How old were you when you got into modelling?

I have beeing building models since age 5 or 6. My first builds where under the guidance of my grandfather who told me the valuable basics ("dry fit first, then glue"etc.) I stil have the second and third model we build together (a dc-9 and a F-15 both 1/144)  

When I was a bit older I was allowed to build them myself (because of the knives and glue involved) but my mother made sure that I didn't cut myself. I never painted, building models was a bit of a collecting hobby. I started painting at age 15 or 16, very late. I never stopped making model during highschool or college but now that I am working I don't have enough time for modeling as I would like to. And I always played a lot of video games so the two don't have to be exlusive.

I remember slapping paint on a few glue-still-drying models when i was around nine.  I started to model more seriously when I was 14 (although id say my first respectable model was made when i was fifteen).  And now I'm a mere 16 years old.  All my life i have been really interested in pretty much all things science/tech.  More specifically military tech, mostly vehicles (especially planes).   Ive been around and in planes alot of my life so that was a pretty big influence.

                                                           -graham
 

SprueOne wrote:

I can't remember exactly but the first model kit I built with help from my brother, who bought it for me, was the Monogram Snap Tite FAKE OUT funny car. It was bought off the shelf, so there is the estimated year. I guess I was about 7 or 8 Then my first military armor kit was the Snap Tite Monogram Patton tank

I so had that funny car!!! It got me started at about five, I think. I wasn't in school yet.

I started in my early teens. In fact I still have most of the models that I built as a kid, though I've disposed of some of them. They are beginning to dry and crumble apart at the slightest jar. Most haven't seen the light of day for more than 30 years.

Would I have done it again if I could go back in time...hell yes! Only this time I would collect more kits! 

DURR wrote:

i started in the early 1960's at about 6 btw AL the 50's  2was that the 1650's , 1750's or what

That would be the 1950's, BCE……for both of us!

i started in the early 1960's at about 6

btw AL the 50's  2was that the 1650's , 1750's or what

I started building in the fifties, no, not my fiftes, THE fiftes.

The earliest I can remember was a P-39 with my father. I also remember an Indian in full headdress (not too different form my most recent, except it was probably Aurora and a foot tall in plastic). I did that one with my grandfather. I can also remember Disney's multi stage Werner Von Braun "Moon Rocket."

One of my earliest solo projects included a USS George Washington nuclear sub with full interior, drop down side and firing Polaris missle. It was finished in natural gray plastic.

I still have an Aurora white tail deer with a copyright of 1960 which I built when it was new.

Since I am considered a young person under 18, I can remember this quite clearly. Sorta a long story but here it goes:

There are about five diffferent things that connected that got me in this hobby.

A. My Grandpa built model airplanes (RC) and had a Tamiya A1 on the shelf (he flew them in Korea) and one day, he asked me if I would like to build it with him. I saidm sure and I still have that model sitting on the shelf, minus a propeller shot of by the North Koreans and the rockets and bombs have all been detached.

B.My Dad was flying RC models and as he was going through an old box, he found a bunch of old Revell and Monogram kits he had built as a kid and got me a Revell F-18 that we built together.

C. My mom had to take me to work with her one week so she had to give me something to do so she got me a Revell P-61 to keep me busy, I know, not the best kit to start with but it was fun.

D. I had read a lot of books on Military history before I started modeleing and had always been fascinated by the ehickles and weoponry.

E. I grow up in a house where there is no nintendo, Xbox, PS2, gameboy and no cell phone. All I have is a computer. Eventually, video games get boring. To me, making a diorama is like making a scene in a movie or game, And the best part is when ou sit down after a completed project and can say, I built that with my own two hands, the sense of improvement and accomplishment far surpasses anything that can be achieved by a video game I think.

I played started playing Combat Flight Simulator 2 and 3 and Medal of Honor. About a year later I got into modeling.

I heard about the hobby from family and from going to alot of train shows where they had modeling products sometimes. And going to the LHS with my dad to pick up supplies for his kits.

I was 9 when I started building models. If you want to get a son or daughter into the hobby, the best thing I would reccomend is maybe getting them a small 1/72 or 1/48 kit that doesn';t have to many fit problems and let them give it a try, the worst they can do is say I don't like it. 

David