Hello,
I am from Czech republic. I am no specialist, I do whatever I like (cars, airplanes, ships....). As a kid I learned how to do various models (paper, plastic, wooden) and I was activelly modelling from my cca 6 to 15 years of age. Recently after cca 26 years of pause I received some model as a gift, so I bought equipment and was really surprised how everything evolved. Tools are now heaven and earth in compare what we had 30 years ago (or I had access to during communistic era in my country 🤮), there are aftermarket accessories, etc. And once you have again all tools needed at home, you cant stop, cant you 😀
Especially access to information is total game changer, it is no problem to google tips and tricks and find various wonderful forums like this one full of great advices and inspiration. Thanks to it my skills started to improve in way which was impossible during my childhood. But compare to what I see here, I would still consider myself beginner though. Currently I am working on Airfix HMS Victory and since I decided to go beyond the kit, I am doing now necessary research