This month we Meet Wayne Beattie

What is your name?
Wayne Beattie

Where you live?
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

What do you do for a living?
I work for NB Liquor

What is your age?
47

Married? Single? Children?
Married for 20 years, no kids, my wife says she has a 47 year old though

When did you start building models? Any sentimental memories of your first builds?
I must have been 5 or 6 when I first started. I just remember seeing how fast I could build a model. Back then it was with tube glue and I would get glue strings all over the kit. I can remember my parents bringing a kit home for me and my brother if they went away. My father was the person that got me interested in models. He did RC planes so I guess that is where I got the love of aircraft.

If you have recently 'got back' to the hobby, what brought you back?
I don't think I really left the hobby. I was always a secret model builder. I always had a stash of kits, or I would come home from college and work on a kit before going out with my friends. But, with the internet, I have gotten a new attitude about my models. Through the internet I have made new friends, here in Moncton, as well as around the world. I get to ask some of the best model builders out there questions on their builds, their techniques, their secrets. After joining places like Hyperscale, ARC, Zone 5, MaritimeModellers.com and SMA, I really like building again.

What types of models do you build?
Mostly aircraft. I am doing a figure right now, my first. I have one car started.

What is your favorite part of the build?
Painting. I like the challenge of painting the cockpit. Most of the really good modelers can make the cockpit stand out and that is what I want to strive to. I am always trying to improve my finishes on my kits.

What part do you struggle with the most?
Masking canopies. I always seem to have a hard time getting a hard edge on the framing. I also struggle to get a good natural metal finish. I can only paint with acrylics so I can't use Alclad. I am trying an acrylic NMF paint but haven't had time to find a good plane to use it on.

What is your dream project?
Right now I would say the Matchbox 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.22/24 that I have in my stash. I want to really detail the engine, cockpit, gun bays. Drop the flaps, open a couple of hatches. I don't think my skills are up to it right now. I really want to fo the kit justice.

What other hobbies do you have?
Photography, I read a lot, I like to travel.

Do yo have any pets?
Nope no pets.

Please describe your mancave.
A mess ( as my wife would say). It is in the work room in the house. I have a desk to work off of. All of my reference materiel is there also. I am going to try to add some more shelving this summer for the kits. I am running out of room. When I am building it gets to be quite the mess.

What is your favorite tool?
Airbrush. There is a lot I have to learn about airbrushing and I am constantly trying to improve my finishes.

What motivates you to build models?
I have to really like the subject. I also need deadlines to finish a kit. Contests are my best motivation. I build what I like and if there is a special category I will find something that I like to fit in. If not, I don't build for it.

What music (if any) do you listen to when you model?
Nickelback, AC/DC, Kiss, anything that will let me drown out the surrounding noise to allow me to concentrate.

Are you ever tempted to sniff the glue?
You know that is a not fair, get caught one time...what is the question again? Sorry flashback, what pretty colors!!

Have you ever used your airbrush as an asmathic puffer?
Cough...cough...what?

Have you ever spray painted a cat?
No one can prove that.

Do you fly your models around the room?
Only if no one is home

What normal household objects have you destroyed....er, repurposed for modeling?
Sorry that is top secret (so my wife won't find out) She won't let me touch the sewing machine. Her emery boards, used make up brushes, nail polish remover (with acetone) have all disappeared.





This interview was posted on Apr 21, 2010

Meet the Herd!
meet Patrick aka Quaralane
meet Chris aka Chris S.
meet Erik AKA panzerace007
meet Norm Lajoie aka: Schweinhund227
Meet Ken Abrams aka: ScaleModelMadman
Meet Dave Beswitherick
Meet Wayne Beattie