I had a nice dream this morning - I was in the Pannier Market in Barnstaple, Devon, UK. The first stall I come to is full of models. Amazing models... that don't exist. A large orange mining backhoe, with orange tracks - like a giant Priestman if they ever went into large mining excavators - made by Speccast in 1:50 scale. There was another orange machine, not sure what it was. The prices were very good and I was about to get my wallet out... then I woke up. Great dream! I may have to repaint a model in orange now, as I'm inspired!

That got me thinking about any key moments in my life that led me to my obsession with models. I grew up near farms so saw a lot of tractors and combines. I also went to lots of agricultural shows around the UK. The Pannier Market features as I remember very clearly finding a toy/model stall and falling in love with a diecast orange backhoe excavator. I don't know what it was. It had a wide backfill bucket on it. When I pleaded with my parents to buy it for me, they refused (probably quite expensive!). They compromised with a tiny matchbox excavator which I still have and have just given to my son.
There was another time while on holiday in France, and in a supermarket I saw some Joal JCB models. I desperately wanted a JCB Loadall, but I didn't have any money and my parents refused. That had a big impact, and call me spoilt, but I was pretty grumpy for the rest of the holiday.

These two events have definitely had some influence on my obsession now that I'm supposedly grown up!

Anyone else got any childhood stories about missing out on models? Anyone have model dreams?!!!!