Airplane building

One of my earliest memories as a child included taking family vacations to Florida every summer. Getting on airplanes at an early age meant an adventure was ahead. I looked forward to shopping for toys and clothes. I could not wait to eat at restaurants that were not readily accessible in my hometown. It was always a pleasure to enjoy the local theme parks with my cousins who lived in West Palm Beach, FL.

One of the biggest thrills of our vacation was visiting the 94th Aero Squadron restaurant in Miami. This was one of my dad’s favorite restaurants. It is a steakhouse that overlooks the south runway of the Miami International Airport. I would listen to the broadcast from the control tower at the table while watching the huge airliners from all over the world arrive and depart.

As I got older, my love for aviation developed further. Growing up in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and being surrounded by water, meant that air travel was the norm. This included travel by both commercial and general aviation aircraft. As a pre-teen, I remember being allowed to sit in the right seat of a Cessna 402 on a trip to one of the family islands. The pilot let me hold the yoke for a few minutes during the flight and I was ecstatic. It was during this period of my life that I fell in love with aviation. Airplanes were tools that reunited me with family and friends. They were modes of transport that brought happiness at each destination.

As a teenager, I began building model airplanes. I purchased both balsa wood as well as plastic airplane kits. I procured both small and large-scale airplanes. They included models that were replicas of early era aircraft as well as modern airliners. What I also discovered was that I could customize these aircraft and make them aesthetically pleasing to my standards. This assisted in nurturing my imagination and creativity.

Each time I opened a new box, seeing the hundreds of individual parts presented a pleasing challenge to me. Knowing that only I controlled the outcome of the final product gave me a sense of responsibility. My first builds were rudimentary as I was in a hurry to view the completed aircraft. This would also mean that I could move to the next model. The unpainted and rough-edged results were not satisfactory. It was then that I perfected my skill and began purchasing crafting blades and paints. I began to visualize what I wanted each airplane model to look like before assembling the first piece.

I learned how to apply various types of paints to different parts for a realistic appearance. I began using sandpaper to smooth the edges. Instead of completing the models in rapid succession, I sometimes took several days to work on each part. I soon realized that this helped to develop my patience.

The more my modeling evolved, the more I realized that the process helped me to relax. I would identify free time during weekends and holidays to work on my airplanes. I started to purchase more challenging and configurable models. I could construct them to show as being in-flight or on the ground. This began to influence my selection of airplanes as it had to be the right fit for my growing fleet. Through this, came a practice for pre-planning.

Viewing the completed models on their stands allowed me to dream of destinations I would travel to as an adult. Each time I stepped into my bedroom and saw them, it was like being on vacation.

Airplane model building permits me a mental getaway. The hours I spend in solitude and deep concentration allow me to relax and temporarily forget all external issues. It gives me an inner peace that connects me with so many fond, childhood and adolescent memories.