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The First Model !

If my memory serves me correctly, this was an AirFix RAF SuperMarines Spitfire. I was totally bewildered how this rabble of benign plastic bits could possibly be put together to even remotely resemble something that as a young toddler had seen roaring through the skies. That iconic merlin engine just reverberating it's power through the airwaves into your chest and ears. But my ever patient father reassured me that with care and diligence it's amazing what we as humans can achieve.

So with my precision glue and detail snips, carefully following the illustrations and applying a little logic piece by piece, this once ensemble of strange and foreign parts began to elegantly resemble the engineering master piece I had revered for so long.

I suppose it must have been some considerable hours later (certainly didn't seem long because I was so engaged), I found myself gluing the propeller onto the main drive shaft. The sheer joy and satisfaction on completion of this truly amazing challenge was in all honesty overwhelming. That's when I knew this was the escape I'd been searching for so long for.

That last sentence is in reference to finding a way to truly shut of from the absolutely exhausting daily grind of what I now know is Autism, and putting so much energy daily into masking my struggles to try and blend into the neuro typical world.

When my dad returned home from his shift (explosives engineer within a deep shaft coal mine), I showed him my what was now prize possession. He grinned humbly, went to his " out of reach cupboard " and to my amazement gave me all the paints, brushes and necessary cleaning materials to bring life to my monotone creation. I can tell you that model still remains in its protective cabinet in our families storage facility. At some point in the near future I'll be sharing pictures of my personal vintage collection of models, toys, boardgames, trading cards, comics and books. These items I have an incredible emotional attachment to, and as a result unfortunately they will not be for sale.

I know my fellow hobbyists will totally understand this, and I'm really looking forward to digging out my original warhammer armies, pokemon trading cards, AirFix collection, Tomy AFX scale electric set, countless comics and annuals. Just the tip of the iceberg of a lifetime of escapism and enjoyment with like minded people.

To this day I still get excited by new releases (really looking forward to getting stuck into playing the new " Old World " armies from warhammer fantasy) and obviously enjoy all the new trading card artwork as it's released. But most of all looking forward to being able to share the experience with you, my hobbyists community. Take care and make sure you follow our blog, and " Nerd Shed" pages for endless and for the most part random information.

Kindest Regards

The Host

Chapter 2 The Scale Electric Set

Life in The Fast Lane!

Well where to continue from?

I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to tell you quickly that since the Spitfire I continued collecting AirFix models of various types, and absolutely loved the process equally if not more than my first iconic beauty.

But in the interest of progress for the purpose of my journey through the wonderful hobbies which I'm still engaged in to this day. I shall refrain from showing you all my Rabbits Behind, and with regimental discipline not go down my AirFix bunny hole.

All I can remember was it was just after my friend's 12ish birthday and he said "my dad said I can invite some friends round to race with him", not entirely sure what was meant at that point (having visions of Linford Christie doing the 100m thing atm btw) I obviously said to my friend ok "I'll call for you after my evening paper round ".

So that evening after being subjected to the daily issues I endured on my evening round.

1 - Avoiding being Flat-packed by motorists

2 - Pretending that I supported Manchester United to a customer, purely because he gave me a coke and mars bar each week.

3 - Completing my little side line business, which was facilitating the trading and delivery of football cards I'd swapped during the school day.

4 - Having a read of "Sheffield Star" scouring the free adds for a potential car I could flip for a good return ( I was very mechanically minded and loved restoring a whole manner of objects to find there forever home).

5 - Finally remembering I was supposed to go round my mates house to race? ( grabbed a scallop butty on the way btw I was starving! + a 10p juice carton )

Having arrived at his house, and greeted by his very polite mum, I proceeded into the "GAMING ROOM" and honestly I was like, well I can't actually write what I actually said (not all ages appropriate).

Laid out on the floor in all it's glory was this truly amazing masterpiece. Being a F1 nut I knew I was staring at the legendary "Monaco" race circuit. There was a Grand Stand, Pit Lane, Spectators, Feul Lorries, Fire Response Teams it was so detailed it took me an eternity to absorb it all. Thankfully my mate was engaged in playing his Tennis game on a "Sega MegaDrive", which back then was certainly challenging the original Nintendo system.

I remember vividly sitting down and holding the handset to the Scale Electric ( after my mate told me I have to be Mansel in his Williams Renault, whilst he took the Ferrari which was piloted by a very a young Schumacher) obviously I was a little heavy fingered to start with, and inevitably launched Mr Mansel at warp speed 10 into the east wall multiple times at the start of the race. But it didn't take long to find my groove and allow my Autism to give me an advantage to be fair. By that I mean I was able to focus solely on that car gliding effortlessly around that beautiful circuit.

I tuned my ears into the the sound of the car clicking over the joints, the hum of the motor, the smell from heat of the friction being created. I know this sounds hard to believe but my Autism allows me to hone in my sensory receptors on levels most neuro typical people can't even comprehend is possible. When I found the perfect balance of the above mentioned sounds and smells, I was able to push that little race car to it's absolute limit, very very very rarely would it ever result in a "Bonnie & Clyde" leap for Mr Mansel.

To bring a temporary end to this part of my scale electric tale, I returned home after being at my friend's. Told my parents in typical way to much detail hahaha! My poor parents endurance of my Autistic Traits. From that one conversation I kind of knew at some point I needed to get a Scale Electric of my own.

To be Continued!

Kindest Regards

Your Nerdy Host

Chapter 3 1st Home Computer

The Absolute Legendary Commodore 64

A very good evening my humble gaming and hobbyists community.

For this next chapter in my personal journey through just a few of the key points and highlights of a passions I've been engrossed in for nearly half a century now.

I feel it's about time I brought a bit of tech addiction in haha!

So prior to me actually receiving the above masterpiece of electronic wizardry, I had been playing games consoles such as the Atari ST, original Sega System etc. On games like Tennis, Pac Man and Pong.

However this was different, very different!

This was for starters actually my very own System which I can play when I want, on which ever game I want to.

Now for our younger readers out there, the statement above is a little more complex than it reads. By that I mean for people of a certain age, in order to play a game you simply have to literally tap "Start" and away you go. Alas my little apprentices it wasn't always like this.

You see in the picture headlining this article there is a "Tape Deck" this device was connected to the computer and used to load game data through a processing system very, very, very, very, very slowly. In truth I've probably understated the monumental time it took to load certain games.

Example I've always been a bit of a wwf ( now know as wwe fan), and yes before you all scream at the screen, I'm well aware it's all an act. In reality I think it's one of the greatest illusions still played out to young and old to this day, but that's a tale for another day.

Anyway I had a C64 wwf, I'm pretty confident in saying that it consisted of two, maybe even three tapes for the game. Each individual side has to be played through the tape deck before you get to play the game.

Now gaming in our families home was a big deal on Sundays, primarily because of my parents work patterns etc etc. We would always play boardgames, watch family movies, play card games engage in hobbyists interests and generally spending time together.

But Sunday morning, after I'd done my paper round I knew that I'd get my "personal game time". However to give you an example, to play the legendary WWF game mentioned above ( which was rather expensive and cost me several weeks paper round money), I would need to start loading the game at 8am. By 11.30am it was ready to play, at 13.00 it was Sunday Lunch time ( no computer games after lunch btw).

So for three and half hours of waiting, I get a grand total of 90 minutes at best game time. But ohhhh it was so worth it haha! To pull one of your favourite wrestling characters combo's off and win a fight, was at the time like winning the lottery in today's standards ( mainly because the Joystick sequence you needed to do to make this happen was nothing short of breaking the enigma code). I absolutely loved my little beast of computer, and this is the sole reason I currently have my beautiful I9 quad core monster.

I'll take you all down game console street in another chapter but for now I will bid you all a good evening, and look forward to bringing you the next chapter.

Kindest Regards Your Nerdy Host

Chapter 4 The World Of RC Models

Now this was a really cool albeit rather expensive hobby !

Ok Folks I hope you're ready for this installment!

Now where to begin?

Ok, so I was probably around the 11/12 years old mark when I was first introduced to the world of RC. Now when I say RC, this was what I would definitely class as extreme novice levels.

The reason I make that statement is because my first RC car was a battery powered little Ferrari F40 which you recharged by holding onto a charge port on the handset. I'm not entirely sure what these were called now, but they were immense fun and kept me entertained for hours. They had very limited control, and battery life. But this little Red Beautywas the start of a journey into the world of mechanical modelling.

Not long after this I began to pick up work doing people's gardening, washing cars, running shopping errands all to add funds to my first RC Car project. The Model I was saving super hard for was a Pro Cat. Back then and probably to this day they were revered for their quality, and if set up correctly their speed and handling.

I'd been checking out our local RC club for around a month or so, I knew this was something I would love to get involved in. I mean seriously, I get to own a little "Race Team " at 12 years old ( by that I mean me myself and I haha!).

I remember going to our "Big Hobby Shop" to collect my little pocket rocket, and couldn't wait to get home and start building it. Assembling my very own Pro Cat was like I'd crossed a mile stone in my hobbyists adventure.

From the motor, the drive chain, suspension system, various tyre set ups to finally dropping the shell on and clipping it down. Every little action sparked the imagination and I remember vividly dreaming of being part of a WTC team, WRC team even F1 came to mind.

Now to say my extremely good mood was short lived post assembly is an understatement. I had heavily misjudged my ability to control this what I now realise was an extremely powerful and responsive piece of kit!

I am trying to give you the mental picture of me applying the gogogo! Lever a little to heavily and absolutely planting my lovely shiny beast into the very much stationary rear tyre of my neighbours delivery van, and totally nuking the entire front end.

Alas I repaired the damage, took a few lessons at my RC club and absolutely loved it for the best part of 4 years before unfortunately our club folded as the land was sold for development.

That's it for this tale for now folks, maybe it triggered a happy memory or two!

Until Next Time Your Nerdy Host