David Hannant 1930-2018
David Hanant, Scale Modeling's greatest friend, passed yesterday, August 31, after a short illness.
David was my good friend for the past 20 years, since we met at the IPMS-USA Convention in San Jose in 1998. He was a strong supporter of my work as a reviewer, and indeed I could not have done the work I've done without that support. It was always a pleasure to meet up with him at Chino during one of his visits to the US, just to hang around the museum or to see the airshow.
David genuinely loved modeling in all its varieties. He wasn't kidding about the motto at Hannant's: "If We Don't Have It, They Don't Make It."
The explosion of kit manufacturing in eastern Europe might not have happened as it has without his support. He was the first to stock MPM and Eduard kits, and was happy to order kits from any start-up manufacturer, with the Hannant's order often providing the funding to get the new company on its feet.
I'd known for a year that he wasn't doing so well, and have worried since July, when I didn't get a response to an e-mail (he was a very reliable correspondent).
I think David was the nicest guy I was ever privileged to know in this hobby. I'm really going to miss his enthusiasm.
Thanks for passing this sad news along to the modeling community here.
Just received another order from Hannants yesterday. They are legendary for service. Sad news, Tom.
Thoughts and condolences to his family and friends
Very sad to hear about his passing!
Sorry to hear that, Tom. Mr. Hannant was a great guy and would always respond to forum or email queries quickly. He ran a great business and I just received an order from them yesterday.
Sad news. Not that I have ever met him but someone with such influence in the hobby is and will be always missed.
Still recall the first time I went to London and visited the old Colindale shop, I felt like a kid in a candy shop. That was the best hobby shop I’ve ever entered, and I’ve seen a few worldwide. Still buy online, but it’s nothing to be compared.
A good friend on another forum told me he walked into that shop, spent "five hours in heaven" and walked out "300 GBP lighter - the best day of my life."
Sad news... rest in peace.
Sad news.
Tom...Thanks for your thoughtful words for your good & special friend. May he rest in peace.
May he rest in peace.
Very bad news. Rest in peace. Condolences to the family.
Sad to hear,I was at the shop only yesterday.
It was always hard to say which the bigger thrill was - the visit to the RAF Museum or the 'Hannants' session afterwards! Sad news - a giant of the hobby!
My sincere condolences to the family.
Thanks for this short obit, Tom.