What got you started modeling?

Being a military history buff as a lot of modelers are,modeling helps the history come alive.

My dad always built models armor, cars, ships. And when I was little I'd always sit at the kitchen table and watch him model. Plus he had a rather large reference and I'd go through looking at old FSM issues and Squadron books and making a mess and getting in trouble Plus watching the history channel at night really got me interested in history. I finally took up modeling when I was nine years old and have stayed with it for sixteen years apart from a few years break.

I built a lot of models as a child, my first was the ancient Aurora "yellow" Zero.  When I reached middle-school age it was mostly model cars that held my attention.  I loved hot rods and racing cars of all kinds.  I remember building Funny Car chassis from scratch using pickup sticks and creating working hinges for the lifting bodies.  I was into detailing the engines and scratching together cockpit tubs.  Then, something happened.  Yep, I got my driver's license at 14 and before too long, model cars had lost their luster and it was the real hot rods that I was interested in.

Around the late 80s, being a long-time history fan and someone fascinated by military aircraft, I began considering that I could compare different planes respective size and features by building scale model planes.  I choose 1/48 because there seemed to be a lot of choices and I liked the physical size at that scale.  The first build was Monogram's A-10.  I bought my Paasche Model H airbrush for that and it's the only AB I've ever really used.  I thought my A-10 looked pretty fair.   Until I bought my first copy of FSM.  It was the Jan. '89 issue I believe.  At any rate, it featured the great Bob Steinbrun's Monogram F-80 converted to YP-80 status.   OMG, I couldn't believe the quality of the work on that model and several others as well.   At that point, my A-10 didn't seem so impressive anymore and I took up the gauntlet so to speak.  I took a five year hiatus along the way and I'm still the slowest builder around, but I still do love the hobby and I do have a fair sized stash to "mock" me, lol.  Hey, I can retire in three years and maybe I can work that stash down to a reasonable size then!

Gary

My Dad.

My dad. I got an Aurora model called "The Wurst" as a gift (birthday or Christmas, I don't recall). This kit was a red hotdog vendor truck that included a pair of figures in hippy beachwear. It was a retooled 1932 truck (fire truck) in 1/32 scale. I bought one on eBay about 10 years ago.

My dad also built the old Monogram M48A2 Patton tank for me and I was hooked on tank models. I built just about every tank model Aurora made. Even after all the American tanks were built and I moved to other nations in their line, I remember hand painting white stars on the unpainted models to make them American tanks.

This should be an interesting thread, great idea!

Growing up in Detroit during the 80's with my dad working for GM, we always attended the air shows at Willow Run. This sparked my interest big time in aircraft. Then in the fourth grade my teacher, Ms. Curtis, bought me a Revell F-100 for winning a spelling bee by correctly spelling 'boa constrictor', lol. It was on ever since then.

Funny, I remember an incident later on in middle school where one of our class projects was for everyone to build a model. I build a Monogram F-16 and I remember arguing back and forth with the many of the other students that the drop tanks were NOT bombs even though they insisted they were.

My aunt went to a hobby shop, after asking me what I wanted for my 8th birthday,,,,,,,I had answered that I want "An F-4 like my uncle was working on",,,,,,,he had just switched from Artillery to VMFA-314 via Memphis,,,,,so, I wanted a Phantom

She gave me a 1/72 F4U Revell Corsair, lol,,,,,,,,,I was only 8, so I didn't realize I had to specify which F4 I meant.

So, since that day in 1965 I have been building 1/72 aircraft, with a decade or so building HO/OO AFVs and another decade building 1/700 ships.

I kept the model airplane hobby all through high school, cars, girls, the Marines and never took the break from the hobby that so many others took.

And I still have that 1/72 Corsair,,,,,,all restored in the style of one of our online modeler friends from over on HS that has passed away,,,,,,,and ready to give back to my Aunt in a clear display case as a "thanks for the hobby" gift/momento

Rex

i built as a kid through college and into germany when i was there in the '70s. remember buying a tamiya TIGER I on the economy for $25 which was a lot but 40 hours and a pcs later  it took second in a contest at ft. knox, got into drafting and later 3d graphics plus serious computer wargames until 2006 when i felt the need to start working with my hands again.

I suppose in my youth, my father.  It wasn't until my son received the old Revellogram SBD for a Christmas gift a couple of years ago that I got hooked on it again.

my dad had built model planes for a long time then one year for Christmas when i was about 6 or 7 he got me the Revell B-17 for me and him to do together its still in his collection since then I have built the same B-17 kit and have two more in the stash I keep thinking that I will build it for him for Christmas one day.

Great thread Knight!

As with so many....my dad.  We were going through some of his old stuff and there was a model of Vickers Viscount, and one of an old B-57 in a box.  Thought they were cool.  So one Saturday, after mowing the lawn, dad said let's go for a ride.  We wen to the LHS in Brandon, Fl where I grew up.  We walked in and I was mesmerized!  Dad said to pick out one model, glue, and some paints.  I had the hardest time figuring out what I wanted, so I told dad to pick one for me.  It was an old Revell 1/72 P-38.  It was the sorriest looking plane you had ever seen in your life.  Slapped together no other 8 year old could!  But dad just keep saying what a good job I had done.  Then he read some books on the P-38 and we watch an old war movie together (no idea what it was).  Couple of weeks later, after mowing the lawn, I stood there in front of my dad and waited for him to say, "let's go for a ride"..........and he did!  That was it, I was hooked.  I did mostly planes.  Both sides of the family were Army Air Corp/Air Force so I naturally was drawn to aircraft.  One of my uncles bought me a General Lee many years later, and that was my first car....din't turn out much better than the first aircraft!  Now I'm still heavy into aircraft, but I have expanded my horizons to Sci-Fi, real space, and armor.  I do have 2 cars in my stash, but there they sit for now.  I'd like to get into ships too.  I have a Titanic (for the wife), Robert E. Lee (again, for the wife), and 2 small carriers (size wish that is).  Anyway, all that to say......it was my dad!

Eagle90

I'm not really sure.  I started when I was about 10.  I believe I asked for the Monogram F-104 Starfighter for a birthday gift, not knowing that it was a real plane.  At the time, I was into Sci-Fi, so when the model came, I was puzzled.  From there I remember building an A-4, F-16, and an F-86; all Monogram.  I think I built one ship, too.  I took a long break, and am back.  At least I've learned what the planes are now...

Though I never stop learning.

Well another  "My Dad" answer. He was the quintessential hobbyists and I admired everything. I started my own snap tite model build at the age of 4 and it went from there at 31 I'm still going strong with a child of my own now to introduce to the hobby.

I got into model railroading first thanks to my dad and grandfather and while I was a youth this became a natural progression while spending time and money in hobby shops.

It all got put on hold when high school, girls, the army etc took up most of my time.

Then as my son became interested in trains I dusted off that stuff, and the model kits came back out at the same time.

I was a grade school kid during WW2, and every boy built model airplanes- usually stick and tissue flying models. Fighter pilots were the heros of the war, so boys my age were all airplane-crazy!

I and friends did occasionally build "solid models" too, which were exhibition (shelf) scale models.  First models I ever built were the famous paper flying models of a P-40 and a Zero, that were premiums from Kix cereal!  They used a penny for nose weights.  Took me a lot longer to get one of the balsa and tissue models to fly as good as those paper models!

Flew flying models for a long time before, as a middle aged adult I got tired of too many windy days when I could not fly a model well, and realized that I didn't have to worry about weather to display exhibition scale models.  I do make a flying model every few years, but mostly build non-flying scale now.

I don't remember what got me started back in the 60's, but most likely my dad.

But I do know what sparked my recent return. Last year I retrieved my HO train stuff from storage and started fiddling a little. My significant other's son bought me a 1/48th TBM kit this past Christmas, so I can only guess his mom must have told him I like 'playing with models' or something.

I must admit, my first two thoughts upon opening his gift Christmas past were "How thoughtful" and "Oh crap, now I'm going to have to build this  thing", in order. (just being honest).

Turns out it was perhaps the best Christmas gift ever. I had no idea what I've been missing. I guess decades of playing with my laptop as my primary time killer made me forget how much fun and how therapeutic working with my hands is to me.

Yesterday, I found myself flying the TBM around the bench a bit. I had to stop and laugh at myself. :)

Next time some clown dismisses the impact fathers can have on their sons, just have them read this thread.

Another "my dad" answer.  He wasn't actually a modeler, but did his best building me various kits using a stinky yellow colored contact cement.  He had a bunch of books on WW II aircraft, so naturally I was exposed to stuff like the Flying Tigers P-40 and P-38, which were my favorites.  He would always tell me neat stories about the different aircraft, which I suspect seeded my interest in research later on in life.

However, I think my mom provided me with the final push to build my own models when one afternoon, she bought me a battleship kit and a couple of bottles of paint to keep me out of her hair.  I was so proud that I (sorta) finished a model (kinda) following the instructions.  The Revell USS Pittsburgh looked mighty fine in flat black and chrome silver!  I was five years old.

Like most kids growing up in the 60s and 70s, building model kits was just part of our childhood.  Nobody cared about using the right colors or even if the kit was accurate in detail.  A friend in elementary school started buying Scale Modeler, so we saw that some people took the hobby seriously.  But we didn't!  I think it wasn't until high school that I started using putty and an airbrush.  Ah the good old days...

My love for aircraft is what got me started. And I defintely got supported by my parents (who bought me loads of kits) and my grandfather (who tought me the basics). I still have two kits that my grandfather and I build when I was five or six.

I was 9 or 10, and it was about 1971. My dad and I had attended the annual Labor Day airshow at our local airport. He had started flying a year or so earlier. After the show, we went to a 'mom and pop' store where we usually went on Sunday afternoons where he'd hang out and drink beer with some friends and I'd hang around with their kids and drink Chocolate Soldiers and buy a comic book and read it. The store had a small selection of Hawk 1/48 models. Among them the F8F Bearcat. Since one of the airshow performers was Corky Fornoff in his Bearcat, my dad asked me if I could build it and paint it like his. The only three models I had ever 'built' before had been the Aurora LIS Robot, Hawk F-104 and Aurora Swedish S Tank, all with disastrous results. Anyway, I built it, painted it tan and he was tickled. That began a weekly model airplane purchase, either with my allowance or his money. That almost continues to this day.

Dinosaurs. When I first started building models as a young boy, I was enthralled with dinosaurs, and my first kit was a dinosaur model. Of course I loved military stuff too. I was hooked as well...

This is a fun thread. :)

At the age of 3 or 4, I would go to a neighbors home with my mother and they would have coffee.  They would give me a box of lincoln logs to keep me busy while they did their thing.  The box of logs belonged to a school age boy and it always had a couple of model airplanes and maybe a car or two.  I knew these were not like my usual "Toys" and always picked those to play with because I liked the detail  of these and looking into the clear canopies and windows and viewing the interiors.  I for some reason liked models over the other toys I think because they looked a little more real.  As I got older and figured out just what models were and where to get them, I started to get a few kits from time to time and gloo em together.  From the age of 6 or so until I was about 11 I destroyed lots of kits with a tube of gloo!  Those first kits in that box of logs I played with was some where in the mid to late 50's.  I have "played" with kits since that time and still do.  My parents have helped me with kits when I was young, but I still think that young school boy whose name I don't even remember today is what got me started in modeling.  From that day on I have always been drawn to models--planes, ships, cars or what ever I saw at the time.  A little different beginning than most, but thats what I remember!

Cheers to dads

When I was three I discovered my father's Lionel train set. It was in boxes but I thought it was cool. Then a couple years later I set about building model boats out of the tops of egg cartons as hulls, and pipe cleaners, construction paper and string. About the same time I discovered my dad's partially built Monogram Duesenberg Phaeton and thought that was cool also, but these things were packed in boxes because my father was an avid ham radio operator. 

When I was seven I discovered the selection of models carried by a local drug store, and I thought the ones with the paintings of planes on them were the best. I begged my parents for one, but I don't think they thought I knew what was inside. I did indeed understand that there were plastic parts inside that needed to be put together with glue and when you were done you'd have a miniature replica of what was on the box art. So after a couple more trips and more pleading, I got Lindberg's 1/184 SR-71 (actually the thing is a YF-12A but that didn't matter then). My dad helped me put that together and then Monogram's 1/72 snap-tite Huey Hog, and after that I was a modeler for life.

Great thread.  What got me started as a kid in the very early 60's?:  my two older brothers. I remember a steady stream of AMT '3 in 1 stock, show or go' kits, a few planes, a wonderful light green space station and a multi-stage rocket with see-thru panels and internal detail based on some 50's sci-fi movie - both space kits probably worth > $1K these days….also recall much pre-pubescent snickering over the almost anatomically detailed invisible woman model….wonderful years to have been a kid.  My models back then were heavy on the tube glue and light on paint but it was total fun.  Just as my skills started to mature, I entered an age bracket (13?) when it was no longer cool to build models...

My second modeling period started about 5 years ago in a camp ground up in the eastern Sierra Nevada's. My younger best friend Joe (now 50) and I took our kids camping and he brought along some "camping models" to mess with in the afternoon when it was too hot to fish or hike.  I slapped a re-issue of a yellow 1/32 Revell '55 Ford convertible together and was blown away with the craftsmanship that I was never able to achieve as a kid.  It was fun seeing fellow campers do double takes when they walked by our campsite.  I was hooked. Now I have about 25 completed aircraft and one 1/350 destroyer (Dragon - so many little parts!!!!).  Joe is a hell of a modeler but i'm gaining on him.

Why I model today: to relax & escape (both into my man cave and in my mind).  To enjoy the feeling of total control over my own little project and, unlike my day job, I 'm not required to "build a consensus with the team" and fill out countless forms if I decide to deviate from the instructions or historical accuracy or just take a hammer to it!. Unlike my kid years, now I can afford to buy the nicer kits, solvents, airbrush, tools, paints, all kinds of amazing aftermarket stuff that never existed.  Also, the kits are so much better these days due to tech. advances (CAD/ CAM, CNC, wire & sinker EDM, chem etching of mold cavities).  And the the web has exploded the dissemination of modeling info/ skills/ techniques/ craft level making it much easier to improve one's skills.  I'm currently building the Tamiya 1/32 Spit IX and am blown away at the near perfection of the parts & fits.

If I had imagined the perfect world in the future to build models in as a kid it would pretty much look like now. Enjoy.

John

I took some pics of my oldest models.

This is a 1/144 F-15, made when I was about five (29 years ago!). In my mind my grandfather and I made it togehter but more realistically he made it whilst I was watching. Notice the realistic canopy (tube glue is the best!), single color camo scheme, no decals and unpainted missile.

And a Airfix 1/144 DC-9, also around 30 years old. In those 30 years it has lost its gear (being a target plane for my fighters caused it to crash very often). This one has a tri color scheme and decals. My grandfather paintstackingly cut all the decals from the sheet and glued them on. They are still on the backing paper! Still though, he taught me the basics: check parts on the sprue, test fit, adjust, test fit and then (and only then) glue the parts together.

I felt curiosity for these tiny Matchbox models tah had to be built, I was 14 years old and my parents used to leave me with my grandma to go to the cinema. Once I bought a T34/76 and built it in an hour or so, that was 30 years ago, I never stopped making tanks since then.

I started at the age of 6 when my uncles brought me some kind of kit to build. As a senior citizen now, I can't seem to remember too much of those days.  Not too much variety back then (1946), but they kept me supplied with everything I needed until I started bringing home a paycheck. My dad thought it was a waste of time and money (he was stubborn, and cheap). Most of the kits were of ships of one kind or another with some planes thrown in. In WWII, one uncle was in Submarines and the other was Merchant Marines. I have a pic of the two of them (in uniform) standing on either side of me in 1943 or 1944. Up until the time they passed on, they always wanted to know what I was working on, and did I bring any pics of it. The Submariner made a model of the sub he was on from scratch. It looked great. I remember always seeing it on the mantel in the living room. During a move to a new house, the model disappeared. He never had the time to build it again.

Jim 

Like Don I got into modeling because it was one of those toys pre-teen boys born before 1960ish were expected to be interested in. Much like today such items as action figures and Pokémon cards are favorites of the same age group.

If a rarely seen relative happened to be in town for your birthday party buying you a model kit was a gift where they couldn't go wrong.

There wasn't a history of modeling building or crafting of any kind in my family. My dad did choose the models I received as gifts and showed great interest in my building them but he never actually participated in their construction.

Like others here my interest diminished in my high school-college years due to pursuing what you might call a softer, better smelling type of model. Studies, pursuing a career, and raising a family didn't leave much spare time for hobbies.

However, all during this time the interest was still there and I felt "someday" I'll get back into it.