Ed Pinniger

I started modelling when about 7 years old, building the usual Airfix and Matchbox 1/72 planes along with the occasional tank, car + ship. I took a break for a while after I reached about 13 years old, but my interest was rekindled in 2001 after I built something for my dad's 16mm scale (1/18) garden railway.

I started off building more 1/72 aircraft - later "scaling up" to 1/48 and also building armour in 1/35 - but since a few years ago, ships and boats have been my main interest, particularly large scale warships - 1:72 to 1:200 - though I also build in the more common scales of 1/350 and 1/400. As well as kits I also scratchbuild model ships, both static and radio controlled, usually in 1/96 and 1/48 scale. Most recently I scratchbuilt a 1/96 static model of the 1900s destroyer HMS Velox, and a 1/48 working model of a 1930s steam tugboat.

Whilst ships are my main interest, I still build quite a few aircraft, currently WW2 and earlier in 1/32, WW1 in 1/48 and anything in 1/144! I also build the occasional military or sci-fi subject - earlier this year I built a Star Wars "A-wing Fighter" model which I rebuilt from a toy bought at a car boot sale! I scratch built the cockpit and repainted and weathered the exterior to make it more of a scale model.

I also have a model railway layout - a very small 7mm (O) scale narrow gauge circuit - but haven't done any more work on this recently.

I joined Earley Risers in the summer of 2007 and really enjoy coming to our meetings and spending time actually building models. Like Hugh Beyts, I am also a member of the Marlow Club.