laskdjn

I was born in 1982.  That puts me at about either the trail end of Gen X or the beginning edge of Millenials, depending on how you look at it.  I really don't consider myself a Millenial, though, because I actually don't mind hard work, and can deal without immediate gratification... 

However, unlike Clemens, one of my co-workers also builds, though.  But him and I are the only ones I know.

 

Same here. I was born in ’83. I get upset when people try to pool me in with the millennials. I love hard work, but my job is really stressful. I grew up modeling and got out of it in my late teens only to return now for the relaxaction that it brings. I love focusing on the small details and taking my time to make something awesome out of a Bunch of plastic pieces. Here in Portland we have a few LHSs but they are expensive. If the younger people dont understand the importance of shopping small and local then it will only be reserved for the online world

Wilbur Wright

As far as age demographics I believe the hobby is much healthier in Europe and Japan. This is how MIG, AK,  Takom, Meng can make their margins.

I'm 58, and I don't know a single millenial that models outside of the occasional kid that goes to MIT.

You have 3 years olds that have iPads, that have to make a "date" to play.  It's a differnet world.

You want to talk about a hobby in trouble, try stamp collecting.  I'm considered one of the babies at 58.  No one is coming to replenish when the old guard die off.  Most of my friends in that hobby are well into their 80's, if not 90's.

 

It does seem very healthy over here judging by the numbers who attend the shows. And from what i have seen, the ages range from 20's all the way up. Even in the model club i belong to where we get between 10 and 20 attending each meeting, there are a couple of guys in their early 30's. I think the hobby is safe for a few years to come, my copncern would be in 20 to 30 years, will there be enough people still doing it to make it viable.

bluenote

I agree with you regarding the many different entertainment options available to millennials, but I don't believe that price is part of the problem.  I'm 43, and I remember the average AMT/Ertl/MPC car kit as being around $10 in the mid-late eighties.  With inflation, a car kit costing around $30 seems about right.  Paint is about $4.  

PGBolt

As some other respondents have commented, I believe that the current cost of plastic modeling keeps away millenials, among others. In the case of millenials, there is heavy competition for their bucks: E-Cigs, live shows, IoT, latest iPhone, "vintage" clothing that was made last week in China, bad tattoos, pricey everything-free food, etc. I think the closest thing to modeling that attracts millenials on a wide scale is drones, which used to be called RC helicopters. 

At 53, I find myself gagging on the price of new kits. A run-of-the-mill AMT 1/25 car kit typically retails for $30 at the carft store usual suspects. At the risk of going all Abe Simpson, modeling was much more accessible (cost-wise) "back in my day".

The availability and convenience of online shopping has certainly cut into the LHS population. In my area (RDU) there are a few really good independent LHSs, but even those are generally focused on RC and/or gaming. I suspect that the margins on those are higher than plastic kits. The LHS issue is a whole other issue for discussion.

 

As some other respondents have commented, I believe that the current cost of plastic modeling keeps away millenials, among others. In the case of millenials, there is heavy competition for their bucks: E-Cigs, live shows, IoT, latest iPhone, "vintage" clothing that was made last week in China, bad tattoos, pricey everything-free food, etc. I think the closest thing to modeling that attracts millenials on a wide scale is drones, which used to be called RC helicopters. 

At 53, I find myself gagging on the price of new kits. A run-of-the-mill AMT 1/25 car kit typically retails for $30 at the carft store usual suspects. At the risk of going all Abe Simpson, modeling was much more accessible (cost-wise) "back in my day".

The availability and convenience of online shopping has certainly cut into the LHS population. In my area (RDU) there are a few really good independent LHSs, but even those are generally focused on RC and/or gaming. I suspect that the margins on those are higher than plastic kits. The LHS issue is a whole other issue for discussion.

As far as age demographics I believe the hobby is much healthier in Europe and Japan. This is how MIG, AK,  Takom, Meng can make their margins.

I'm 58, and I don't know a single millenial that models outside of the occasional kid that goes to MIT.

You have 3 years olds that have iPads, that have to make a "date" to play.  It's a differnet world.

You want to talk about a hobby in trouble, try stamp collecting.  I'm considered one of the babies at 58.  No one is coming to replenish when the old guard die off.  Most of my friends in that hobby are well into their 80's, if not 90's.

I think I lean toward the Noahs ark generation. My dad was a 30s flyer and WWII dive bomber pilot. I grew up at Carswell AFB and Dallas NAS.

My little grand daughter was born in 2014 and I have no idea what her gerneration is called. This kid loves airplanes and is building little wooden children's kits with me. She has pobably 50 metal planes of various sizes and each is special. Her favorite is a beat up old Lindberg Cutlass that she takes to be every night.

I think she will be a model builder!

This is a good question. I was born in 1986, so technically I am a millennial... I think

For me, modelling started because of my fascination with military history. I am a gung-ho american patriot at heart, though I kick myself for never taking the leap and going through OCS and serving after college. That aside, it's my interest in flying and WWII history that got me into it.

With so many distractions between TV, video games, and social media, it will be a hard sell. I think kits like the P-51D snap kit would help, make the building process as easy as possible (no glue, etc). That's step one. Step two is somehow make it cool... package it. Maybe pair a new video game with a model, have some kind of competition to get those kids playing video games to pair it with a built model somehow... I don't know, make it a tool in the game or have a contest for best built models get money off in game purchases... no clue.

Ultimately, my generation likes instant gratification. Even our movies are all action and no story anymore. I don't think we are a dumb or boring generation, just the product of continual marketing that has cut to the chase more and more over the years to the point that we now all expect immediate results/gratification/etc/

- Jim

falconmod

Yes it's kinda humbling when we become our parents isn't it!

 

Yes it's kinda humbling when we become our parents isn't it!

Well as some people have pointed out above growing up a Gen-Xer the Boomers kept calling us lazy, shiftless, cynical, and more interested in playing video games than getting ahead. The same thing older people keep throwing at the Millenials... 

I think every generation makes the same accusations at the young guys and gals. 

TankerEasy

 

Per the internets, millennials start in 1984, making me part of that group (born in 88').  I was modeling as a kid because my dad did, and in turn i got into it.  I will admit I just got back into it earlier this year, but none the less I love it.  I can see reading through some of the replies that there’s a big misconception of those of us classified as "millennials"..  Keep in mind folks, its baby boomers and gen x'ers that created millennials due to poor parenting... so some of you might wanna take a long hard look at your own generation for the crap shoot we’ve ended up with, and remember were not all bad  

 

*not trying to offend anyone, but when my age group gets targeted like it does on the regular, i feel it’s necessary to defend it, the generations created this monster lol**

Valid statement and Yes I think we BB  are guilty as charged!

 

Per the internets, millennials start in 1984, making me part of that group (born in 88').  I was modeling as a kid because my dad did, and in turn i got into it.  I will admit I just got back into it earlier this year, but none the less I love it.  I can see reading through some of the replies that there’s a big misconception of those of us classified as "millennials"..  Keep in mind folks, its baby boomers and gen x'ers that created millennials due to poor parenting... so some of you might wanna take a long hard look at your own generation for the crap shoot we’ve ended up with, and remember were not all bad  

*not trying to offend anyone, but when my age group gets targeted like it does on the regular, i feel it’s necessary to defend it, the generations created this monster lol**

I’m a Gen-Xer through and through, and my interest in modeling came from my dad.  Even though he didn’t build models, he pasted them together when I was too small to do it myself.  He lived through WW II, but couldn’t serve due to a high school football injury.  Maybe that’s why he was so interested in studying it so much.  My two uncles did serve as infantry in Italy, but they never wanted to be reminded of the experience, much less tell stories about it.

So as it was my dad shared his interest in stuff like WW II naval warfare and ship design.  He always took the time to explain stuff, like the hows and whys.  I gravitated to airplanes because they zoomed around in the air and had dogfights.  I grew up during Vietnam, and night after night watched helos and jets blasting stuff on TV.  Bombs were mostly dumb back then, so planes had the “Christmas tree” look, slinging dozens of Mk-82s and such.  So that’s why I was an airplane guy.

But the Millennials have different experiences.  Their parents might have served in the various gulf wars, so their interest most likely leans to the modern stuff.  And yeah there are video games, the Internet, and hipster joints all vying for their interest.

And then there is the 18.5 meter tall mobile suit standing in the room.

I was an early fan of Gundam, buying my first such kit in 1983.  I had no idea who or what Gundam was, but the bad guys looked so cool!  And then the anime boom hit the US and I gleefully rode the wave of merchandise coming from Japan.

By the time the TV shows aired on cable here, I was already a serious fan.  But I think most people got their first look at Gundam on Cartoon Network, so naturally they liked the stuff from those shows.  I must admit I was surprised that Gundam took off in popularity in the US because the franchise had a somewhat rocky start.  Nevertheless, it seems to have gotten its second wind, and like it or not, it’s here to stay.

But not all hope is lost.  I have a good friend that is a millennial, and while he started out as a Gundam fan, he is now getting into WW II planes and armor because he knows little about them and finds them interesting(!).

The cadre of old modeler farts I hang out with encourage him, tell him interesting factoids about what he is building, help him with information regarding details and paint schemes, and of course shower him with appropriate kits from multiple stashes.  AND we don’t ride him about accuracy.  We tell him it’s his model and his decision on how to go about finishing it.  But he tries his best to get it right and enjoys doing so.

So super long story short, I think it is up to the older generations to introduce the youngsters to save the hobby.  This has always been the case.  I noticed a lot of my peers are not really into doing that.  They are too occupied counting rivets on their own projects. Maybe it is WE who are different, not the young ‘uns?  “To understand the problem, look not at the dying trees in the forest, but rather the soil and water which nutures them.”

And now must I my Yoda hat remove, and to your regularly scheduled program return you.

Where i live in norcal,any hobby shop has been taken over by the rc hobby industry.

My son has gotten into Gundams and other anime based models. Ill bet there are forums out there for that genre that are populated by their builders/fans. 

I was a bit shocked when I visited my LHS the other day and found at least 1/2 of the kit section had been taken over by Gundam/anime stuff. The guy at the store told me he sells more of 'em than every other kit genre combined by a wide margain... come to find out that stuff was basically keeping his business alive.

I know it's not a bunch of grey-hairs buying that stuff, so yeah, millenials build models. They just don't seem to frequent forums. 

I am one of the few "youngins" to actually get into modeling, and enjoy it. I started when I was 15, and have been working at it for 2 years now(I am 17, for those of you who cannot do math). I am kind of the "outlier", in that instead of someone introducing me to modeling, I brought myself in, and have built roughly 35-40 aircraft (including the B-36 that is my profile pic). In response to the bit on bringing in more people to the modeling community, I have helped one of my freinds built a Tamiya 1/35 walker bulldog kit.

Just like everything else in life.  Being a veteran and part of the VFW I hear that all the time, how do we get younger members?  And the sad truth is your not going to right now.  I'm 37, born in 1980 and depending on who you talk to I am either at the tail end of the Gen Xers or the beginning of the Millennials.  Of course most of us born between 78-84 kinda tend to think of ourselves as neither because while we have characteristics of both, we don't quite fit the mold completely.  

  But anyway, the fact is most of your Millennials are just really starting to settle down in life.  And unlike the generations before, the Millennials seem to be waiting later to have kids.  So where before people would be 40 and their kids would be about out the door, now your seeing alot of people waiting until their mid to late 30s to have kids.  

  For me, I am just now getting back into this hobby (and realizing I have a long way to go to be even remotely decent at it) after taking a nearly 20 year break from it.  But that is because life has gotten in the way.  But I will say that after sitting on a computer at work all day, and after the kids have gone to bed, it is really relaxing to just sit down in my chair, pull my little hobby table over, have a cup of coffee and start working on a model.  And while my work is still subpar to just about anyone, I am learning new things and getting better at it.  So it works for me.  

  And I think as the millennials start getting up there in age, there will be some who will start to realize that the technology is nice but is too demanding of our time and will want a break from it and will have the time and space to take it back up.

  I just joined a local IPMS club here and while I have only been to one meeting so far (was their annual auction too which was nice) the people I have met so far are pretty nice and seem to range from mid 20s on up.  

I hire a lot of these kids ( and my own fit the cohort).  I find them to run the gamut of kids I hired 15 years ago.  Most are extremely good problem solvers, which video games actually develop.  And there are a couple of social network addicts which I have to call out. 

As a software engineering manager, a lot of these kids are home run hitters.  

Someone is buying all the Gundam and StarWars kits, I doubt it is the senior citizens that dominate modeling forums. One of the model sites I frequent did a poll recently and 75%+ of the respondents were over 50. 

I think there is more than just age involved. My dad has built models my whole life, he got me started young and we continue to inspire each other with new (or old) techniques.

My brother never showed any interest in models, and neither did my Uncle (my dad's brother).

My best friend from elementary school built models and still does. His brother and sister never have, and I don't think his dad did either.

My oldest has shown very limited interest, but my younger son seems quite enthralled in watching me at work (he is 4), I think I've got a modeler in training there.

ItWasForetold

My girlfriend supports it, because she knows I’m just sitting in the garage and not out at the bar.

I honestly think the larger reason why it's dying off... it's not cool... plain and simple. Everyone I know already KNOWS that I'm a nerd, so it's not that big of a deal to me. But when I run across someone knew, or have a party and people see a model they always go "ohhh, that's so cute, you're like a real nerd".

I had a young guy on my crew a few years back. He was 19 or 20, had the nerve to be born the year I started in fire... darn whippersnapers making us "experienced" guys feel old.

Anyway I was talking with him one day and mentioned something about a model I was working on, and he got excited, started talking about the models he used to build, how much he enjoyed it. I don't remember exactly how he said it but it was clear that he didn't stop because he didn't like it anymore, but because people told him it was time to grow up and put away the toys.

Maybe like many of us who stopped for a period of time when he is in his 30s and more confident in his "adultness" he will pick it up again.

For what it is worth, I'm early Gen X and the older generations said we were lazy, self centered and worthless too.  In fact most of what you said about yourself would apply to me and my friends when we were in our late 20s.

ygmodeler4

This thread has come around multiple times over the years. The majority of comments in this thread and the past are the reasons I only go to the local model meetings every once in awhile. Online is different because you can't see a person and put an age to that person. That's why I've stuck around on the forums since I joined when I was 15 years old, these forums are generally friendly. But this is the honest truth, modelers are *in my experience* one of the least friendliest group of hobbyists out there. They're great at welcoming the younger age group, i.e. 13 and below, which is great! But howabout the college/recently graduated crowd? 

You wonder why an age group doesn't enjoy your hobby and in the same post disparage and insult them in the same post. All the other hobbies I've had experience with do not act that way. Hunters (another group that is worried about passing on their hobby/sport) are some of the nicest and welcoming folks regardless of age group that I've ever met, even the rough around the edges folks. When a millenial actually chooses to venture to the great outdoors, instead of bashing their age group they welcome them in and show why it's they love doing it and it's a great hobby. Maybe you should do the same. As for me, I'll still go to the meetings once in awhile. I build for my own reasons, probably the same reasons as the majority of you on here. It's certainly not because of the welcoming crowd at the model meetings/LHS/contests though.

I've seen this all too many times. Constant bashing of todays youth, and then when some young modelers do have an interest, the subjects they are interested are the "wrong" things and get little attention, or worse negative attention. What positive attention they get is often sideways complements "that looks pretty good for a whatever it is, now the '57 Chevy, that was a real car".

My oldest was born in 2000 so falls into the very tail end of millenials. As a result the comments made about the younger generation hits me as well.

Yes, he fits a lot of the stereotypes, he is into computers, he wants to do things his way, he wants to know why, he likes his phone.

He will also work hard if he can do it his way and he knows why he is doing it. He just wants to know there is a good reason for the effort.

keavdog

I think we are in one of the greatest car eras.  700+ hp, track ready cars from dodge, Ford and Chevrolet,  gtr, new Corvette, Tesla, cool little cars like the Subaru wrx and brz, scion frs, toyota 86, ford focus rs. 

Lots of subject matter and pleanty of young folks moding and tuning.

 

Given how few young people are building models, it’s ironic that the people I’ve learned the most from i.e. YouTube modelers, are mostly young. 

J.J.

 Hi; you are right about this But .I have to add .I belong to a Model Rail Club/Museum .It can get demanding sometimes . I have had thoughts of backing off because of the time commitments !. Probably won't though .

This is completely unrelated to modelling, but I so badly want the developers to release an English version of Kantai Collection (Kancolle). It's a japanese exclusive right now- the only way for the very large collection of interested english speakers to play the game involves the use of VPN's, and scouring wikis as you try to simply memorize what buttons do what. Also, if the Fleet Girls concept interests anyone, there is an anime based on the game- 12 episodes and a movie long. 

I think we are in one of the greatest car eras.  700+ hp, track ready cars from dodge, Ford and Chevrolet,  gtr, new Corvette, Tesla, cool little cars like the Subaru wrx and brz, scion frs, toyota 86, ford focus rs. 

Lots of subject matter and pleanty of young folks moding and tuning.