I Became a Model Maker

Like many youngsters of my generation, I once had a train set, or model railway as some prefer to call it.  I had never been entirely happy with the goods on sale at the toy shop and always sought to construct my own buildings and topography.  Trains going round in circles gave only limited pleasure, it was creating the environment that provided satisfaction. At first, buildings came from the grocers shops. Cereal and soap packets came with cut out building kits printed on the back. I always insisted in accompanying my mum to make sure that she bought the right brands. It was my father who gave me a scalpel at a young age. Once I had learned to work accurately, there was little to hold me back.

For a brief time, I built ships and boats, sometimes from kits. These would have been more successful had I read the instructions.  More commonly, I constructed ships of balsa wood. These were kept in the bathroom and were always dripping wet after Dad had a bath !

The railway gradually lost its' attraction as I found buildings more interesting to construct. I would usually take numerous photographs from which I would take my dimensions by counting bricks. Sometimes though, I would spend hours in taking measurements of my subjects. I always prepared drawings from which to work otherwise mistakes would be made,  as I found to my cost.

I eventually drew up a plan for an entire village and thereafter sought buildings to suit. This pursuit took up most of my leisure time and kept me from more regular occupations like television or the pub.

Being asked to build a couple of commercial models, a distribution warehouse and a squash court led me to consider earning my living through model making. I already had an interest in buildings so architectural modelling was an obvious course.   Having constructed some portable demonstration models I was soon receiving my first commissions.

The methods that I had developed in constructing my hobby models stood me in good stead and I have continued to work in that way for over 20 years.  I have of course considered CNC cutting and 3D printing. I prefer however, to continue using my personal skills and to build as much as possible by hand.

The model village to which I refer is described and illustrated on my other blog : http://brickcourse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/bradthorne.html