Model building in the seventys.

well, I think building models in the 70s makes us appreciate the evolution of the hobby....so we can now feast on the new, better kits....though I wouldn't mind go back to 70s prices....

QUOTE: Originally posted by rjkplasticmod Those who yearn for "The Good Old Days" make me kinda laugh. I've seen several posts stating that "Real Modelers" would only build the crappy old kits & make them presentable. Sorry, but I've been there, done that. I'll take the latest releases from Tamiya any old day. Regards, Rick

I have to agree with you, I love to biuld the old kits, but only if I want to do a lot of filling and sanding, and want it to look like a model and not a historic representation. I am finishing an Accurate Minitatures kit and am greatful for the fine detail, and excellent fit. Same goes with Tamiya.

QUOTE: Those who yearn for "The Good Old Days" make me kinda laugh. I've seen several posts stating that "Real Modelers" would only build the crappy old kits & make them presentable. Sorry, but I've been there, done that. I'll take the latest releases from Tamiya any old day.

I have to agree with Rick. I've built a ton of old AMT model cars and Linbergh airplanes, used a gallon of that crummy Testors putty trying to fix all the problems with them, and breathed a lot of Testors orange-tube (or was it pink?) glue fumes. I have absolutely no urge to build that kind of junk again. Give me something that fits together with minimal sanding and filling any day.

Those of us who have been around a few years can see evolution in many facets of our lives. Some of them I would really love to go back to and relive. Models of the 60's and 70's is not one of them. The detail was horrible, the fit was horrible, the decals were horrible. We worked with what he had because that was all we had.

I remember one line of car kits, can't remember who made them now but I think it was Revell. I built about a half-dozen of them and I swear every one had the exact same interior bucket. The seats, consoles, dash, everything was molded as one big interior piece and just sort of "Plugged" onto some posts molded onto the body. But the Camaro, Mustang, all of them were exactly the same.

QUOTE: Originally posted by paulnchamp [ I built several of those "psychedelic Kingfishers" when I was young. I remember those strange yellow decals and the molded-in observer. I also remember the decals included strings of bullet holes as well. I guess that explains why MPC isn't around anymore. . . exactly.. well I am 5 hours from winning a "good" OS2U... a Monogram High Tech kit... just wanted to rebuild the kingfisher but it's OOP... I am building the 70's version in full psychedelic garb now just for the novelty haha... ---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it! Reply leemitcheltree Member since January 2003 From: Washington State Posted by leemitcheltree on Saturday, September 4, 2004 8:04 PM There's no doubt about it......... We have access to the best models that have ever been manufactured - and it's all because we (the end users) have been consistently telling the kit manufacturers that we want better kits - better fit, better detail, better decals - and mostly they listen. With the advent of the electronic age of information transfer, news travels fast - a crap kit will die a death before it hits the hobby shop shelves - nobody will want to buy a kit that is sub-par.........and the model companies have a responsibility to their shareholders - profits above EVERYTHING else. How does a model company make a profit? Produce high quality kits that will sell - not crap kits that wont. I remember building simply dozens and dozens (hundreds?) of kits in the late 60's and 70's.....they were awful when compared to todays offerings - but man, did I have fun with them!! Cheers, LeeTree Remember, Safety Fast!!! Reply paulnchamp Member since January 2003 From: Warwick, RI Posted by paulnchamp on Saturday, September 4, 2004 7:32 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 come to think of it it must have been an early 70's kit because it came with 'customization decals and pieces' which consisted of psychedelic decals kinda reminiscent of "yellow submarine" and the plastic was chrome spinners and props and wild exhaust manifolds that looked like they came off a 69 Hemi 'Cuda, oh yeah and chome machine guns and bombs. can't see an OS2U Kingfisher flying around dressed like that haha I built several of those "psychedelic Kingfishers" when I was young. I remember those strange yellow decals and the molded-in observer. I also remember the decals included strings of bullet holes as well. I guess that explains why MPC isn't around anymore. . . Paul "A man's GOT to know his limitations." Reply diggeraone Member since July 2003 From: Ozarks of Arkansas Posted by diggeraone on Saturday, September 4, 2004 12:40 PM Its not that we yern for the good old days,its sort of remembering modeling.That is what it came from to today.You back then really had to use your imagition to get some of those kits to look half way decent.As of now I enjoy the kits of today then yesterdays gone by.Back then Tamiya was just coming out and were exspenivise to buy.Today you have a slew of companys to chews from back then it was Revell,Monogram,Linburg and Aurora.That was it,man modeling has come a long way.Digger Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton Reply buff Member since December 2003 From: Montreal Posted by buff on Saturday, September 4, 2004 10:22 AM I built tons of Revell stuff when I was kid. Mostly aircraft iirc. I remember that Corsair, and being really impressed with it. I was even a member of their club. I used to get their magazine in the mail. On the bench: 1/32 Spit IXc Reply fightnjoe Member since September 2011 Posted by fightnjoe on Saturday, September 4, 2004 10:17 AM i will qualify my comments with this. when i was building in the seventies and eighties i did not do a very good job of putting them together. they were masses of glue and plastic. not resembling anything accurate. but even those did help me to get into the building and working with little to achieve good stuff. but i do agree that i will take the new more detailed kits over the others anytime. joe Veterans, Thank You For Your Sacrifices, Never To Be Forgotten Where you can find me: Workbench on FaceBook  Google Plus  YouTube Reply rjkplasticmod Member since February 2003 From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State Posted by rjkplasticmod on Saturday, September 4, 2004 10:05 AM Those who yearn for "The Good Old Days" make me kinda laugh. I've seen several posts stating that "Real Modelers" would only build the crappy old kits & make them presentable. Sorry, but I've been there, done that. I'll take the latest releases from Tamiya any old day. Regards, Rick RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All... Reply tho9900 Member since July 2004 From: SETX. USA Posted by tho9900 on Saturday, September 4, 2004 9:47 AM yeah, I just won a late 60's/early 70's MPC kit off of ebay and when I got it I looked at it in shock.... raised panel lines, very little of them at that... the observer was glued on top of a crossbar permanently molded into the body, so no leaving him out if ya wanted, without major surgery anyway. I guess I don't remember them being so different, of course I was younger then so maybe that's why... come to think of it it must have been an early 70's kit because it came with 'customization decals and pieces' which consisted of psychedelic decals kinda reminiscent of "yellow submarine" and the plastic was chrome spinners and props and wild exhaust manifolds that looked like they came off a 69 Hemi 'Cuda, oh yeah and chome machine guns and bombs. can't see an OS2U Kingfisher flying around dressed like that haha here they are: ---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it! Reply Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 4, 2004 7:49 AM i still have all the "tips for dioramas" sheets from all those mongram kits and couldn't help but wonder where the man got all the stuff he was talking about. it's absolutely mind blowing how far we've come in so short a time. to all of you debating the virtues of a dragon or tamiya sherman, remember, you have a choice. Reply Edit diggeraone Member since July 2003 From: Ozarks of Arkansas Model building in the seventys. Posted by diggeraone on Friday, September 3, 2004 11:42 PM As I think back to the seventys model detailing has come a long way.Back then there was not as much detailing as there is today on kits.The biggest thing going was Revell,Monogram was just so-so and highly detail kits were for the rich.Us poor people could not efford them.I remember when Revell came out with the Corsair in 1/32 my friends went gaga over it.Boy these kits have come a long,long way.Digger Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton Reply JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login Register SEARCH FORUMS FREE NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. 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