Greetings from the United States!

“Oh God… a Yank!” Yeah, well I’m part Canadian too, so there’s hope! 

My name is Emery (friends call me Em), and I go by the handle “Whiterook”, which is an homage to the 1960's, WWII television show, "COMBAT!" The significance may be a bit mysterious for a model builder, but you see, I am a Wargamer, but more on that in a bit. I am born, raised, and still reside in Massachusetts, living in the Western part of the State, though I grew up around Boston.

I began model building as a young kid in the 70s and built mostly modern (for that time) military aircraft and ships, and the occasional automobile. I honestly, just slapped those puppies together and threw on decals, hardly ever painting them; they were probably more “toys” to me than a hobby subject. I stopped building around the time I went to college in 1979 and didn’t restart again until somewhere about 2004 when I joined a military history form that also had a modeling section… I was amazed at how far kit manufacturing had come, as well as seeing modelers approach building so seriously, and to me, as art. Not only did I jump into the deep end of the pool with joining a Group Build on that forum (a WWII German Panther Type G, 1/35 scale, by Tamiya), but I started hand painting my work, and later took up an airbrush. I believe I met Gary at that forum! Upon my reentry into the hobby, I built mostly military armor in 1/35 scale, but branched out into aircraft, naval vessels, and sci-fi. I stopped building again for a few years, as I was totally overloaded with my working situation, but jumped back in a few years ago and have stuck with it right into retirement from the Federal Government in 2022. I’ve won honorable mentions, and bronze and silver medals at IPMS shows, and am still looking to win that elusive gold medal!

I began serious wargaming in the 1980's, when introduced to my first game, "Panzer Leader", an Avalon Hill wargame of WWII. It opened a whole new world to me, in terms of hex and counter games, and reliving history through played scenarios. It began a long history of game collecting and playing that is still going strong today! I later branched out into miniatures gaming, as well. My first big system was Axis & Allies Miniatures, both land and sea versions. I fell in love with 15mm miniatures with that system! I began collecting other miniature brands, as well as other sizes (28mm was my next interest). I mention this because model and miniature building have similar parity with painting and diorama building, to name a couple.

What impressed me about the old KM was, it being a place that embraced camaraderie, and feeling you were with your pubmates... just all nice and relaxed. I’m glad to see the forum rise from the ashes and provide us a great community to learn, grow, and meet cool people! I look forward to meeting and learning from you all!

Hey Em
Good to see you back here, even though we've been friends far longer than KM.
Em is one of the good guys so no Yank bashing please as he's a mate, who am I kidding he's more Canadian than American
Welcome back mate, let the good times roll again.
Gaz

Oh and Em is a prolific spammer of threads (but in a good way) I'm sure he thinks he's getting paid on a per-post basis, YOU AREN'T!!.

Hi Em, great to meet you here, you sure live in a beautiful part of the world we've visited Boston 3 times over the past 10 years with our 3 kids and we all love it there and escaping to hidious Aussie summer for the cold is an added bonus. Stayed right near Fenway the first time, on River St one block up from the Common second time and over right near the Bunker Hill monument the last time. We drove from Boston up through White Mountain National Park to Quebec City the last time then worked our way along to Niagara Falls and had such a great experience, we want to drive up the west coast from San Fran to Vancouver as our next big trip.

Hi Em! Nice to meet you. No problem with Americans here, I'm married to one lol (I picked her up in California and brought her back with me haha). 
Sounds like an amazing model building career you've had! I look forward to seeing what you're building. 

Thanks Gary! Yeah, I am probably more Canadian in more wears these days… getting a little nutty down here, haha. I was the only member of my family born here in the US, so it was pretty hard not to absorb a ton of Canadian culture growing up. We used to go up to New Brunswick every summer on m,y dad’s vacation time, and lots of times it was during 4th of July… really?!? I’m happy to say my prolific spamming on threads ended back in the Armchair General days   …that was my first ever forum, and where I was reintroduced to modeling, and if I’m honest, I had no idea I was spamming, hahaha; for those wondering, that was in the form just a few words posts, but I was kindly informed of the errors of my ways.


Thanks Doug! My wife and I thought about moving somewhere a bit warmer (Winters can be brutal here), but we just love Massachusetts so much. We live in Western Massachusetts these days…moved out her for work and after we’d both retired, we found we love this part of the State, as there is a lot less people and congestion out this way…I seem to recall an article that said about 6 million people live in and around the Boston area (eastern and central Massachusetts) and only about half a million out in the western part of the State. It’s a gorgeous State overall, though, and some of the best Summer weather to be had. Those are some spots to live in Boston, and great trips you took…Canada is only about 10-12 hours drive so, it makes for some great adventures.


Thanks Alister! California girls are amazing! Not nearly as uptight as east coast girls so, David Lee Roth (of Van Halen fame) had that totally right in the song! Yeah, though it feels I’ve been modeling a long time, I still consider myself intermediate in skill… kinda, an “I know enough to be dangerous” situation