How old were you when you got into modelling?

I'm 51 and I built my first model airplane before I started school.  An old Revell 1/72 F-101.  It was a mess of glue and mis-shapen plastic, but whadda ya want from a 5 yr old?  I built mostly model fighter planes for years, a few ships and cars, but as a 20 yr old newlywed I bought a Monogram Sherman Hedgehog kit and the color diorama building enclosure by Shep Paine lit a fire in me.  I gave it up reluctantly after I accumulated a few rugrats.  After all my kids grew up and left home, I took it up again after 25+ years.

I enjoy video games, even at my age- Call of Duty for pc is my favorite FPS- but it is no substitute for bulding armor models.  I've always been creative, drawing, writing and painting, and I see modelling as an extension of that.  Seems to me that if you are the creative type, you will seek some hands-on outlet for that.  Writing a novel takes about the same amount of time as building and finishing a model (did me, anyhow).  I thought this hobby had died out back in the 80's when all my local hobby shops closed up, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it had not only survived, but advanced exponenetially over the last 20 years.

Some young folk who enjoy creating with their hands will still, I believe, find their way to model-building.  They are infinitely better suited to handle PE tool clamps.  I have a new OptiVisor, but still need to master gene-splicing in order to grow that third hand that seems to be required to assemble those drechlich little demon-spawned brass torture devices . . . .

Well I'm 35 so it was mid-late 70's when I started.  My step-dad (at the time) had quite a collection of aircraft.  So I'd have to say he was the inspiration for the hobby.  I of course started out with snap-tight kits; I can't remember what the first one was.  I do remember that I had a couple of Star Wars vehicles, a Smokey and the Bandit Trans-Am (LOL).  I also remember the first time I was given a glue together kit.....what a mess that was.  Then I was finally allowed to use paint....yep another mess, yet through those messes I learned a lot!  I primarily stuck with cars through the years. (no pun intended with the messy glue comment).

Now I am about to start my first model in over 5 yrs.  I have attempted to introduce the hobby to my oldest son who is 10....not sure if he's taking much of an interest though....we'll see.  He received a couple of snap-together (Star Wars) vehicles for Christmas.  We sat together and did the first one, he wants to hang it in his room.  He asked last night if we could do the other one.....so maybe there's hope yet.  His biggetst "modeling" interest has been more with Lego "kits"  Not the same I know, but that could be a starting point for him..,

OBTW: This is my first post!  I better get over to the "introductions" forum and allow myself to introduce.....myself.

I've been building models on and off for 50 years. I was 10 years old when I received my first model, for xmas: an X-3 Stiletto. I can't recall who made it. I do remember breaking off the needle on the nose.

Jim 

I popped outta my mom's womb with a Dremel in one hand and a tube of Testors in the other.

Although, I can't recall the particular plane I was working on in there.

On the other hand, I do however recall that the lighting in there was terrible.

I was 10 when I started and continued 'til I was 14 when I started playing guitar in 1975.

Continued playing guitar for the next 32 years profesionaly through the '80s and mid '90s. Got a job in engineering in the mid '90s and got married. Now I have time to model again and play music at regional clubs. 

I started building Snap-Tite kits around 6 or 7. This was also the age when I started playing those "evil" video games. I grew up building kits and playing video games, so I was able to balance my interests in both.

I think if you offer kids several different things to do, and not limit them to "No Video Games, No TV, No Computer, No whatever..." they are more likely to get interested in new things. Of course if you actually take time and spend it with them participating in an activity like building models, playing catch, fishing, etc... they are more likely to enjoy it. Instead of, "Here's a model kit, so go build it, and do something creative, instead of wasting time with that X-Box Video Game thing."

Just my 2 cents worth...   

I still love building kits and playing video games. I just wish I had more time to do both!  

HUMM how old was I, or should I say how young .  When did I start.  The secret is out, but don't tell anyone.

Started modeling in November/December 2006.  Went to a model show, saw a lot of nice work and thought this might be something interesting to do.  So I stated at the young age of 58 yrs .  I guess we are never to old, I mean young (second childhood)

PaPa-John

I can't really say how old i was exactly. But as long as i can remember when i was a kid, my Dad used to build models and give the finished product to me to play with. Of course there was never one that lasted long enough for him to come home for the day. So at some point, he had just stopped painting them all together. Realism was the furthest thing from my mind- all i remember was that they looked so cool to play with!

But i think quite possibly i was 5 by the time my Dad and I had built a plane together, and maybe 7 when i first had my solo build. It just kinda ballooned from there...

But i do confess to making the airplane sounds around the apartment...... with the shades drawn, that is

Around 7 or 8 yrs old.  My friend down the street had an older brother that built them and that got the whole thing started.  That and my Mom took me to a toy store for my birthday and gave me $20 to buy whatever I wanted so I bought three battleship models (this was around 1970 when $20 bucks bought something).  Took a break for the usuall job and kids thing but it's pulled me back in now that the kids are a little older. 

My 13 year old son has been doing it for a couple of years now, built a model plane with him and it sparked an interest but is now into the warhammer stuff.  That sort of thing seems to catch the imagination of kids who grew up with video games rather than the the usuall plastic model subject matter.

I think I was around twelve when I built my first ever model kit-Cant remember exactly which was the first-anyway, this was way back in the 70's. I know I had a Revell Spitfire without any paint and my first ever tamiya car kit in 1/18 scale. I still have some of the old models with me dating back to the 80's and have even started adding some scratch building to them. I stopped for a while when I started full time work, etc. But the itch was and is still there until now. I feel that there isnt enough interesting subjects coming out. The only challenge now is to see how much skill I have learned to build better models in my stash.

About 8-10. That would have been 1965. Back then it was a tube of glue per model and no such thing as paint. Airbrush? What's that? The first model I built was the Monogram Zero in bright yellow. In fact, Monogram was about all there was, along with Aurora. Hasegawa and Tamiya were the names of my neighbors, there in So. Cal where I grew up.

Once a model was finished, it was always hung on a string from the ceiling. When we got tired of looking at them (after about a week) we would stuff them with firecrackers, light the fuse and toss them off the roof of the house.

Sometime when Dad wasnt looking, we'd snag some of his cartridge reloading powder and make little rocket motors for our planes - with a firecracker at the end of the burn! Man, those were great times, when you could still have fun and not worry about lawsuits, Kiddie Shock Syndrome, or being anything but a kid.

 I started when I was 5. My first model was a model T roadster named "Scat Cat". It cost 50 cents. My allowance was 50 cents a week so I had to wait til the next friday to buy the glue. That was the longest week I can ever remember.

Zip

I think it was 1966 (I was 7) when my older cousin got me started in modeling. I literally grewup around race tracks, my mom would bring me, diapers and all. So when I seen my cousins room with some kits of hot rods and muscle cars I was hooked. My first kit was a 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

In 1967 I broke my jaw and was laid up for the summer. So everyone bought me a model kit and mom and dad bought me all kinds of paints. By the end of the summer my room was filled with all kinds of car models.

The hobby slowed down for me, I would build an occasional kit now and then when I had nothing to do. By the time I was 15 real cars totally replaced my model hobby. Oh sure, I might build a kit once every few years, but the joy was gone.

A few years ago my son dug out some of my old models from storage and showed and interest. So we started building a few together on those long winter days. Now I don't have the time but I still help him with his projects. Once I'm done setting up (if that ever happens I hope) our family hobby shop and my college courses lighten up, hopefully I can start working on my stash at least during the winter. I'm getting the bug again to sit at the hobby table.

I was surprised that my son still has an interest in modeling. He grewup with the PS in his face and is used to that whole fast paced action experience. He doesn't mind going fishing with me in the canoe, but gets bored after an hour or so - not enough action. So I'm glad to see him slow down and take the time to accomplish something that takes time and patience.

I seen mention in this post regarding the demise of LHS's; I think that problem is many. A lack of new blood; overall the younger generation isn't interested. The Brick-n-Morter shops can't compete price wise with the wholesalers posing as online hobby shops. Also the lack of interesting subject material; I mean, how many times are they going to re-release a 1957 Bel Air? Sure they change the rims and tires, or make it a lowrider or stick oversized wheels in the box and call it a "California Special". But what about a lot of the other subject material out there? I sponsored a Modeling Club at my sons school. I brought in a few catalogs for the kids to pick what cars they might be interested in, there comments for the most part - "Why just old cars? Where's the new sports cars?" The manufacturers have to spend some money and start tooling up for some new kits. I mean, pretty soon there's not even going to be anything I want to add to my stash. Then who will they have to sell too?

Sorry for the essay...

gulfstreamV wrote:

I'd have to say '64 or there abouts. My Dad was a pilot, we owned a Piper Apache and when the Captain(my Dad) decided I needed a haircut. Well I hated getting a Buzzcut, but the reward was the model shop was right nextdoor to the barbershop. We built models togeather. Airplanes, Warbirds, Airplanes and more airplanes. No vidieo stuff back then. But when we got bored of sitting around the house building models and watching guy's landing on the moon. We went flying. I'd put up with a Buzzcut to relive those times again

I wouldn't mind getting another flat top haircut if I could just spend a few hours with my Dad again. Ahhhh, but I will, someday.

RedCorvette wrote:

Built my first models with my dad in 1959 when I was six years old.  Mark

Let's see - that would make you ......... 29!  Just like me!!

Seems that the majority of us started at an early age, but there are still quite a few who started recently as an adult or teen.  I worry about all the hobby store closings but this hobby is still gaining new converts!

Dave 

Built my first models with my dad in 1959 when I was six years old. 

Mark