WOW ! Models in School ?

DON ;

     Did you , at that time , read to many of those stories about the Land -Sailers folks were trying to get to work .Yes , Really !

Back in grade school (that was back in early fifties) we had craft classes in fifth and sixth grades- we could pick any craft so I brought in model kits.

In eigth grade we had wood shop.  Last project depended on previous grades.  The best guys got to build a nice big sailboat (working type).  I didn't quite qualify so my project was a land sailer (wheeled sail-powered thingy).

Yeah !

   A-Mick . This is exactly what I talked about once concerning my Vets learning to model build with their new hand prosthetics .I graduated 95 % of my classes ! God that was Good !

On the models in school theme, for the last 4 years, two other guys and myself from my model club have volunteered at a local High School teaching kids to build plastic model kits. They are in the 8th and 9th grade and every year the school chooses a group of kids that have a less than desirable home life or are having a hard time fitting in, or are always getting into trouble. We supply the kits from club funds, donated kits or even our own pockets sometimes. We usually start them off with 72nd scale aircraft just to get a feel for it and after that they go on to 35th scale tanks, 24th scale cars, the odd 12th scale motorcycle, or whatever we have at the time. We usually have about 10-12 kids each year and we go every Friday for the last 2 hours of the school day. They love it!

At the start of each year they are usually a bit unsure and standoffish but after about a month they warm up to us, and to model building and then you can't stop them. A lot of them seem to like building cars which is good for me because I build cars and bikes. They look forward to it every week and the smiles on their faces make it all worthwhile. They are always asking if we can come more often and if yhey can take them home to work on. We supply all the paint, glue, and tools to make them. We even have a little compressor and airbrush they can use that the school reimbursed us for. You can see the change in their attitudes and demeanor as the year goes on and they beg to be able to come back next year.

It feels really good to be involved in a positive thing for these kids, some of which have really sad stories behind them, and it feels good to be able to pay forward to them and bring a new hobby and some brightness into their lives.

About the only time I could do both was with a MIG welder and a pile of steel.  Fabbed up the winch bumpers on both Jeeps, and the sliders/nerf bars/steps and roof rack on my one jeep I use as a daily driver.  Sadly those days are gone with the pacemaker/defib unit planted in me now.

tankerbuilder

Just goes to show you doesn't it . My best finish carpenter could look at plans and wood . Make them come together just right and he never learned American . I do speak a little of four languages and then had to learn enough enough Russian to talk to him . Helluva finish carpenter though !

i always say 2 things about house fix ups. (that's FIX not.... though my results might lean toward the later)

1. i don't do well with anything bigger than 1/16 scale. 

2. i can draw it; you can build it.

Just goes to show you doesn't it . My best finish carpenter could look at plans and wood . Make them come together just right and he never learned American . I do speak a little of four languages and then had to learn enough enough Russian to talk to him . Helluva finish carpenter though !

Axeman

whats really odd is I had no use for shop class,spent most of my time in trouble,didnt finish any graded projects.........then went on to be a finish carpenter for the majority of my life!!!

go figure.....

i never did well in shop class but was building plastic models as a hobby. OTOH i did great in all my drafting and drawing classes and, after college and 16 years in and around the US army, became a technical illustrator in 1991. sorta retired from it now but would take a P/T gig in a heart beat.

I love taking shop in school. Woodworking (in Jr high) and Metal shop (in high school). Made quite few things and given to relatives for Christmas.I remember I made a maple leaf shelf unit for my mom and made another with a little help from my grandfather for my grandmother. metal shop, I made a dustpan for my mom and a small toolbox for myself.. Oh yeah, the playboy bunny aluminum cast for myself as well. Fun times they were.

And about all I can make with wood now is sawdust in great quantities

whats really odd is I had no use for shop class,spent most of my time in trouble,didnt finish any graded projects.........then went on to be a finish carpenter for the majority of my life!!!

go figure.....

Our Jr-Sr high wood shop was just the regular run of the mill stuff and we got to build one project of our own.  Mine was a walnut and ash chess board in a tabletop box with drawers for the onyx carved set Mom bought me one year.    

Man do I ever remember the "board of education" hanging on the wall by the office door.  About 3 feet of oak 1x4 with 3/4 inch holes alternately spaced and a handgrip on one end.  Only time I got it was the first time I didn't use a push stick on the table saw.  To this day, there are about 4 of those things within reach of the saw.........