Frank Burroughs – Ink Slinger

I have not a moment to lose! It is a long road from hobbyist to craftsman. The best tools have been acquired. Suitable paints and glues laid in. A handful of ship models lined up for the shipyards. Now it depends on effort and time. And there I excel! There one hour stacks upon another. The journey to craftsman goes into the failure, success, circle. One leads to the other, the back again. In a few years the achievements shall outweigh the wrong turns. There exists not a moment to spare.

The first large mistake was to believe the skills learned on plastic models would transfer to making wood model kits. Model Ship World forum convince me they are two different tasks. Where some motor-control functions get better for each, plastic is quite unlike wood. A long table comes today to set up another work area. The room where cannabis was to be grown this Winter is now another shipyard. Two work areas in separate rooms means both two types of ships can be built at the same time. A step ahead without a moment to lose.

The next mistake hit me in the pocketbook. Never met a tool not wanted. Why, you have to have reference books. Two large plastic models, though used, cost a good penny. Add the Model Shipways Shipwright 3 Kit Combo Series to the pile of money spent and you have a budget out of control. I will survive!

Outfitting the new work area will also cost. Yet, to wait and fix it up, robs me of work.

On the positive side the drive towards becoming a master model maker sparked writing daily. Reading daily has tripled in hours. Nothing better than listening to audiobooks while painting, gluing and rigging. My sleep and appetite have never been better. I laugh more!

My motor-control steadily grows. Time management counts again. I am creating art again. Making something grand for myself that I can share. This venture is solely for my benefit. It brings me together. Once a model finishes it goes to a home of someone that will appreciate the ship. Not a second until the next keel is laid. It makes me healthy to dream of the sea. It makes me young to fulfill the dream.