Models for a 9-year old

Hey Gip, please post some pics, we'd be more than happy to post some encouragement to your son.

bigphoto1,
When my daughter was 8 (she's 17 now), she also wanted to build a model like Dad. I bought her a snap-together kit of the #3 car of Dale Earnhardt. I watched and helped just a little. She was so proud of it she entered it in the local show. She took second place and out-of-the-box in the junior category! She (and I) were elated. To this day she has the car and her trophies on a shelf in her room even though she's not interested in building anymore (something about boys, I think).

Just an update: My 9-year old has now completed his Monogram Shelby, save for a couple decals that he wants me to help him with. He is really proud of his efforts--and I am, too. I think (if it's alright with everyone here), that I might try to post a couple of pics of his model when completed. I'd like to take the opportunity to say "thanks" to all those that offered timely advice.
Gip Winecoff

I've got a niece that wants to build models like her uncle Tim and being the cool
uncle that I am I gave her a couple of airplane kits very simple pre-painted
just a couple of screws and we did some mild weathering w/ pastels
and now the are proudly displayed in the living room out of her little brothers reach. and any time that younster that age wants to display their handi-work
I say lets support them and she is going to take them to my clubs show n
tell in Sept. So lets here it for the kids.

If I remember correctly, my first airplanes were made by Hawk--a P-47, P-51, and (I think) a P-38. Anyway, they already had a chrome metal finish on them to simulate natural aluminum. Man, did they look good when I finished. Built them at the beach and played with them diligently all week. I think I was about 12 then.
Gip Winecoff

Aaahh.. Matchbox! When I was 4-7 thats all I ever built. Many a fond memory (though I only later cottoned on to putting RAF roundels on before putting wing pylons on). I remember putting a 1/72 Jaguar in the fridge to make the glue set..

I got mine off of ebay. Where else?

Does anyone still carry Matchbox kits? If they are out of production, are they now considered collectors' items with a corequisite collectors' price? These would be great as Christmas presents!
Gip Winecoff

I agree with djmodels and others - if you can find colorful Matchbox model - it will be the best choice for young modeler - you don't have to paint it, it fits without any problems, and you can play with it later (as I did) because it it tough enough ! Regards ! Aleksander

My little bro has been wanting to do models "like Chris" for about a year. him and dad put together a wood stagecoach, a couple months ago. and I just helped him put together a styrofoam airplane, but alas, it does not satisfy. He wants to do ones "like Chris". and unfortunately my hobby shop doesn't carry snap-together ones. And I don't think he's ready to try a real one. He's only 4! have to try a few more model shops in the area. Do heylonghair and Murray Kish want to tell me where the hobby shops in Saskatoon are?

Hey, hou_ge2000, you wouldn't be confusing my 9-year old with me, would you? Actually, I'm thinking of giving him the 1/32 Academy Hornet.......heh,heh,heh!!

Hey, tigerman, way to go! I wish somehow I would get some hugs and kisses, too, but my son isn't "in to" the hugging thing, for whatever reason. But the laughs and smiles said it all!!

Gip Winecoff

Buy him a Tamiya 1/32 Mitsubishi Zero Real Sound and Action kit. He'll love it.

Good for you Styrene. I just purchased a VW bug and hot pink pearl paint for my 7 year old daughter(she chose the paint). It was well worth the hugs and kisses. She is looking forward to building, so it should be alot of fun. I might actually get a kit finished!

Sounds like y'all had a good time Gip. Just remember to try to not push anything on him as far as skill progression. He'll ask when he wants to learn something new I'm sure!

Enjoy and tell your son congrats on his first "glue" kit!!

Eric

Just an update:
We went to Wal-Mart and they had absolutely nothing worthy of being modeled. The selection was truly pitiful, so we went to the hobby shop at the mall, and he found a Monogram Shelby that he really liked. The skill level was "2", but what the heck, I figured I could help him. Saturday night we sat down together at the kitchen table, and before I knew what was happening, he had most of the car put together. At 10 p.m. I finally had to make him stop and go to bed. Sunday evening he finished the body. Tonight he learns how to put clear parts in. This has been a great experience. From talking to him, he wants to do it again, this time with paint!
Gip Winecoff

My 5 year old just put together his first model the other day, a diecast Beetle from walmart and so far has survived not only him but his 2 year old brother. It was great seeing how proud he was of it though building something just like dad.
I agree with paulnchamp on the fire apparatus kits. me being a firefighter I would love to find a decent looking modern day kit to do and I know my kids would love that one.

Lufbery's onto something there! Buy a kit of something he can relate to. Great idea! Just wish I could find some (affordable) fire apparatus kits for my son - he lives for that stuff.

I really like the idea of taking him to Wal-Mart. Although I find their selection limited, their prices are about right. The only other place to go is a hobby shop called Hungate's. They're in the mall, so their prices are somehat higher to offset overhead, but their selection is much broader. I think maybe we'll try both.
To those of you who recommended 1/72 scale, thanks. I had pretty much foundered on 1/48 stuff. Does anyone know where to find the Matchbox kits you recommended? Thanks also for the alien spaceship advice. Since he likes Bionicles (sp?) by Lego, he would probably like those also. We'll see. As far as him getting glue everywhere, I'm not concerned; heck, I'm just a LITTLE biased (?!?!?!?!) in his favor, so any kit he produces, sans 5 or 6 pieces (or more) is still a work of art in my eyes. And I hope the glue joints are strong enough to last several play periods!
Once again, I am indebted to you all for you wise advice. Thanks again! Please don't stop posting if you have more to say.
Gip Winecoff

If he wants to build something a little unusual, how about Testor's Area 51 UFO? I built one some years back for a diorama (see details under "Turning ARRRGH! Into AHHH!" if that thread is still in the forum) and it's a very easy model, particularly if you don't use the soldier or alien figures that come with the kit. The kit's only got a couple dozen parts in all, and again, you don't even have to use all of them! Even the painting is pretty simple!

As a former 9-year-old, I feel particularly qualified to answer this question :-D (even though it's been 20 years since I was at that tender age).

When my parents would take me on vacation, they'd usually buy a snap-tite kit to keep me busy in the evenings in the hotel room. The first evening would be building it, and subsequent evenings playing with it. My mother would help me with the decals until I was old enough to do it myself.

One of my first glue models was the Revell 1/500-somethingst scale U.S.S. North Carolina that I asked my parents to buy me at the ship's gift shop when we visited her. It was incredibly cool putting that kit together and seeing the places where I had walked. I also built an exceptionally cool Monogram F-101 with a rotating missile pallet.

Of course, my first glue models were unpainted, and I also got glue finger prints on them, but that's part of the fun.

So, if you can find a model your child can identify with, that may be the best way to go. Buy a model of a plane he's seen at an airshow, or a car that he really likes.

Regards,

-Drew

For another viewpoint:

When I was eight, I decided that I too, wanted to build a glue model, all by my self. I chose a monogram B-52 (1:144?), which my parents and older brother did their level best to talk me out of. I got tube glue all over the newspaper (two thicknesses, on the kitchen table), model, and goodness knows what else. The model had glue fingerprints on it, and probably looked about as bad as they come. I was proud of it and could care less about how authentic it looked. What was important to me at the time, was that I had built my own toy, not that I had made a quality display replica.

I would take him to the store and let him pick out what he wants to make. Ask him if he cares if a part here and there doesn't get used, or if it doesn't get painted. maybe he'll be proud of it and put it on a shelf, or maybe he'll enjoy playing with it and break it the next day. It's the fun that counts, not the rules.

Most manufacturers these days have some sort of skill rating system that they mark on their boxes, Airfix was the originator of that idea I think and several others, including Monogram-Revell have followed suit.

By far, Monogram Revell offers the best balance of value to money and workability for less experience modellers. I've always found Monogram kits to be quite forgiving of beginers mistakes.

You might also want to try Revell Germany's line up of kits, they have a wide variety of kits to satisfy beginers and advanced modelers, they also hold the molds for most of the Matchbox line of kits and do release them under their own label from time to time.

I don't do auto kits, but I've been doing aircraft for over 20 years, I started when I was 7 and I can say this much for my experience:

Monogram-Revell and Revell Germany kits: good range of kits for all skill levels and skill levels are marked on the outside of boxes.

AMT kits: I wouldn't build another aircraft kit from these guys if you paid me.

Italeri: Generally alright stuff but a bit inconsistent, not for the beginer, but something to look at when more experience is gained.

Airfix: A bit hit and miss these days, kits come marked with skill levels on the box, but once you get the box opened, you could sometimes argue the skill level they should be for. Better for the modeler with a bit of experience.

Matchbox: I would recomend any matchbox 1/72 kit to a beginer, they're quick and easy and generally good representations of the real things. They hold the shorter attention spans of younger modelers well and give them something to take pride in. The only drawback these days is that to find old Matchbox kits you have to do some research into the Revell Germany product line.

As a last note, stay away from Eastern European kits of any brand. Many are very good quality, but from what I've seen, none could be recomended to a novice modeler.

My first kit was a 1/72 spitfire, there are alot of 1/72 world war 2 aircraft kits out there. Most of them have about 50-70 pieces in them if you wanted to do aircraft I think that this might be a good start

Any kit that you find at the local Wal-Mart should fit the bill nicely. Thats what I did with my son and what I'm soon to do with my daughter (age 6).

Darren

If you can find them, the Matchbox kits were really good for beginners. Not too many parts, easy assembly and very decent fit. Lots of choice in their catalogue. Always 2 to 3 decorations to chose from.

If not, the Academy kits are real good value for money as well.

I'd go for any of the Monogram planes and any car or truck kit Gip. The will all be easy enough for him at his age and you can help him if he needs it of course. I doubt he will need much help at his age though. Give him a few rudimentary tools and let him learn!! He'll love it, especially when y'all are building together.

Eric

Revell just brought out a line of pre-painted quick-builds. Just take a couple of screws and snap-together parts and your kid has a plane that he/she can say they built, AND can play with. When they see you building something more advanced, start 'em out on a Monogram plane or AMT car or whatever strikes their imagination. They're hooked by then :)

I'm afraid I haven't built too many autos or trucks, but I built many Monogram airplanes at that age. They fit nicely, have many subjects, few parts, do many neat things like fold wings, and are realatively inexpensive. Im' sniff, sniff, jealous to a degree, both my boys want to play X-box all day.