I started with my dad's control line models, flying old David Charlton diesels when I was a little boy in the late eighties. I spent my 12th birthday money on my first R/C model, a Precedent Fly Boy, 3 channel high wing tail dragger, and built it in my bedroom (incidently I became very fond of Precedent kits, I ended up with four and still have all of them despite some terrible punishment!).

To scared to fly it, I was given a 2ch glider (Precedent HiFly) by an old man who was retiring from a hobby shop I bought plastic models from. He showed me how to set up my radio and I taught myself to fly it in a park using a big bungee to launch it. I just kept doing it, seeing how far round a circuit I could get on the 60ft or so height I'd start with.

Eventually at 15yrs old I got a saturday job at another hobby shop, and the owner took me along to his club, where one "expert" screwed up the slow running needle on my engine, but another very humble man with a huge Sukhoi Su-26 taught me to fly my Flyboy. He was a Mode One guy, so he just stood next to me telling me what to do.

I built a lovely little model called a "Raider" from plans I bought from Nexus in the UK. That's another stalwart model - it just keeps going. Infact, I've only completely trashed one model since I started, although most of the others have suffered minor~moderate damage at some point.

I eventually took too big a jump from the light wing loading "Raider" and bought a little Hawker Hurricane. I was so proud of that model, but it was a little too hot for me and I never actually finished a landing on it's wheels - I kept landing too hot (scared to slow down) and ending up with it on it's back. Eventually I cartwheeled it on takeoff causing some serious damage. I was gutted. It sat looking sorry on a shelf until late last year when I decided to give it some attention.

Eventually I joined the RAF, and like any military service, the training courses are great at stamping out hobbies - so that was that.

A few years later out I came, and decided to finish off a Top Flite P-47 that sat, uncovered, for the past 4 years. My new fiancee at the time had thought the whole r/c plane past a bit sad until she was let loose with cellulose dope She has a real soft spot for that T-Bolt now - dunno why

I didn't want to smash it up as I hadn't flown in 4 years, so I took my Precedent LoBoy and T-180 out first. The former has a high wing loading, the latter a tail dragger u/c that keeps you on your toes. 2 days later I maidened the T-Bolt and it was like I never left [8D]

Back into it big time now, my P-51 is coming along nicely, my T-6 is ready to fly next nice day I have off - the nights are getting lighter now too so maybe some day after work???

The warbirds especially get expensive though - the undercarriage and all the sequencers etc cost more than a whole 4 channel sport model ready to go costs Just means I build less of them.

Sorry for length of post - got a bit carried away