I never really did get into ship model building, except for a model of the USS Pennsylvania when I was about 12. (and no, that
wasn't about the time it was launched.
) I've always primarily built 1/72 aircraft of the 30's and 40's, and HO scale model railroading. While I was in college though I did have a pretty good collection of about 200 1/2400 WW2 warships for wargaming, along with several thousand 15mm Napoleonic wargaming figures (Bavaria and other German States)
(all hand painted by me. Oy, to have that much free time again. LOL)