Andre du Plessis
I was born in 1955 in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and my passion for model building began when I was seven years old. My brother-in-law gave me my first kit — a 1:72 scale Airfix WWI German Albatros D.Va. Probably not the best model to give a seven-year-old! I put that blue plastic kit together with much glee — and glue — and didn’t even paint it, but I was hooked. From that moment on, every spare cent went into my growing collection.
At the time, Airfix models came in plastic bags and cost around 65 cents. My pocket money was one Rhodesian dollar a month, and it all went toward my hobby. I even sold my old socks and handkerchiefs to make extra money! My family knew that for my birthday and Christmas, the only gifts I ever wanted were model kits — though my grandmother always gave me socks and handkerchiefs anyway.
I remember one year, in November, my father took me to the ‘Southern Cross Hobby Shop’ in Salisbury (Harare) and said that I could choose any model I wanted for Christmas. After spending a good amount of time in front of the racks of models, I finally decided on the Airfix C-130 Hercules. It cost a hefty $8.00 — my father paid a deposit of $4.00 and the rest early in December. Up to that time, when I was about twelve, this was my biggest model.
I graduated to larger kits as I grew older: the 1:32 Werner Mölders Me 109, the 1:32 Me 262, and the 1:32 P-38 Lightning. My final model, and the biggest, was the 1:32 F-4 Phantom — what a beast!
I also scratch-built a number of models from plans: the Spitfire Mk IX (1:72), X-15 (1:72), Arado Ar 234 (1:72), Sopwith Camel (1:24), Convair B-36 Peacemaker (1:144), Mustang ‘turboprop’ Cavalier (1:48), North American OV-10 Bronco, and some others that I have forgotten.
I also built a number of ships: the Bismarck (twice), Scharnhorst, HMS Ark Royal, HMS Hood, a Daring-class destroyer, and a US nuclear sub, the USS Patrick Henry.
Cars aplenty — I cannot even remember them all: Minis, Beetles, the Porsche 911, the Aston Martin, and more.
By the time I left school, I had 98 model aircraft hanging from my bedroom ceiling, with ships and cars spread throughout the house — on pelmets, in display cabinets, and even next to my mother’s Royal Doulton lookalikes. In total, I estimate I had around 140 models.
After school, I did an apprenticeship in the Posts and Telecommunications Corporation and became a draughtsman. Then I did my National Service in the Rhodesian Air Force and served as a gunner/commander in Eland-60 armoured cars. Between 1975 and 1979, before emigrating to South Africa, I spent 1,140 days in uniform in the Operational Areas of the Rhodesian War. I got to know our equipment, aircraft, and vehicles well, and even in my modelling today, I tend to gravitate toward building aircraft we flew and the vehicles we drove during the war.
At some point, though, I ran out of steam and gave all my models to a friend. Life moved on — I got married in 1979, the children came, and I didn’t have much time or space for modelling. Over the years, I bought the occasional kit but never finished any. It wasn’t until about twelve years ago that I finally returned to the hobby, setting up a dedicated space in my studio at home. My silver Hawker Hurricane was a model I bought about twenty-seven years ago and half built. Now it is finished, and it won a prize.
I joined Zwartkop Scale Modellers and started showing my models every first Saturday of the month. I love building dioramas and, in 2017, I won both Model of the Year and Diorama of the Year.
Scratch-building from plans and kit-bashing are my favourite aspects of the hobby — I honestly don’t think I’ve ever built a model straight out of the box!
Aside from modelling, I am also an artist and spent several years teaching art in my home studio. I do believe my art and draughting background serves me well in my model building. I do aviation art and have from time to time used my models in my art. I love writing as well and am currently working on five books. God willing, I hope to publish one this year. I truly believe that my talents in modelling, art, and writing are gifts from God.
