2025

Continuing the series of retrospectives, let’s take a look at year 2025. Similar to 2022, 2023 and 2024, in a global, geopolitical sense the year was very bad from my perspective, which of course affected my mental well-being. On top of that, I had a severe, debilitating burnout at work. Naturally it affected my modelling, and not in a good way.

Picked up this paper model from WAK at the IPMS Ireland Nationals 2025. I wanted to build a Galway Hooker for many years now, but there was no wooden kit available. I didn’t consider paper models at all, having no experience with them. Thankfully there was a completed Galway Hooker model on display in the show, so I got to see it. I was so impressed with it, that my wife instantly bought the kit for me.

Since I started building wooden kits, I looked at the Plank-on-Frame models with great awe. Exposing the internal structure of the ship with all the beautiful complexity is extremely appealing to me as an engineer. This year my wife convinced me to take the plunge and try to build one myself. After building 10+ wooden models I felt confident enough to attempt building some small and well-made POF kit.