Despite being 20 years old and packed away in a shoebox, my AT-AT remains almost intact and is an excellent example of the changes brought about because of exposure to more experienced modellers in my local club.

After the disastrous lack of merchandising when STAR WARS was released in 1977, when the sequels, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI were released, Lucas Films ensured they had everything possible to suck money out the pockets of movie fans. For modellers, this included a series of box-scale space ships.

Because they were intended for youngsters, these models were quite basic, usually with simplified features, movable parts and snap-together construction. The AT-AT (All Terrain Armoured Transport) was one of kits that required glue, although the legs and feet moved, and so could the head - if you installed it using an elastic ligature.

Parts were moulded in light grey plastic, and (to my recollection) there were no decals.

Construction was entirely out of the box.

Just before I built this model, I bought a reference book on STAR WARS that included photographs of the studio models. I matched the Imperial grey to Ghost Grey, which I then applied from the Model Masters' enamel paint line.

Weathering on my AT-AT was done with a combination of ink pen for the oil streaks, and black and brown chalk pastels.

This model is what joining the local model club is all about, and this is one of my first "serious" models. Before this time I was content to slap a model kit together in a couple hours and brush paint it, or spray paint it with whatever colours I could find. After being exposed to more experienced modellers and seeing the quality of their work, construction slowed down so I could address this like fit, mould lines and seam lines. Paint was now airbrushed and I wasn't scared to try experimenting with weathering with whatever mediums I thought would work best.

When I dig my AT-AT out of storage to take its picture for this website, it was 20 years old! In all that time, spent packed in a shoebox and cushioned by old socks, only one foot and its actuator rod popped off. I think one of the lower legs popped, because there's a seam line there now, and one of the laser cannons and shields have gone missing. All things considered, that's pretty awesome.