“Final Details” wants to know: What was your first (unassisted) kit?

Mine was a Mustang (cannot remember any more details). I was about 10 at the time as I remember I brought in Sydney (Australia) when visiting my father in hospital. Cannot remember how it turned out but probably not good as I did not keep it. Kept building and keep models until about 17 then restarted for a short time when about 35. As I moved a lot during my working life they did not handle the moving so do not have any of the models (only a few photos).  Restarted now at 53. Only have the 4 models I have just done plus the one I am on now (not a car).

Mine was either a 1/48 F-105 or a 1/48 P-47. I was about 7-8. I built them at about the same time. I can remember Dad telling me how to mask and spray a three paint camo scheme. Then he turned me loose with glue, a few tools, a brush, a few jars of paint, and three rattle cans of spray paint. Those kits got me hooked.

My first unassisted model was Boeing 707, don't remember who made it, it was probably some 30 years ago. Funny thing is, I still remember that it had 19 parts. 3 for each engine, left and right fuselage, upper and lower wing parts and the tail. Yellow glue was oozing from all joints but I was sooooo proud. I did it all by myself!!! Yes!!!!

My first "solo" kit was an Aurora "Famous Fighters" F-107A when I was 5 years old (way back in 1969). My dad had a large box of Aurora kits and he would give one each to my brothers and I on rainy days. I can remember building the F-107, F-104, F9F-8, and several civil aircraft. The dogfights we had after they were done were epic! Most turned out as "glue bombs" but we made lots of good memories.

My daughter has been building planes with me since she was about 5. She's 10 now & just starting to transition from snaps to glue. Time together is time well spent (our dogfights are pretty epic as well!)

I think mine might have been the Monogram F-8 Crusader, but its been so long ago I cant be positive. O do remember the only paint on it was the tires and they were nice shiney gloss black and the decals were right over the unpainted plastic

My first "unassisted" kit was probably the Revell Monogram 1:72 SR-71 Blackbird with D-21 drone, circa '97 or so.  I was probably about 10.  I didn't paint it because I was a little "gun shy" of the airbrush my dad bought me for my birthday that year, I went through a phase where I didn't paint anything unless I absolutely had to, and the blackbird was already black.  I still have it, but the outboard wings are a bit warped from sitting on a shelf for 17 years.

To be honest, while I do paint them now, I still don't like to use the airbrush if I can help it.

My first unassisted kit was also my first kit, Lindberg's 1958 "U.S. Space Station," built (I'm guessing) in 1961 when I was seven years old. I vividly remember the white plastic and transparent red parts. Fifty years later, in 2011, I built the kit again (reissued by Lindberg as the "Space Base and Satellite Explorer") and it appears in the "Space" section of the FSM Forum.

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seems a long time ago.

my first kit and my first unassisted kit were the same.  a tiger 1 snap together.  my uncle bought it for me, took it home, assembled it in about 3 hours, destroyed it in about ten minutes.  my first glue together i believe was an auto kit, i believe a late 60's mustang from either amt or monogram.  still have the pieces for that one although the scale is off by a bunch due to the hundreds of coats of paint i added over a few years to give it a new look.  i have pictures of my dad and his auto models but for me it was always a loner activity.  get the kit, lock myself away in my room, use the testors glue in the orange tube, and only come out when it was done.  

long time, and many models ago.  

joe

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