My geekiness revealed

WARNING: this post contains jargon and geekiness. And shamefaced appropriation of a certain other blogs visual style.
I made a realisation the other night that I have progressed from being a mere modeller into an advanced modeller (not a model. entirely different) I mentioned in my 101 things that I make models. It is a hobby, even if practiced only irregularly at the moment, and an extension of my interest in aviation. Plus I can be creative in a manly fashion. You get a kit, consisting of pieces of moulded plastic, which you then assemble, paint, and add marking decals to.
I had this realisation working on my newest project, while converting an A-4 E/F (Skyhawk Jet) cockpit instrument panel into an A-4 K Kahu (the ones the RNZAF retired in 2001) panel, by building my own MFD's and a HUD out of plastic sheet. This is all in 1:72 scale, which means the finished plane will only be about 17cm long. The instrument panel is less than 1cm across in this scale. Once I used to just build straight out of the box, paint and decal......now I research, detail, accurise........I am becoming advanced.....its all about details now. This is one of the subjects I seldom discuss at parties (see item 37 on the 101 list). I am a hopeless nerd.
To illustrate my point: Below is another Skyhawk I recently customised from a basic kit into something somewhat more detailed and accurate. Got the decals on trade-me. Carefully researched the colour scheme. Cut up the wing slats (the camouflage bits in front of the red bits) so they hung from the front of the wing correctly. Built parts myself. Used bits from another kit. Used detail bits from a specialist. The model is about 17-18cm in length.
At top is a Hunter I built for my Dad as a Christmas present. It is 1:32 scale, about 43cm in length, which gives you an idea of how big the base is. The custom made perspex cover for the custom made by Fishy's dad base is even more impressive, and cost at least twice as much as the model itself. This one was my first 'commision' and was kind of special as Dad had a connection with the specific (serial number wise) plane modelled. He was happy and that was cool.
Thus my semi secret hobby is revealed.
Disclaimer: By the way, if anyone is wondering, I am not intending to in any way glorify weapons or warfare by building these things. If weapons are used in anger they have failed in their primary function, which is deterrence. War is bad, really bad m'kay? In the meantime the associated and often historically significant gear makes very interesting subjects for those with a replication bent. I am only making this statement so I am not associated with those gung-ho types who need to get out more often and think warfare is somehow cool. Interesting yes, cool no. Don't mean to be defensive but I just wanted to pre-empt any negativity.