FSM "Kids Page"

Good idea. Also, the Civil Air Patrol has a large number of kids up to age 18, that clearly are interested in aviation. When I was active and doing cadet orientation rides. we had a blast and there was always a purpose to the flights. I did a model contest at one of the KY Wing's conferences and as I recall, we had a fair number of entries and some very outstanding models.

schmidty

I know I am behind a little, but I haven't had a chance to actually buy and read an issue of FSM until recently.  (just got back into modeling a few months ago) So when I saw FSM at a hobby shop I visited, I jumped at the chance to purchase the current issue and 5 back issues that they still had.

On to my point...in the January 2014 issue they had two "Snap-Tite" type kit reviews by reviewer Chuck Davis' children. (VERY well written by the way)  I got the impression (maybe mistakenly) from Aaron Skinner's editorial note at the bottom that this is either a first, or a rare occurrence.

On this forum many of us -rightfully- lament the low numbers of youth that model.  I think these two reviews are a good start to something that could be very good for the hobby.  I think it would be great if FSM would make reviews by kids, and for kids, a feature in every issue.  I envision the last 3 or 4 pages of the mag being devoted to young modelers.  Kit reviews, tips-and-tricks aimed at young modelers, maybe a modeling themed word-find game...stuff like that.

I can see two (or three) generations of modelers taking a break from their workbenches to read the magazine together.  Or some light-hearted competition over who gets to read the new issue first!

And from a purely business standpoint, it could grow the magazine's readership.

What does everyone else think?

Great idea! I'm all for it!

Bish

I think this is a good idea. Even if its not in every issue, maybe every other one if every issue is to much.

As for the price of kits, I think we are mainly talking about the children of adult models who will be the ones buying the mag in the first place. I am sure most model builders could spare a little bit of their own model budget to help encourage the kids, and they will already have the paints and tools needed.

I think if it were to be done, it should be every issue.  Remember when you were a kid...two months seemed like two years!   To keep their attention, I think they should know that every issue will have something for them in it.

I agree that we are probably talking about kids of current modelers.  But hey, you have to start somewhere.  You get a child of a modeler hooked, he/she tells their friends and maybe we have a resurgence in scale modeling.

I understand that it won't happen if the kit companies don't play along.  But there are companies out there right now that are making kits aimed at kids.  And I think the most popular scale modeling magazine out there should reward those companies that do.  The more kits a company makes for kids, the better their odds of their kit being reviewed in the FSM "Kids Korner".

I know there are many more distractions to compete with modeling than there were when us older modelers were kids.  But with a concerted effort I think it's possible to win more youth over to scale modeling.  And I think an investment of valuable copy space by FSM could pay dividends in the future to scale modeling in general, and the magazine in particular.

I think this is a good idea. Even if its not in every issue, maybe every other one if every issue is to much.

As for the price of kits, I think we are mainly talking about the children of adult models who will be the ones buying the mag in the first place. I am sure most model builders could spare a little bit of their own model budget to help encourage the kids, and they will already have the paints and tools needed.

Rob Gronovius

Unfortunately, modeling has been priced out of reach to the average child. When I was young, I could buy a kit for around a dollar, more or less based on kit size. A five dollar kit was a very nice one, about the cost you'd get as a birthday present back in the day.

Today, even reissues of those under a dollar kits run about $10. Paint used to be about 10-15 cents a bottle and are about $3 for the small Testors bottles now. Add a couple bucks for a tube of glue and just a simple out of box project with minimal paint (say black or silver for tires or details) will run over $20.

I disagree that they are priced out of reach for the average child.  Prices have definitely gone up.  But gas didn't cost $3.50 a gallon when we were kids.  And many cars today don't cost much less than what a house did when we were kids. (at least where I live)  My point is that while kit prices are up, so is the buying power of a dollar.

I'll agree that they have gone up in price faster than inflation, but there are still many affordable kits out there.  Many Airfix 1:72 airplanes are under $10.  And the price quoted in FSM for the reviewed Disney Planes kit is $8.

I could go on and on about American spending habits and whether most people could truly afford to buy their child a model every once month or so.  But, that's a discussion for a different thread.  My original point was that I think FSM could, and should, do more to encourage modeling in youngsters.

Unfortunately, modeling has been priced out of reach to the average child. When I was young, I could buy a kit for around a dollar, more or less based on kit size. A five dollar kit was a very nice one, about the cost you'd get as a birthday present back in the day.

Today, even reissues of those under a dollar kits run about $10. Paint used to be about 10-15 cents a bottle and are about $3 for the small Testors bottles now. Add a couple bucks for a tube of glue and just a simple out of box project with minimal paint (say black or silver for tires or details) will run over $20.

I wholeheartedly agree with every point you made. From another business standpoint not directly related to FSM it might, in some way, help more kids get into the hobby. And that would help the hobby continue to grow and thrive.