The way to fix the root cause of all our country's ills....

[Nathan]

Model kits are expensive anymore. Let alone all the paint and supply to go along with it. I do have a about 40 kits in my stash but that is nothing. Most model builders have 100+. I know a guy that has a two car garage and its filled with model kits!

I havent built a model in 2 and half years but soon I plan on restarting up just to finish up some of my unfinished kits.

[Second Air Force]

ahhhh.., that KIT., I remember well!!!!!

Is that the box art for the kit from the early sixties or a later version? I don't think I got the top of the box when my cousin gave me my kit or I lost it soon after.

Scott

[airnutz]

I'd hazard a guess and say later boxart due to the "Warbird" label.

[airnutz]

I'd hazard a guess and say later boxart due to the "Warbird" label.

I stand corrected, according to a collector site this boxart is from 1964. (the series started in 1963 with B-17F, says a Fine Scale Modeller article.)

[the330thbg]

correct.., the B-17 was, of course.., Memphis Belle!

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

ahhhh.., that KIT., I remember well!!!!!

Is that the box art for the kit from the early sixties or a later version? I don't think I got the top of the box when my cousin gave me my kit or I lost it soon after.

Scott

The B-17 was the first 1/72nd Bomber produced by Revell and the Mephis Belle box art is from that original production. The second one was a 1/72nd Lancaster Dam Buster with the B-24 being third. The Ploesti art work was on the original box when the B-24 was released.

.

[the330thbg]

Those boxes were around until probably 1974.., which is when I began to build them. Years later, at the end of junior high.., i painstakenly removed my 37 plus model kits from the ceiling of my bedroom.., carefully wiggled them until the wings pulled apart.., wrapped the pieces in tissue and packed them back in their original boxes which dated from the late 60's to late 70's.., then put them in a large cardboard box and placed them in the attic.., for SAFE keeping!!!

Four years later, when I went away to college.., my mother went through the attic and threw the ENTIRE BOX OUT!!!!!ARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

sorry..,, just had to vent that out!!!!!!!!!!!

[airnutz]

Just when you think you're too old to cry...BAM!

[the330thbg]

ZACTLY

she passed away in 2001.., but I still NEVER FORGAVE HER!!!!!.., of course I am sure there are few things that I did as a youngster that she never forgave either.., so we are EVEN!!!???!!!!

I would kill to have my kids admire my handy work from my childhood!!!!

I have about 40 or so kits in storage up here in NYC that I had purchased at various stores over the last 20 years.., so when my oldest boy.., now 5, gets a little older., I am going to let him take a crack at a 1969 Aurora B-29.., the same kit my brother let me build with him.., it is still sealed in plastic.., but I would rather enjoy it with my son.., then let it collect dust on some shelf!!!!!

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

Those boxes were around until probably 1974.., which is when I began to build them. Years later, at the end of junior high.., i painstakenly removed my 37 plus model kits from the ceiling of my bedroom.., carefully wiggled them until the wings pulled apart.., wrapped the pieces in tissue and packed them back in their original boxes which dated from the late 60's to late 70's.., then put them in a large cardboard box and placed them in the attic.., for SAFE keeping!!!

Four years later, when I went away to college.., my mother went through the attic and threw the ENTIRE BOX OUT!!!!!ARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

sorry..,, just had to vent that out!!!!!!!!!!!

While in college my Mom let one of the neighbors sons pick out a half a dozen UNBUILT KITS I had stored in the attic.

Most were replaceable except for my Aurora DKM ATLANTIS kit. Which now pops up on E bay for 600 to 800 a shot, if not more.

I bet the remains are still in the creek where we used to shoot up kits !

Talk about ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!

[Zachary]

This is a very timely topic! The EAA AirVenture Museum is currently developing an exhibit about aircraft modeling to include free flight, r/c, and static models. Internal surveys have shown that nearly 70% of EAA members are also members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. Modeling has taken a chunk out of many an enthusiast's bank account! (mine included)

While on the subject, the museum is looking for a replica of the "Big Guff" - an r/c plane designed and built by Walt and Bill Good in 1937 and widely considered to be the "grandfather" of r/c modeling. Plans of the Guff have been available since the late '30s. Does anyone happen to have one built, or know of someone who does? If so, please shoot me a PM. Thanks!

Zack

[Tom Crawford]

As far as the cost of kits these days.. in 1949, or so, my dad maybe made about $0.85 to $1.00/Hr. maybe $35-$40/wk. I would get maybe $0.50 (and by the way, thanks for that) to go to the hobby shop and buy something. I believe, in those days Stromberg made a balsa solid model kit for $0.25. If you do the math on this relationship and bring it into current times this works to about $12.00 for the same type kit, if you could find one. If you had collected one of these kits they would probably be worth a heck of a lot more than 12 bucks today. The kits weren't worth a crap but it kept us off the streets. Bottomline, kits today are a lot better and you get a lot more for your dollar. Wish we had more of a selection of good balsa kits these days, maybe a modern Cleveland Model Kit.
Tom

[gregv]

Great idea!

my dad got my brother and I building kits when I was about 4 or 5, so they feature heavily in my childhood. From building models I learnt not only how to follow instructions, but also how to work out solutions to problems (lost parts, screwed up decals etc.), and then of course building models leads to researching them and indirectly learning about history and geography. Not to mention skills such as painting, which leads to weathering/aging, and after a while you start modifying kits to make a version that isn't offered, which requires more research...all in all its a great way to learn many different skills that will serve you well throughout your life.

Love the early Revell boxart; check these out:



I really dig the PB4Y-1, I'd love to see a real one in that colour scheme, or even done up as a Coastal Command Liberator III or whatever they were called.

As far as kit costs go, yes new kits can be very expensive, but at my local hobby shop there are many decent older kits for cheap, especially if you don't have your heart set on a certain subject and are happy enough to shop the bargain rack. I remember seeing a nice Hasegawa 1/72 "Rita" for $15 recently.

Should also mention the Guillows flying models (the ones I could never get to fly); those add a whole other dimension to things:

http://www.guillow.com/

cheers

greg v.

[RyanShort1]

You're not the only one that couldn't get a guillow's kit to fly! I was soooo disappointed when the Musketeer crashed to the earth about 3 feet from my hand after what I thought was a perfect build! I figure I built close to 100, carved out of wood about 30-40 more, and also built several pretty decent models out of paper. There's quite an interesting community that builds from almost exclusively paper: http://www.papermodelers.com
If you're looking for cheaper (and biodegradable, and lots of variety, and easy to replace if destroyed) go with the paper kits! Try http://www.ecardmodels.com for a good and reasonable priced selection. More links available if you want!

Ryan

[spookythecat]

Now, the Trumpeter Bearcat I got is a bit beyond them and maybe will be a stretch for me.

Tom P.

I've got that Trumpeter Bearcat in the closet sandwiched between their Avenger & CJ-6. There's also about 400 other kits (mostly 1/72) in the same closet that will need to be done over my next 7 lifetimes.

As for good kits to get kids interested i'd say the 1/72 series of Hobby Boss kits are great. They're cheap at under $10 and have alot less parts but they build up into nice examples. I'd even say you could skip snap-together and go straight into these.