Perhaps a bit of exaggeration. Now that I stopped to add it up, it's been more like only 35 years LOL.
I think part of it was that Ihad to pack it up to move a couple of times, and going over the same things that I'd done before was a bit discouraging. And also that when I started into wooden models, it was such a new and challenging experience, I lost interest in plastic.
However, now that I've built so many wooden and scratch-built models, I find I've learned enough that styrene is again a challenge, but only because I toss out most of the kit and modify so much of it, or rebuild it better out of scratch-built parts, that they've again become much more interesting. A challenge to see just how far I can take all the skills I've gained over that time to make everything work and move like the real thing.
I really shold finish off the Constitution model. I've got the plans for where each of the deckhead beams went and my intention was to use 'grain-of-wheat' lightbulbs, wired inside the beams and with an antique lantern framed around them to light up the interior. But since those old days, now there are LED lights that might be even smaller. I've also thought about replacing the cannons with steel ones, drilled out and with electric sparkers in the end so I can make it really fire. Saw the real ship fire off a broadside once and it was REALLY impressive.
I'd love to see HMS Victory let loose like that.
All those copper plates would be quite the chore. Wait until you get to the ratlines!
I got used to that sort of thing by doing the decks with individual planks which is why building a complete deck with opening hatches and and an underlying framework for my U-711 didn't seem very intimidating.
