Is model building a dying art?

Besides what Duke said, there is another way to work around the feeling that "judges are too picky"

Take your models to a different contest, one where the judging works in the opposite direction.

In Gold-Silver-Bronze judging, you don't get dinged for each error, knocking you out of the top 3. You get positive points for each aspect of building the model, and if you accumulate enough points, you get the award for the points you earned.

If a person can't build a Bronze level model, then it is clearly not some "picky judge's fault",,,,,,,,it is the model itself.  You also don't lose out because you have a really good model, but there are Three better ones there that day,,,,,,,,all Four could get Gold.

Rex (builder of Lead and Copper level models)

Rex, I like the GSB judging; if done right, it helps to improve your skills, while acknowledging the work you've done.

   I am 18 and I have been modeling since I was 5 . My first kit was the tamiya m4a3 105 .  I think that yes the hobby is very unpopular mainly because it takes a lot of time to turn out a good piece of work and because of the instant speed of modern tech it makes the majority impatient with modeling. For example it usually takes me about a month or two to complete something of 1/35 scale not counting my shelf of doom (my revell huey gunship has been there for about a year).   At the same time the population of our planet has doubled or almost trippled since many of you were born and even if one or two people get into modeling out of every thousand the hobby still grows as a result. 

Remember try to get as many of the younger crowd interested as possible / I don't want to be the only one building models 50 years from now. 

I took a very long break from modelling after I turned 18 but am getting back into it now because I loved it so much.

I was limited by funds as a kid, limited by space as a young adult, limited by time as a adult, etc. etc. But now as most of my friends are married with kids and don't have a lot of hang out time, I need things of my own to do in my spare time. So I'm back at it with new skills to put into the hobby, and the ability to get all the tools I need to do a job right.

I also enjoy 3D model building on the computer but it's not as satisfying as building something someone can look at on a shelf and admire.

I'm 66 and started building at 5 or so. Initially stick and tissue, Guillows and Comet, then the Revell 1/72 fighters and Airfix through High School, College, and a number of years after. Stopped awhile ago when I got into re-enacting and antique cars. Retired now, I'm looking forward to doing some modeling again, I have a pretty good stash to work from.

My son did some modeling with me when he was little, but never really got into it although he still has an active interest in aviation. My daughter's heavily into re-enacting, swing dance, and can drive the Model T, A, and Jeep which impresses the heck out the guys.

My memory from my youth in Denver was a more vibrant hobby, lots of good shops around, but it wasn't really "cool". A couple days ago I was in Hobby Lobby looking at their very meager selection of kits when a young mother walked by and remarked how she couldn't believe kits were still around at all. When I asked why she thought that way, her response was that they were so frustrating to put together, took forever, and never looked like the box top anyway, so why spend the money? My next question was going to be how she knew that, but she was already walking away.

The old car hobby is also suffering from being an "old persons" thing. Basically that young people don't have the time, inclination, or money to participate. However, every time I start to feel concerned about it, I'll meet someone quite a bit younger than me who has genuine interest.

I don't think it's any more dead than it was when this thread was started almost 6 years ago. 

I'm 15. I'm currently building my first model kit, the RMS Titanic. I never really hear about anybody else building model kits. People on YouTube, yeah, but nobody in person. 

Interesting old thread.

I don't believe the hobby is dying out any more than it ever was in the past.  Probably since about the mid-80s, I'd guess it has been more difficult to get the younger ones into this hobby for a number of reasons - $$, availability, and most importantly, far many more "interesting" things to do.

I remember going to Jean's Model Shop that was located in Houston's Sharpstown Mall (curiously was mentioned in the movie Apollo 13, the neighborhood not the model shop, as that was where the big Houston investors were attempting to lure the early astronauts to live even though it wasn't really that close to Clear Lake).  It was always a treat to be allowed to go in there.  My parents even bought something for me on occasion.  When I was in middle school, there was a model shop in the old 40s-era downtown, which was easy to get to after school.  A buddy and I would go in there nearly every day and just sit there and look at and talk about all the models.  I don't recall ever actually buying anything - I mean, I was 13 and didn't have any money or had already spent what I did have on movie film or records.

I am 55 currently, have been building since I was 3 (Monogram's P-40B Flying Tiger that my parents got for me at a K-Mart and Dad undoubtedly helped me to build), but I did take time off in the early 80s through the mid-90s due to being more interested in things like my 8mm movie camera, baseball (was a high school player), girls, and then college.  But curiously, I can't say that I was 100% model-free during those years.  I remember building a pick-up truck, Monogram's original release of the 1/72 B-1B bomber, a few of the snap-together Star Wars models that came out after the release of Return of the Jedi, and then in college, after Top Gun, I built Revell's big 1/32 F-14.  Right toward the end of my time at A&M, I took a speech class where I needed some props to talk about how Hollywood did visual effects, so I put together a Monogram A-18 and a Revell A-6 Intruder.  In those years, model building was just something to do when I wasn't on a baseball diamond or didn't have a date (which was regrettable frequent).

I came back to the hobby in 1995 when I happened to be in a K-Mart (different location that where I got that P-40B), and happened across a big selection of models.  I probably would not have gotten back into the hobby on the back of the Monogram P-40 or Spitfire that I found that day, but the Monogram He111 and Revell 1/32 Beaufighter sold me.  I've been building consistently ever since.

I did try to get both of my kids into the hobby.  My son built a P-51D and my daughter did a snap together Hobby Boss Typhoon, but that was as far as they went.  I actually had more success with the oldest son of my neighbor, who was frequently found hanging out with me in my workshop, and I helped him build his F-14 and F-106 kits that his mom grabbed from the nearby Hobby Lobby.

Hussein

I'm 15. I'm currently building my first model kit, the RMS Titanic. I never really hear about anybody else building model kits. People on YouTube, yeah, but nobody in person. 

 

Well joining forums like this helps to get you know people,maybe some in your area,try to attend some shows nearby.

Yes it probably is difficult,kids your age don't seem to be into them.There are lots of young people into the Sci-Fi stuff,Gundam,World of Tanks,cars across the forums and at shows.

   I don't think the hobby is dying either. The demographic has however. When we were kids sleep overs, show and tell, yes, the local hobby shop, were our exposure. We could walk around the display, see what the product looked like. We would watch a friends big brother snip parts and say hey that is cool. Some of us coukd actually speak to people who had first hand knowledge and experience with the items we wanted to buikd.

     Today it is all internet...almost.....pretty hard to get a reaction from simply a 2dim screen, sure the box art looks cool but the buyer may not have a clue what to do once they see the pile of plastic in front of them. Yes there are plenty of You Tube and other tutorial videos however most I have watched are far above my skill. I have tinkered since childhood myself. In this world of immediate gratification time spent gluing and painting is simply not interesting to a younger crowd.

     On a darker note how comfortable would you feel letting your 10yr old child hang out with a bunch of middle aged men? I hate to put that out there but it is true to a point. I'm not a parent but I would for sure have that concern, heck one former member here had a negative interaction with the law. 

    Opposite side of that statement is THERE ARE MANY GOOD PARENTS out there who happily come to club meetings with kids, most were builders once and now have an excuse to get back to the hobby.

   No I think this hobby will contiue...it might change abit but until my wallet is empty, stash is gone, and my ashes are blowing in the wind we need not worry.

If somebody had asked me last week I would have said it is a bunch of old guys and the hobby will go with them.

My mind was completely changed on Sunday and I have actually been thinking on this subject since then!

Of the 2,000 to 2,500 people in attendance at the large show I just attended the old, grey haired, bespectacled, builder I think of when I think of the hobby were a minority. The average age was late 30s to early 40s and there were easily more teens to early 20s than us oldsters. There were also a very surprising number of young girls and women clutching their newly bought hoard of kits. 

Having been on a couple of model forums since about Christmas I am also floored by the number of new and reissued kits the manufacturers are pumping out now. There are probably very few kits from the sixties or early seventies that have not been rereleased. Companies such as Round 2 release 4 or 5 kits every month, Airfix has dozens of all new molds in the last year and even Revell has upped their game with new stuff. We have seen new companies such a Kintech, HK Models and half a dozen others I can't think of pop up in the last 10 years. There is no way on earth all these things are being supported by a hard core old-timers club. We also need to stop thinking that North America is the hub of all things. This hobby is Asia and Europe (especially Eastern Europe) is HUGE.

As much as we may like to consider that the internet may be sucking the life out of such hobbies the reality is probably the total opposite. YouTube, forums such as this (this thread was revived by a 15 year old after all) and the many, many, many sales sites all help in promoting the hobby and making things you would never see or hear of when you bought your kit at the Five and Dime easily available.

We remember the old kits of our youth and think of that time as the golden age of modeling but I feel that now is the more appropriate holder of that title!

   My local club has a new member, and he is probably 12. It is so much fun to see the excitment when one of us" old timers" donate a kit or books, one gentleman even donated a brand new Grex airbrush for the young man to work with. I will be attending a contest in Seattle end of next month, hopefully with thus thread in mind I will take notice of participants as well as observers. More than likely my faith in the hobby will be restored.

armornut

   My local club has a new member, and he is probably 12. It is so much fun to see the excitment when one of us" old timers" donate a kit or books, one gentleman even donated a brand new Grex airbrush for the young man to work with. I will be attending a contest in Seattle end of next month, hopefully with thus thread in mind I will take notice of participants as well as observers. More than likely my faith in the hobby will be restored.

 

I was surprised enough with the crowd that I mentioned it to my son. At first I was all like "OH look at all the young people that came to support grandpa" and then was "OH wait they are buying a pile of stuff" then the awards came and all these really young guys came up to get their medals and that clinched it. Mind you there were also probably 100 times as many people there than I expected so right from the start I was confused.

I was 5 yrs old and and am now 63 with a small break in the Navy.

I answered this post back in 2014,and 9 years later I'll still say no,it's alive and better then ever.

Somebody said the internet is actually helping the hobby,I agree,now I can share information and tips with modelers from around the world.Now I have acess to kits and aftermarket from all over the world including little cottage industries.3-D printing,the hobby is evolving and expanding.

Tojo72

I answered this post back in 2014,and 9 years later I'll still say no,it's alive and better then ever.

Somebody said the internet is actually helping the hobby,I agree,now I can share information and tips with modelers from around the world.Now I have acess to kits and aftermarket from all over the world including little cottage industries.3-D printing,the hobby is evolving and expanding.

 

The whole 3D printing thing is going to revolutionize the industry. I had no idea they could do what they do until I recently joined a model car forum. Whole bodies flawlessly printed, carburetors with full linkages and even little rebuild tags, specialty wheels and tires you could only find in resin if at all. I can see the resin aftermarket being completely replaced and even full kits coming out in a file you just print yourself.

My grandson was never into modeling but now has a 3D printer and is starting to head down that road.

Been building models for 67 years.

First one was in Wichita Kansas age 5.

Had my own rifle since I was 9 (.22 still have it).

Never quit, never will.

Weight lifting 34 years.

Never quit, never will.

I'm now 72.

I'm 84, been building since 1945.  I believe modeling is in a golden age.the number of kits and the amount of aftermarket is awesome.  Attending National and Regional meets- in fact, almost any contest, the beautiful models I see convince me that model building is not a dying art.  Some of the Junior catagory wins are great! And the Adult winners are fantastic.

I'm 82 and have been building since 1946 (6 years old). Lets see 2023 - 1946 = ummmmmm take away 1 from the 2 makes the 3 13-6=7. Wow, I remember how to do it.  77 years.

For those who see the error of 1 there, I won't be 83 till later this year, if the man upstairs doesn't call me before then.

Stay Safe.

Jim 

Oho!

 Still going since 2014! Still building too. Has Parkinsons shut me down, No Way Jose' Saw something interesting on -line though. A model show in the U.K. Although mostly boats and ships(well it is an island country now ain't it?). There were many entries by Yongsters.Well I don't mean 60 year olds either. Try 10 an up to the mid 20s. So it ain't dying, it's just taken a different direction.

I also believed the hobby is dying.  When I was a kid in the 1970's you could find model kits at Thrifty drug stores, K-mart, Zodys, Toys R Us, grocery stores, even corner liquor stores.  Now they are only available at hobby stores, limited selection at craft stores like Michaels, and online.  However, it's great to hear that younger people are attending model shows and contests in large numbers.  Maybe the hobby will survive us old timers after all.

I started modeling as a young kid in the 1970's.  My enthusiasm was way higher than my skill level.  But modeling was a big part of my youth.  One Christmas I got 10 models under the tree.  Another year I received a one year subscription to the Revell model of the month club, where I got a different model in the mail every month.  Sadly, most of those models met glorious fates serving their nation, getting blown up by firecrackers, shot by bb guns, or burned by lighter fluid.

After a long hiatus I am trying to get back into the hobby.  After a long history of Revell, Monogram, AMT, etc. I am building my very first Tamiya model, a Me262.  So far I am very impressed by the fit and quality of the parts.  I still have my Paasche single action airbrush from the 1980's.  When I last used it 35 years ago I could do basic camouflage (USAF SE Asia and Euro1), USN gull gray over white, and F-15/F-16 two tone gray.  Now I am hoping to use it for the RLM 76/82/83 Luftwaffe mottled scheme flown by Hans Guido Mutke.  As well as some light pre-shading and post shading of panel lines.  I bought some styrene sheets from Walmart to practice with.  There is so much info on the internet.  I will experiment with acrylic and watercolor washes, charcoal and chalk for oil stains, Parafilm for canopy masking, etc.

I am hopeful the wide availability of online information and videos, kits and supplies from amazon, ebay, etc. and other social networking will help the hobby endure.

It's not dying, but one of the biggest issues with the growth of the hobby is the matter of exposure and how this has changed over time. Back when you had more brick-and-mortar shops and other retailers offering kits you had everything out in the open for all to see, which is just not the case these days in most areas. Years ago you couldn't help but see kits in shop windows or the aisles of pharmacies, hardware stores, etc (not to mention at the contests that were often held at state or county fairs).

With the internet, you have to actively search out things for the most part. So unless there is some sort of initial exposure (a friend or relative who builds, a documentary, models showing up in a show/TikTok video/etc.) people won't likely just stumble on to the hobby online. And because there is so much specialization online with many sites focusing on one type of hobby, you don't have the "cross-pollination" effect that brick-and-mortar stores would provide where someone into RC cars would pass by the model aisle and possibly get hooked. 

In my opinion, it's important for us to be ambassadors more than ever. Going to a convention? Invite a friend who doesn't build. Finished with a kit? Don't just post it to your Facebook model group - get it on your personal page as well where more people will see it. Have a niece or nephew with a birthday coming up? Get them a kit and offer to help out. Not to sound too corny, but we have the power to shape the future of the hobby!

I am 40 today (so quite a while since the original post on this thread) and have been building models since I was 7.  My first kit was a Yak 1M from a Polish company Plastyk - a truly horrible kit that by today's standards looks more like random plastic that only occasionally touched the walls of a mould, but at the time was the best I could get my hands on. Those ancient kits are still sold under various labels, I think most recent was Mistercraft - avoid at all costs unless you too grew up in post Soviet Poland and have a nostalgic connection.

I think a big part of the hobby dying out is that parents don't even know this is an option.  I was a teacher for 10 years, and during that time I ran an afterschool modelling class which was somewhat popular (less so in the more working class school, more so in a more affluent neighborhood school).  I charged a fairly low fee which mostly paid for my time and some supplies, but I provided kits from my own excessively large collection that needed reducing anyway :).  Kids came from various grades, I even had a girl from 1st grade once, though mostly it was 4-6th grade boys who like the hobby.  Taking the precaution of only me handling the xacto knives ensured I was running around "cleaning up" the plastic parts that were cut off the sprues by scissors, but otherwise the children enjoyed the hobby and worked hard on their kits.  The main question I got from parents was either "what is this?" showing a complete lack of knowledge of the hobby, or "is this like when I made kits in my youth?" to which I usually replied with "yes, though modern kits tend to be a bit more detailed" 

That last statement might not have been entirely accurate, since my collection had everything from modern Dragon kits, to older Tamiya, Italeri, or Hasegawa kits that have tooling from the 1980s or even earlier.  (I do have a few older Matchbox kits, but I could not part with those for the class). 

Since I was a kid mostly in the 90's, I saw the incredible change in the videogame industry that kept many other young people away from the hobby.  For me it was always a very simple choice: I always preferred something I could touch, and no matter how good the graphics, sound, or vibration of a controller got, nothing could substitute for actually holding a model soldier, airplane, tank, or ship in my hands.  In fact, I often found myself sitting at a table building a kit (I especially remember doing this with a SdKfz 234 from Italeri in 1:35 scale) while my cousing was playing a computer game in the same room at the same time.  

I would say that they only thing stopping me from building kits these days is the busy nature of my life (I am a father, have a full time job, take turns cooking with my wife, and as a home owner I also tend to fix things around the house).  However I also have a toolbox full of kit building suppies ready, so that I can do little build sessions at any time (naturally more complex operations such as airbrushing are done in my spraybooth in the basement).  

As for the future generations, I certainly hope the young minds I exposed to the hobby will remember and seek out more models on their own. A friend of the family has a son who is definitely interested in military history and I recently bought two italeri sets (1:72 infantry, one US one German) for him - at least one of those was an old ESCI reissue and I have very fond memories of collecting ESCI soldiers (heck, I still have them all in the basement!).  He immediately built a diorama for them as well and was overjoyed with the detail on the tiny soldiers. It seems that advertising may be needed since, as I said at the outset, in most cases parents don't even know this hobby is an option.

A few years your elder but similar experience.

Like you I visited a hobby shop on the other side of town but never bought anything. Several isles of model kits at Kmart and Woolsworth but no $$$! Most of my $ went on comics!

Got out of the hobby for college, girls, kids and then fell back into it. I would still sometimes buy kits but didnt build. Some are still in my stash!!!

Tried to get my kids and grandkids into models but after a kit or two they were done with it!

I'm 42 now, and started building when I was 8 (my dad got me hooked) and am a 4th generation model builder.  I don't think the hobby is dying, but a lot of kids aren't exposed to it.  My son loves building models, even if he didn't paint the first few.  When I was teaching I taught an elective "History in Scale" where the school bought kits and supplies and the kids would build them.  Every year there was at least one student that continued the hobby after taking the class.  It was very satisfying seeing them getting enjoyment out of building...it was always my quietest class because they were so focused on making something.  

GSB judging allows more than three winners in a category, but the opposite is also true.  A friend who I consider to be one of the top 3 modelers I know only recieved a "commended" award at a GSB event (IPMS UK at Telford).

Basic construction and finish still count, no matter where you go.  And today's finishing techniques are a far cry from the old "black wash followed by a light drybrushing" school.  So it's tough out there in the contest circuit.

At the risk of offending some people, I think GSB would only help the top modelers.  If a category only had entries with poor construction and finish, there would be no awards.

Rex, I love the "copper and lead" levels!  I'm probably at "tofu" level!