only recently , i've used this skill to repair a plastic bumper , which was basically scrap . Though i had to learn a new gluing method . I removed damaged material , and replaced with new , saving over 1000 quid in the process . More recently involved a modification to a dashboard to accept a double din radio . The correct part required , has never been available . Airfix , and others over 40 years ago , are to blame !
Thank you for sharing. I built models as a kid...never with the detail as yours. But loved doing it. Kids don't build models anymore. It is ashame...just change of time I guess.
Thank you for sharing Andrew. Brought back many memories of my days in the galley of the S.A. Vaal (formerly the Transvaal Castle in your video!). Just returning to modelling at a youthful 75.
My father got me into scale modelling with Airfix, Revell and Renwall in 1955 - I remember having the Airfix Ferguson tractor. I still build, but now it is scratchbuilding 1/8th scale cars, 🤪👍🏼
WHAT A WONDERFUL TALENT YOU HAVE! Thank you so much...Judy in Nova Scotia, Canada
Dear Andrew, I'm pretty sure, I saw this film once before on your other channel. Anyway: it does not change to be a wonderfull story. Sincerily, Stefan, Kiel, Germany.
I really love the passion you share with the audience. Please don't stop
Muito legal esse kit👍
Andrew, many years ago I visited the offices of the family/company that used to own the Union Castle line and the office was full of the official models of the ships from the era you model. A colleague of mine also took the UC to the Cape and speaks lovingly of arriving in Table Bay to start his new life and adventure, many decades ago. What an impression that must have made on you as a young lad. I introduced my son to model making. He took to it like a duck to water but has moved on, and so I fear this hobby will decline with our generation.
Really nice video.
When I was young I built balsa wood models. Now I have started to take up on that hobby again.
To make parts that I 3D-print, I use an expanding spray filler that are very easy to sand down.
Very cool , makes me pine for the days of ocean liner travel.... A family friend worked on the "Lurline " S.F. to Hawaii...... Great skill this man has got, Thanks for posting.