modeling at right age

Sometimes,but then I like to show them an open stuffed box of an un started Dragon kit,you know like a Tiger or A Vorpanzer with the works.That changes their view real fast.

Tojo72

Sometimes,but then I like to show them an open stuffed box of an un started Dragon kit,you know like a Tiger or A Vorpanzer with the works.That changes their view real fast.

 

Amen Tojo

Honestly, not that many any more.

When I tell people that I model as a hobby, they always ask "Really? For who??" lol

the doog

Honestly, not that many any more.

When I tell people that I model as a hobby, they always ask "Really? For who??" lol

 

LOL - Not bad Karl....and do you reply Fine Scale Modeler? 

My wife did when we first met.  She thought they were only toys until she came to a couple meetings and a local contest while we were at Littlerock.

Typically, all I get is an inquisative look...."you do what???"

Or...."Oh yeah....I built a couple car models....when I was a kid"

My wife ,,,back when she was 16 and I was 17 ..thought and said I was playing with toys back then ..but after the years went by ...as we got older ...we spent together in adult hobbys like building hotrods and muscle cars  of which where many ..she thinks it amazing how I can do tiny details like the dials on instrument panels and scratch in realistic details to otherwise a toy ..you know she now thinks it's great and she incurages it hole hearty ...what a woman! !!

5-high 

I think the most common reply i get is 'i don't have the patience for that'. I used to think people would think it childish, but i never got that sort of response.

Basically get a combination ofDoog's andBish's responses. Doog, I always reply GQ.

The issue isnt that I find people who think that modeling is just for kids, what I see most often is, people who thought that the modeling as a hobby died out years ago. Once, I show them all of the stuff that is out there and what kind of stuff I have on my bench, they are like, "WOW, I wish they had that kind of stuff when I was building models!" A couple of the people I talked to have actually gone out and picked up a kit, since they havent built one since they were kids.

I still think modeling is for kids, but I haven't grown up yet, so what do I know.

The truth is I don't get out much anymore, so the only people I meet are fellow modelers and gamers.

I also know modelers today who feel the hobby will die if we have no youngsters involved.  But I remember when I was a young teen and joined my first model airplane club.  There were few kids or teens. Even in the fifties it was primarily an adult activity. It would be nice to get more kids involved, but I think we are in a golden age for shelf-scale (plastic models).  RC is very strong today, free-flight and control line not as much.

I got my son interested in modeling about a year and a half ago, he's 9 now. He likes mainly armour kits (not my particular forte). The first kit we built together was a Trumpeter K1A-1 tank, it wasnt anything fantastic but it was fun for him. Since then he's picked up the old 1/48 Huey Hog, a 1/72 Hobby Boss Mi-24 Hind, and for Christmas he got the Academy 1/72 P-51B. He really likes learning about the history of the subject and will spend a lot of time researching pariculars online. I will admit its hard sometimes to get at the bench together, especially with my work schedule, but I cherish any of the time I can get there with him.

As for other kids, his friends do not seem to be interested in them at all, no matter how hard I've tried to convince them to have their parents buy them a kit. They would much rather sit and play video games all day. I think I may have to purchase a kit as a gift for one of these kid for their birthday...

the doog

Honestly, not that many any more.

When I tell people that I model as a hobby, they always ask "Really? For who??" lol

 

I tell 'em, "Sports Illustrated", "Yeah, the swimsuit edition....".

The problem today is that kids want it right now and would'nt take the time to actually do all the work that we do to produce a model worthy of the shelf.

.

That's a good start.My dad got me started when i was 5 by getting me 2 ww1 models in 1/72.there were no snaptite kits back then

Don Stauffer

I also know modelers today who feel the hobby will die if we have no youngsters involved.  But I remember when I was a young teen and joined my first model airplane club.  There were few kids or teens. Even in the fifties it was primarily an adult activity. It would be nice to get more kids involved, but I think we are in a golden age for shelf-scale (plastic models).  RC is very strong today, free-flight and control line not as much.

 

I build and paint in my garage shop in summer, the compressor noise sometimes would attract neighborhood kids and they'd come by to watch. Once in awhile one might ask questions and show interest, I would talk him or her through the process and actually try a bit of the work.

Eventually, (with parents permission,) after they had learned some of the basics I gave them easy starter kits, X-acto knives, paint, glue, etc. If they ran into problems they could come by for help, then come back later to show their finished models.

We got a small neighorhood club of sorts going, often 6 or 8 kids would be active, sometimes even Dad's that had never built a model would join in. We retired and moved here in 2001, been a fairly consistent hobby group activity ever since. Most of the original gang are now young adults, off to university, jobs, girls, weddings, etc, but still stop by to say Hi once in a while. Maybe when they have kids they'll teach them the hobby, hopefully bring them by to show me how they're doing.

We're in wet Western Oregon, UGLY winters, so I build in the house then, mostly scale balsa free flight. The club kids love to build them with me, the perfect indoor activity for the winter, then we fly them in summer. My wife enjoys keeping the snacks going for us, nice to have the little buggers around, we have no children.

I hope as they grow they will keep the hobby going, I just turnd 75 and would be pleased to think I made at least a small contribution, toward keeping future generations involved in such a great activity.

Patrick    

I don't bother to mention model building to most friends my age, because they honestly wouldn't understand. To the few that have seen my work, I can say they were impressed. Most oof today's kits that I build, I probably wouldn't have been able to build at say 10-14. They are much more advanced in parts and PE.

Usually I receive odd looks from people when I tell them about my hobby. Most often it is followed by a superficial question leading to a quick change in subject. Sadly, I have yet to find a person that takes a real interest in it. The latter excludes the people on this forum, of course.

That is good stuff, Patrick.

I know where you are coming from bakster , I live in a small town , and I think I am the only one to be into modeling . I have also learnt to keep it to myself ., to avoid those look's . thank god for this forum

seastallion53

How many of you run into people who think modeling is only for kids?

 

Sibstein

seastallion53

How many of you run into people who think modeling is only for kids?

One of the clubs I am in has a yearly display in one of the larger local libraries, as a PR thing to show general public what scale modeling is.  It is always very well received.

I don't think the RC crowd has this same problem.

In the hobby shops within 100 mi. of me ie. r/c shops,models seem just an after thought if at all.

I think Mike (murph) sums up my thoughts on this very well. If I take the time and explain the hobby, I can usually get people to at least find some form of appreciation for it. It takes some work, but most often it is doable. I guess it depends on my mood at the moment, and who it is that I am talking to. On some days, and with some people, I just don't feel like putting that kind of effort into it.

Congrats on the retirement, Mike.  I crawled out of bed this morning wishing I was retired.

OldGoat

 

 

the doog

Honestly, not that many any more.

When I tell people that I model as a hobby, they always ask "Really? For who??" lol

 

 

 

 

I tell 'em, "Sports Illustrated", "Yeah, the swimsuit edition....".

 

I happily tell people about my obse....er, hobby. It used to be that I was self concious about it, mostly for the same responses. I feel it was a little worse for me as I mostly model Sci-Fi subjects. Let me say you would get some snarky responses to that, lol. However I decided, hey I am 47 and I am going to do what I like to do. So now I have a room mostly dedicated to Star Wars models and figures (yes, I am a Star Wars geek.) and my best half that supports me (mostly, if it isn't to expensive) in my hobby.

-Stephen

seastallion53

How many of you run into people who think modeling is only for kids?