It Took Me 18 Years to Fulfill This Childhood Desire

But it was totally worth it in the end.

Do you like scale modeling?

I know I do, but my first ever attempt to build something ended in disaster. After 18 years of resentment, I tried again. It was during this second attempt that I discovered some important things about myself.

How It All Began

The year is 1998. James Cameron’s ‘Titanic’ had premiered in theaters a few months back, smashing one box office record after another. The Titanic-mania was in full swing and I just couldn’t escape the lure.

Sensing the hype, my parents decided to take action. One day, they came back from the local toy store with two bags: one was for me and the other for my cousin who was spending the spring vacation with us.

When I opened the bag, a big smile was drawn to my face. The present was a detailed scale model of the Titanic!

Immediately my eyes starred at the kit’s cover. It was an impressive artwork featuring the legendary ship steaming confidently across the Atlantic Ocean, tearing the waves in her path.

No doubt it was an amazing gift. The problem was, I had to build the model myself.

A Failed Attempt

The kit included detailed instructions about the construction of the model and featured over 150 parts, some of them extremely small. Unfortunately, it did not include the tools necessary to build the model. Not that it would make much difference in my case.

I only came as far as building the ship’s hull. Soon I began losing small parts, breaking others, and quickly my dream of building the ship was wrecked. It was frustrating.

My cousin did a better job. He was four years older than me, and he didn’t have the tendency to break things up. He built the hull and the superstructure of the ship. He even went as far as adding the four iconic funnels and the lifeboats. The result, while not great, was acceptable. I remember watching his finished model with a little envy every time I visited his home.

Frustration

As I grew older, the thought of trying again to build the model frequently went through my mind. During the early 2000s, though, the Titanic-mania had subsided and I could not find the model in the toy stores anymore. Online shopping was not an option either, since most stores did not have an online presence.

As time went on, my priorities naturally changed. I finished school, graduated from university, and got a new job. The dream of completing the model had slowly faded away. Or so I thought…

The Fire Ignites Again

Fast forward some 18 years later. It was a rainy February day, and I was hastily walking through the Athens city center. Suddenly, my eyes got a glimpse of a modeling store at the corner of the street. Its shopfront featured many impressive replicas of famous World War ships, aircraft, and vehicles.

“Could this place have a Titanic model as well?” I wondered.

Out of curiosity, I entered the store. It didn’t take me long to find what I was looking for. A finished model of the famous ship was prominently featured on the shop’s central shelf.

How beautiful it was!

A sense of excitement immediately overcame me. My long-forgotten dream had yet again risen to the surface of consciousness. I had to buy my own kit and try again; I thought.

The owner of the store helped me locate the box I was longing for. Although its cover differed from the one I’ve seen 18 years ago, the kit was essentially the same: same scale, same parts, same manufacture company.

Apart from the kit, I also bought tweezers, white glue, scissors, and sprue clippers- all of which are necessary for building any scale model. I wanted to make sure that I would be better prepared this time.

Fulfillment

I started working on the kit the moment I got back home. I remember spending hours on it every day neglecting meals and social interactions.

I still could not explain the reason behind my total commitment to this project. Did I want to prove something to myself? Was this childhood desire so great that I had to fulfill it at any cost?

I couldn’t tell, but it didn’t matter. It was one of the few times in my life that I had a clear goal before me and I was determined to succeed in it.

Soon my efforts began to pay off. The ship was taking its beautiful shape: first the hull, then the superstructure and the funnels, lastly the deck details and the lifeboats.

After just five days, the model was basically completed. But I didn’t stop there. I wanted to feature as many details as possible, so I added flags, ropes, and decals not included in the original kit. The result was better and more detailed than originally intended!

Today, a sense of accomplishment rushes through me every time I look at the model, which now proudly stands on my desk. Needless to say, it is a great feeling!

To Conclude

By building the Titanic scale model, I discovered traits of myself I did not know existed: persistence; creativity, and discipline. It really took all three to complete it, and I’m grateful I gave it a go. Had I not built the model, these traits may still lay underneath, waiting to be expressed.

From now on, every time I set a new goal I pursuit it with a similar commitment, perseverance, and focus. And this has helped me a lot along the way.

Strange how a scale model can change your life…

Thank you for reading.

Panos Grigorakakis is a journalist, particularly interest in history, evolutionary biology, anthropology, and…ocean liners! Connect with him on Linkedin or say hi on Twitter.

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