When it was suggested that he set up a club for people who shared his love of aircraft model-making, Derek Davis wasn’t sure if the idea would fly.
But after launching with just three people, the Wiltshire Scale Modellers Society now has more than 100 members.
It’s about to hold its first in-person meeting since lockdown, but virtual meetings on Facebook have brought enthusiasts from as far afield as the USA.
The society caters for people who make models of aircraft and other forms of transport from Airfix kits, those who love painting model figures, and enthusiasts who make their creations from scratch.
The club’s two-hour monthly meetings attract people who drive from Bristol, Stroud and even Yeovil to show off and discuss their models.
They meet at Pewsham Community Centre in Chippenham, which Derek says is the perfect location, with parking, good lighting, as well as toilets and a kitchen.
“It’s a superb location,” he said.
Derek, an aviation journalist who lives in Pewsham, has always been interested in making model aircraft. He said that in 2017, the idea of the club re-emerged.
“I broached the subject with a couple of my friends, and they were up for it.”
The in-person meetings attract around 25 to 30 people, with members bringing in their models to discuss and compare.
Derek said: “It’s morphed into a social club. People bring their models, and talk about them. It’s like a mini-model show. It’s for like-minded people.
“We don’t have competitions – our mission statement is to inform, motivate and inspire.”
More than a year of lockdown has boosted interest in activities such as model-making, other craft activities and board games.
Derek said: “It’s really taken off. People couldn’t go out, so they’ve tended to be in their houses, working on hobbies.
“For some people the club has been a lifeline in lockdown. We’re social animals.”
He said modelling could be a labour of love.
“Some people will make or adapt Airfix models, while some go to the other extreme and do all the research and spend months or sometimes even years in getting it just right.”
Derek said people loved modelling because it could be both relaxing and creative.
More information on the group is available on its Facebook page.
Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the centre, from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.
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