Follow up: Kids and modeling

Hey, Im only 14, so I dont have any kids yet (atleast, I hope I don't.....) just kidding.  Anyways.  I already said this in the post that you are following up on with this thread, but my dad did a good job of bringing me into modelling.  I guess back in his era, everybody modeled, the boys atleast.  Cars, boats and planes were his favorite.  He never really pushed the idea of modelling, since he didn't think it would interest me, but when I was younger, we did build a few snap fit out-of-scale planes, never painted them, and hung them on my ceiling.  I would say anyone trying to get kids into modeling, that is the way.  Snap fit easily paintable kits early, and then when ready, a Tamiya kit, which are very fun and easy with largeish pieces.  I would say slowly transitioning, starting with very easy kits is the best way to build up a young kids confidence in modeling and their modellling skills.

I originally posted this in the first thread by accident. Here is my response to this question...

With the exception of my 2 year old son, I've bought or given a model kit of some kind to everyone of my six children as well as a couple of their friends and to one of my nephews. I've got literally hundreds of unbuilt kits in just about every major genre (armor, aircraft, ships, cars, trucks, figures, sci-fi, monsters, helicopters, real space, etc.). Two of my children are interested in model building, one is a pretty good builder and has won several junior awards.

I have seen kids at stores want a kit that is beyond their abilities. They want it because of the subject matter or box art. If it is a subject matter that interests them, there is normally a kit within their skill range that is similar.

My daughter wanted the Tamiya Pink Panther Landrover, but I thought it was a little complicated for her. I gave her the old Monogram Jeep kit that was reissued by Revell for her to work on. Once she finished that easy to build kit, I gave her one of the Tamiya M151A2 Jeeps. A better overall kit that helped improve her skills.

After she had those two under her belt, I let her have the Pink Panther. She built it up real nice and won an award with it. She also won an award for one of the Jeeps as well.

She is 13 now and other than my 9 year old son and 16 year old son, is the only one who really tried and liked modeling. My 21 year old son and 18 year old daughter never got past trying it when they were around 8-10.

Hi,

I just started fresh in modeling a few months ago - June.  My interest so far has been soley in armor modeling, and I'm just now finishing my 3rd build (Italeri M108 1/35).   My two boys live in separate homes - Robert (9) with his mom, and Michael (13) with me.  Robert stayed with me during the month of July and immediately became interested in model building.  He did a snap-together plane, then graduated to  a 1/72 British Mk IV female, another snap-together, then a helicopter.  He is now chomping at the bit to start the Tamiya 1/48 Sherman.  On the weekends he is with me, we work on models and/or play Memoir '44, Attack !, Carcassone, as well as radio control tanks.

Michael (13) has really taken an interest as well.  I told him he could start with one of the kits from my stash.  What I didn't expect was for him to run off with my Academy M36 tank destroyer. But he's doing a fine job on it.  He's also started an Italeri Elefant 1/35 and Italeri Chaffe.  I am really really pleased with the interest and energy both of my boys have in armor modeling.  It's great that we spend time together either working on models, playing army/strategy games, talking and reading about WWI and WWII, or watching Hogan's Heroes (among other things).

Michael and I are participating currently in the Italeri Group Build.  He's nearly done with the Chaffe and I'm urging him on so he can present his build to the group.  He wants to be referred to in this forum as Sherman Shepard.

Hope everyone is well and having a great day.

 Larry

I'm a kid (15).  My dad was never a modeler, so i didn't get the bug from him.  I think on my 8th b-day I got a Monogram Plymouth Prowler kit.  I built that in a day and also the monogram blue angles F-18 kit.  I kinda dropped it for a while then as we moved several times, etc.  Finally I got the monogram Apache helo and from then on was hooked.  6 years later, I'm still going at it.  I'ts a shame there aren't more kids in this wonderful hobby.