SciFi Dragon Models

I've been building models, mostly plastic models since I was ten years old. That translates to roughly sixty years of experience in model building. Early on, I learned a lot of great tips and techniques from model hobby magazines like Fine Scale Modeler and Military Modeler. These well-illustrated magazines provided good technical information, a lot of inspiration, and encouragement to try new processes and techniques. I began, as many kids do, by building model airplanes. In the 1950s and 1960s, planes, boats, and cars made up most of the available kits in hobby shops. When I was in high school (circa 1965), I became interested in world history, and my modeling interests shifted from planes to W.W.II ground vehicles (tanks, trucks, jeeps, etc.). There weren't many military kits to choose from back then, but somehow, I've accumulated several hundred military (and science fiction) model kits over the years since. Well, at least I'll have something to do now that I'm retired (LOL).

If the photo (left) hasn't already made this clear, along with being a bit of a history buff, I'm a Science Fiction fan/junkie. I love all sorts of science fiction material. H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and Ray Bradbury are my favorite authors, along with Anne McCaffrey. When it comes to sci-fi movies, I love all the sub-genres – monster movies, apocalyptic horror, vampires, and other creature features, and most of all, outer-space adventures. I grew up watching the 1930s movie serials Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers and fell in love with the whole idea of stories set in the future and on other worlds. When Star Trek came along, I was hooked from the first airing of the first pilot (1966), and I'm a Trekker even to this day. I think my favorite sci-fi tales are those that offer, directly or significantly subtly, commentary on the human condition and human values. I suppose that's why Star Trek became such a favorite of mine. My sci-fi modeling began with simple model rocket ships and flying saucers. Now many of my UFO models feature electronic lighting systems to give them a bit of life. Over the last ten years, my love of sci-fi has driven me to expand my model-building skills and subjects beyond the simple kit building. I've designed and built many 'one-of-a-kind' sci-fi props, mostly ray guns, entirely from scratch and have built many full-scale replicas of famous sci-fi subjects (yes, Star Trek phasers, disruptors, pads, and tricorders). You'll find articles about many of my completed sci-fi subjects on this website.