My first airport attempt was the length of my bedroom windowsill, but within months I'd convinced my father to finance a grander effort measuring 6ftx3ft. Before long subsequent versions had taken over the entire end of my parent's garage. Each airport introduced new features (like airbridges) and gave me new ideas. By the time my collecting had ended there had been close to 30 different airports (or versions of airports), most of which were never finished. The majority of the designs were US airports, always with Delta Airlines as the hub carrier, taking advantage of the good range of US carriers that Schabak made. Below are some photos that survived of some of the many airports I built.
Airport 4: Large Garage
This was the first really successful (and finished) airport I made and was unique for a long time in that it actually had runways (out of shot). In future models I found they took up too much room and gate space was more important. Somehow I managed to acquire the entire end of our garage to make this
model.
The base was 1/4 inch chipboard and the terminal elements were offcuts of wood. Note that the airbridges were both left and right which was something I realised was wrong and didn't repeat.
The airport itself had four long piers but no central terminal block. It was supposed to represent a European hub as the short-range European carrier's aircraft shows.
This was the first really successful (and finished) airport I made and was unique for a long time in that it actually had runways (out of shot). In future models I found they took up too much room and gate space was more important. Somehow I managed to acquire the entire end of our garage to make this
model.
The base was 1/4 inch chipboard and the terminal elements were offcuts of wood. Note that the airbridges were both left and right which was something I realised was wrong and didn't repeat.
The airport itself had four long piers but no central terminal block. It was supposed to represent a European hub as the short-range European carrier's aircraft shows. 
Airport 7: Small Desktop
A small model for my bedroom desktop. I didn't put a lot of effort in to this one as the lack of finishing touches shows. It was built on the remains of one of my first model attempts.
A small model for my bedroom desktop. I didn't put a lot of effort in to this one as the lack of finishing touches shows. It was built on the remains of one of my first model attempts.
Airport 10: Shed
This airport had many versions all built within our small garden shed. There was no room for runways - the design being based around three satellite terminals built out of cream cheese packets and balsa wood!
This airport had many versions all built within our small garden shed. There was no room for runways - the design being based around three satellite terminals built out of cream cheese packets and balsa wood!
Airport 25: Large Garage
The last large airport built before I stopped collecting saw a return to the garage. This airport was a large Delta Airlines hub with a huge T shape terminal. The series of midfield terminals (at right angles to the T) were never completed. Note the detail on the airbridges.
The last large airport built before I stopped collecting saw a return to the garage. This airport was a large Delta Airlines hub with a huge T shape terminal. The series of midfield terminals (at right angles to the T) were never completed. Note the detail on the airbridges.