Fountain of Youth ?

Now that I think about it, not many things we did as kids can follow through to our latter years and still be challenging and fun. To me, modeling is problem solving, entertainment along with final satisfaction. All of this is good for the old brain and defines you as still quite productive. Still fun after all those years!

Max 

Yes indeed, T.B. and Max are on point. I was about 7 or 8 when I built my first model, can't recall just what it was, but it had swept wings, large tip tanks, looked like a Lockheed design. The time period was about 68 years ago, I'm closing the gap on age 76. Tube glue was probably all over the model, me and anything nearby, but it was something sensational for me to build and enjoy. No paint or decals, my imagination didn't need them.

Then came flying models, at first they were die cut sheet balsa, colors printed on. A few years later came the old school stick and tissue models, the real fun. By about 10 or 12 came the realization, that the complication of building accuracy and following the detailed instructions, was a really enjoyable process for me. I believe that followed through for me later in life, knowing that carefully reading and studying the plans, instructions and kit materials, led to a better finished product. Same in life and work, attention to details, patience and discipline, do actually have a positive return.

These many years later I'm still at it, scale balsa free flight and plastic aircraft, I enjoy it as much today as I did back then. A great hobby, I don't keep them, I give them away to neighbor kids. It has gotten many of them to take up the hobby, I hope they will also pass the skills along to others.

Patrick

I too was 7 or 8 the first time I built my own kit. I'd been helping my dad build his kits since I can remember, but my dad decided I was ready. May have been a snap together kit, but I vividly remember gluing sone parts of it, so idk. It was an Apache helicopter though. My dad actually built one at the same time (though it was much more challenging than my build). I remember sitting across the table from him thinking how cool it was that we were working on the "same model". Great times. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I'll have to give him a call and see if he remembers that build. 

patrick206

Yes indeed, T.B. and Max are on point. I was about 7 or 8 when I built my first model, can't recall just what it was, but it had swept wings, large tip tanks, looked like a Lockheed design. The time period was about 68 years ago, I'm closing the gap on age 76. Tube glue was probably all over the model, me and anything nearby, but it was something sensational for me to build and enjoy. No paint or decals, my imagination didn't need them.

Then came flying models, at first they were die cut sheet balsa, colors printed on. A few years later came the old school stick and tissue models, the real fun. By about 10 or 12 came the realization, that the complication of building accuracy and following the detailed instructions, was a really enjoyable process for me. I believe that followed through for me later in life, knowing that carefully reading and studying the plans, instructions and kit materials, led to a better finished product. Same in life and work, attention to details, patience and discipline, do actually have a positive return.

These many years later I'm still at it, scale balsa free flight and plastic aircraft, I enjoy it as much today as I did back then. A great hobby, I don't keep them, I give them away to neighbor kids. It has gotten many of them to take up the hobby, I hope they will also pass the skills along to others.

Patrick

 

I followed a similar path, but somewhat in reverse.  I started with the flying models (stick and tissue).  First completion at age 7 or 8 was a Guillows Aeronca.  Then, within a year or so, I discovered solid (non-flying scale) airplanes and ship models.  Later, when plastic came along I added those to my activities.  Continued flying models until I moved to Minnesota.  Climate and weather here is not real conducive to flying models, so static scale became my main modeling activity, with a few rubber flying models now and then, for the rare calm days in short summer.