Hello and welcome!

My name is Darren and this site is the home of THE SCALE MODEL HANGAR STUDIO. This is my place on the web for showcasing my builds, commission work and my musings about this wonderful hobby of scale modelling.

My interests are WWII and modern military aircraft, armour, figures, science fiction and diorama subjects in various scales. I tend to work mostly in 1/32,1/35 and 1/48 scales.

I’m a very keen modeller and have been in the hobby for over 15 years, I am also a member of IPMS UK and I have displayed my models at Local and National events. I am a proud member of IPMS Lancashire and can be found at their monthly meetings.

Unlike many others I believe scale modelling is an art form. I refer to myself as a “Scale Model Artist”.

I use this term as for me this hobby is an art form just like any other. The debate over modelling as an art form will go on and on, for me-It is! You can read my musings on that subject here:  First post: Is it art?

I research, build, paint and finish a work that will capture a moment in history, tell a story, spark someone’s imagination or just make someone smile. I now build for myself from my own studio and for private collectors who commission my work.

My journey into this hobby began when my wife and I took a stroll through a small parade of village shops where we used to live and she noticed a shop front with lots of model aircraft in the window. Knowing of my love for military aviation she guided me over and we went inside. We ended chatting with the owner and I left with a cheap 1/72 Typhoon and some Humbrol paints which next I duly began playing with the next afternoon on our dining room table. I enjoyed building this model so much I went and bought another one, now in 1/48 scale. Next came modelling magazines and more builds and before I knew it, I had commandeered the spare bedroom in our house as my own hobby room.

Life went on with its highs and lows and I went through losing my job, finding a new career and relocating to another part of the world. We were blessed with the arrival of my son and my wife asked me to find another way of painting without using smelly paints and noisy compressors. It was common sense, spraying in a room next door to a nursery is not a good idea!

The solution was to take my hobby outside of the house so I built a hobby studio in our garden. There I built, painted and showed my models on forums and made new friends. Two of my closest friends are scale modellers. Thanks to them I have shared some amazing experiences and I have learned so much and laughed so hard. It’s been an incredible journey and I owe them so much.

After suffering a severe spinal injury in 2006 I was left without the use of my right arm and often without sight in my right eye. I was in unspeakable pain and scared that I would lose my life as I knew it. I was extremely fortunate to be seen by an excellent doctor who sent me to a hospital that would be able to operate on me in the hope of easing my pain. Seven months later I made a recovery and I was able to use my hands again. It was a long , hard road but eventually I returned to work and managed to put my life back together with the love and support of my family and friends.

Due to my injury I found myself with a disability that has changed my life. I have to take medication every day, do physiotherapy every day and I have to struggle everyday to do things that are easy for most others. In addition to this I was also diagnosed with PTSD in 2018. So model building is also my therapy and my escape from the pressures and worries of life.

Returning to my studio that had lain empty and unused for so long after my injury, I knew I would need to make some changes to accommodate my needs. I put a call out to friends and family and over three days during the summer of  2016 we worked hard to renovate my studio and we renamed it “The Scale Model Hangar”

Now I can enjoy my spare time building models for myself and for others in a comfortable and peaceful environment. That’s my dream, to enjoy building models and for others to enjoy them too. This place is my sanctuary, where I can just be myself and be creative.

I never refer to myself as a professional modeller as it is not my profession, I am simply an artist with a passion for scale modelling. If you would like me to build a model for you, get in touch by using the site contact page.

I can also be found on social media @thescalemodelhangar on Instagram and Facebook also as @TSMODEHANGAR on Twitter.

I hope you enjoy my models and my musings. Take care and Happy Modelling!

Darren McGuinness @ THE SCALE MODEL HANGAR STUDIO.