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Oldest Kit You Built?

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  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by convair on Saturday, November 22, 2003 12:38 AM
Revell's Convair R3Y Tradewinds - the kit molds are dated "1956"...
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Joisey
Posted by John P on Thursday, November 20, 2003 2:46 PM
I remember bringing an F-102 model to show-and-tell in Kindergarten. That would be 1962. I have no clue what brand the kit was, but I remember it being very small, even to 5-year-old me. It may have been 1/144, or even just a small box-scale.

I still have kits to build on my shelves from the 70s. I have the Monogram Wright Bros plane that I got as a present in 1974, and I have and Aurora Nieuport 11 and K&B Hobbies Gotha Bomber from 1970s-issue.

On my "finished" shelf is a Monogram Fw-190 that I certainly buiilt in High School in the 70s, and a Lindberg Me-262 that I converted to the cannon-nosed version in HS as well.
-------------------------------
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Arizona
Posted by delov on Thursday, November 20, 2003 12:22 PM
A school project in first grade in Bulgaria (c.1975) required a scale model of an airplane. My dad bought Veb Plasticart Jak-40.
It was his first time puting anything like this together and he glued the windows on the outside. I thought that every year they would require making models in school and I was very dissapointed when they didn't.
When I was growing up I resorted to breaking my piggy bank for a model train set and also begging for money from strangers on many ocassions. Now I have about 100 + unbilt kits.
Borislav
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by nkm1416@info.com.ph on Thursday, November 20, 2003 9:04 AM

It is the 1/72 Airfix Beaufighter I built in Sept. 1969. After watching the movie Battle of Britain I went directly to a dept. store selling model kits looking for a Spitfire. Not finding any I settled for the Beaufighter, the only British fighter available then.
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Central USA
Posted by qmiester on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 8:19 PM
Oldest plastic kit I can remember building was a Revell "boxscale" USS Missouri - Think it was late 53 or early 54 - Don't remember the first aircraft I built, but my buddies built a slug of wooden models from that time on (anybody out there remember Comet stick built flying models, Comet Struct-O-Speed or Monogram Speedee - Bilt kits?)
Earliest kits I have on my shelf are two Revell kits I remember building in the 5th or 6th grade (somewere between 55 and 57), a Northrop F-89 and a Douglas Skyrocket. Found them at a yard sale a couple of months ago and got both for a buck - Allways liked the F-89, 'cause it was the first kit I had ever seen that the canopy could be modeled in the open position (never mind the one piece interior complete with crew)Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]
Quincy
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 5:46 PM
My first kit ever was an Aurora Catalina. I really couldn't pin down an oldest kit. I have several 60's era kits on the to do pile. I don't dismiss a kit because of it's age, some of the old 1/72 Monogram kits have held up very well indeed. Wink [;)]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    February 2003
Posted by shannonman on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 1:43 PM
Hi all,
My 1st kit was an Airfix 1/72 Spitfire,in the 60's. built and painted in 20 mins. My dad said ,Did all aircraft have fingerprints on the wings!!!. [ Some friends ?? say I have not improved much !!!!!!. ] My oldest unmade kit is an AIRFIX Seahawk.
Now I try to buy the kits I missed, off of EBAY, Just looking at an old AURORA Graff Spee boxtop brings back a lot of memories.
Whatever you model, enjoy it.
"Follow me who can" Captain Philip Broke. H.M.S. Shannon 1st June 1813.
  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Katy, TX
Posted by Aggieman on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 1:37 PM
The oldest I've actually built was a 70's era Monogram 1/48 Devastator. It wasn't the reissue that just came out but the original kit that I remember building as a kid with the bland box (the white backing with a photo of the plane).

I recently acquired Monogram 1/48 P-40 and Fw-190's circa the early 60s. I don't believe I'll build the P-40 as it is a nostalgic kit for me, as I recall this exact kit being the first I ever received at about 3 years old. Box still has the shrink wrap on it.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Panama City, Florida, Hurricane Alley
Posted by berny13 on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 12:46 PM
The oldest would have to be the fit the box scale P-40 Flying tiger I built in the mid 50's. I also built the fit the box scale of the B-47, B-52 and IL-38 in the mid 50's. The oldest kit I have in my collection is the old Hawk, F-2H in 1/48 scale. I just can't bring my self to build it, or get rid of it.

Berny

 Phormer Phantom Phixer

On the bench

TF-102A Delta Dagger, 32nd FIS, 54-1370, 1/48 scale. Monogram Pro Modeler with C&H conversion.  

Revell F-4E Phantom II 33rd TFW, 58th TFS, 69-260, 1/32 scale. 

Tamiya F-4D Phantom II, 13th TFS, 66-8711, 1/32 scale.  F-4 Phantom Group Build. 

 

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by 72cuda on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 12:01 PM
Well guy's how about the Monogram's Hawker Hurrcane & Curtis' SB2C Helldiver

84 of 795 1/72 Aircraft Competed for Lackland's Airman Heritage Museum

Was a Hawg Jet Fixer, now I'm a FRED Fixer   

 'Cuda

  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by Bossman on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 11:43 AM
I recently picked up a really old looking Hawk kit from someone who goes to alot of flea markets. P-47-D No indication of a date that I could find on the box - so I don't know how old it is, but the box art, instructions, and decals look ancient. Does anyone know when Hawk went out of business/got bought out or met some other fate ?

The model was in great shape and the surface detail was really crisp. Other than that - there was very little detail in the cockpit and the wheel wells are such that you'd have to take the wheels and the struts off in order to close the gear doors.

She's still pretty though ! I Need to make a choice on aftermarket decals - that and weathering are all that's left !
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 6:06 AM
Just remembered I still have a 1/48 Aurora F-8 Crusader. How old is that rascal? Mid-60's, I'd guess.
~Brian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 3:29 PM
I have a matchbox Handly Halafax, don't know the year though. I know it is old because it sat in someones collection, the box got coverd in crust, re-shrink wrapped, and sold at my local hobby store for $12.00. I built a academy avenger (1/72) from 1982, but don't care because it is the third crappiest kit I have ever built (see my thred on Testors).
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 1:35 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999

Nice models, Swanny. Yours are amongst the best model aircrafts I've ever seen...
That's becuase I don't take pictures of my crappy ones. Big Smile [:D]
Thanks for the comments though, I try.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 12:23 PM
Here they are....This is the P-51B that I recieved as my first kit

And heres the second kit I recieved one year later from the same uncle as my birthday present


I have since aquired 3 of the P-51's and 2 of the P-40's of the same exact kit....The original ones I built never survived the first move....Im hoping to build 1 or 2 of these someday....just without the glue fingerprints(gotta love testors tube glue!) and actually paint the plane instead of leaving it the molded color! LOL
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: UK
Posted by gregers on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 12:17 PM
I have got a frog shackleton that i have been working on for years and a fairey 111F and barracuda (also frog) that need re-building, i bought the last two at a flea market for £2 each and neither are complete along with a fairey delta (complete) and gloster E28/39, (less undercarrage)for £4 each. i also have a frog wildcat and blackburn shark that i am going to build that i have had for about 18 years. Greg
Why torture yourself when life will do it for you?
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: NE Georgia
Posted by Keyworth on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 11:24 AM
The oldest kit I have right now on the shelf is the old Monogram B-26 Invader with the premolded national markings on the fuselage and wing surfaces. I also have several of the old Revell 1/72 scale fighters from the 60's as well as some of the Monogram early 70's releases in the same scale.
"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 11:13 AM
The oldest model I built has to be a little Revell Mariner, I don't know the exact scale of the model nor the year, but I am sure it is old, somebody know the release year of this kit?
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 11:00 AM
People seem to be interpreting the topic differently, so I'll try to cover them all. I can't remember for sure but the first kit I built must have been the Star Trek Enterprise back in the 70's. The oldest surviving build I have is either the Eagle Lunar Lander Monogram 1/48) or the General Patton figure. Oldest model is probably this primitive Gee Bee model (1/72, no idea what manufacturer). Most models I built as a kid are long gone (mercifully).
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: The flat lands of the Southeast
Posted by styrene on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 10:46 AM
I currently have a 1968 Monogram Ju-87G Stuka that I plan on building with my son when he opens his Hasegawa Stuka on Christmas morning.

Am also currently trying to finish an artillery "collection". Am trying the build the old Peerless Max 155mm towed Howitzer (1970-ish?)

My son (age 9) just finished building an old Aurora A-7 Corsair that has been in my attic for years.

Gip Winecoff

1882: "God is dead"--F. Nietzsche

1900: "Nietzsche is dead"--God

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: United Kingdom / Belgium
Posted by djmodels1999 on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 9:22 AM
Nice models, Swanny. Yours are amongst the best model aircrafts I've ever seen...
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 7:57 AM
Hmmm, tough choice. Either the ESCI Beechcraft Staggerwing

or the Hawk Oka Bomb
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 6:48 AM
Hmmm....hard to say! Of models that I still have, perhaps Aurora's Godzilla, from the mid-60's. I had a lot of ancient Aurora aircraft that may date back to the 50's, but unfortunately I don't have them anymore.

The oldest unbuilt (but definitely gonna be built!) kit I have is a Renwal "General Patton II" (M47) kit in approximately 1/32 scale (look bigger than that to me). I believe that kit came out in the 60's.
Since there's really no point in detailing that baby up, I plan to do 'er straight OOB.
~Brian
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Upper left side of the lower Penninsula of Mich
Posted by dkmacin on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 5:49 AM
You kids!
I have a 1979 Eagle I'm building for a group theme on another site (Hey Chris).
I also have a 1977 Monogram HU16E still in wrap with a whopping price of $2.69!!
I have a HAWK U2 kit with a copyright date of 1965 on the instructions, and my pride and joy: An HH52A ( photo on the box shows guns sticking out of the fuel tank area and the words: Vietnam gun ship!! on the box) From the RINGO TOY Company From 1964.
I am actually working slowly on the '52. The raised rivets and thick decal placement lines have to be sanded off. An as it is sort of a PROMO model, with decals for the words SIKORSKY on the side I have a lot of work to do.
Happily, I have a copy of the book HH52A in US and Japanese service. Found Many of the people I knew and flew with listed as reference for the book and got in contact with them once again.

Don
I know it's only rock and roll, but I like it.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: United Kingdom / Belgium
Posted by djmodels1999 on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 4:02 AM
Difficult to say.. I must have built most of Airfix Series 1 kit at one time or another, and some of those are indeed old! My first ever kit was Airfix Me-109G, in its blister pack, costing at the time some 20 Belgian Francs (that would be 50 US cents in today's money). That was in 1974... Gosh I'm going to hit 30 years of continuous scale modeling next year!

I also remember building some Frog, Hawk, Glencoe, Lindberg and Revell kits that must have been designed years before I was even born.. In my loft, I have Lindberg's XB-70, a kit designed in 1963, although my 'copy' is of the re-release of '69. That's possibly the oldest kit I have now to build. As far as completed models, that I still have around, then it would have to be Airfix's Mk I WWI tank, probably from the '60s (and still a great looking model!)...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 3:54 AM
Oldest I've built recently is the Tamita 1/35 M-1 from 19080. Not an extremely old one, but a jem if ever I saw. Built up perfectly.

demono69
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 3:09 AM
The oldest kit I built would be the Monogram P-51B in 72nd #6788 Its a kit from the 60's that my uncle gave me for my birthday once....Molded in all green! I have since aquired a few more of the exact same kit from the same time period....I still like the kit! Simple? Yes but it brings a lot of memories with it....and was a fun build.

I have the others just in case.....havent really planned on building them though I might. Just kinda a reminder of what started it all.....
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 3:00 AM
I built a Revell Hurricane in nightfighter kit recently... but the kit itself was manufactured in 1982!! it was'nt a reboxed version... The guy at the hobby store actually held on to the kit that long!! Another one was a 1986 make of B25 by airfix... have yet to make it though...

Cheers,
Nandakumar
  • Member since
    November 2005
Oldest Kit You Built?
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 12:25 AM
I hope that this has not been a topic of discussion, but I'm always curious about such things. I'm also curious how you came by it. Christmas, something to keep you out of the parents hair, birthday or lawn mowing money?

Mine was an Auroa Spad...

Christmas 1974 ...I cracked..it was another school Christmas party and again for the second year in a row I ended up with a pair of those cheap toy binoculars...after 45 minutes worth of sales pitch I managed to convince the Prinicipal's son that he couldn't live without those binocs.....(shameless...I know)...I skulked away with my booty, went home and was in heaven.......................thus......Hi, I'm Steve and I'm a modelholic.
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