Model building - a childhood past time??

[rex351]

Built my 1:8 Icon Phase 3 (Track Red) about 3 years ago, took quite a few hours and loved every minute. Definitely not just a childhood hobby! Noticed the one in this thread has gold side stripes, is it a prototype? My car has black stripes.

[LUXO_8]

almost certain mine has gold stripes as well... (its packed away and cant get to it at the minute)

[XR_6falcon]

Love models!

Taking it to the extreme; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AQFR...FFEB9E7D60EE5D

[Bridgette01]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

My favourite movie car and car in real life... I havent weathered it properly, one day ill get round to it.

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Ohhhh, thats the BEST!!!!!!!

[Polyal]

+1 to used to do it as a kid, but these days I am lazy and buy the metal ones premade..hehe

[casabonka]

This thread has got me off my **** to complete a half done and start a new one! Perfect new years day!

[brett4777]

ive got 1/25 munster coach and dragula plus the original batmobile sitting waiting for me to find time to build plus 3 or 4 1/24 scale drag cars also,seeing this thread has started to get me keen to start them gee thanks guys.

[wulos]

Originally Posted by casabonka

This thread has got me off my **** to complete a half done and start a new one! Perfect new years day!

Good stuff - you DO realise this comment is useless without proof pics...
lol

[Jim Goose]

I still have in storage a heap of 1/72 scale aircraft, mostly ones from the USSR (as it was known) and a Dukes of Hazzard Charger kit. Some have been in storage for 15yrs.... and all my model planes from my teenage days are still in a cabinet, but a bit dusty now. Didnt have the heart to toss em out.

[Burnout]

Used to build the little 3inch Airfix model warships when I was a kid; my brother used to put 'em out on the back lawn and shoot 'em with a .22LR........

[Geez Louise]

It would be great to see a resurgance in model building. Jack tried to get our kids into it, but it wasn't really their thing.

They were more into Bionicals (building robots) and building things with this really old meccano set that Jack had as a child.

Great to see members posting up their pics. Please keep them coming.

Cheers
Col

[DJR-351]

I had nearly the whole WW2 British, German and US air force hanging from the ceiling of my bedroom, also a fair amount of their respective Navies.....

Unfortunately the virtual world has got the attention of most these days.....

[Envi XR8]

I got my first model kit at about 5 years old. It was an old Crown 1/144 B17 fortress, bought from Coles. I built as many as I could with help from my folks, then I stopped for a little while. As a 12 yo I bought a Matchbox ME109 and Spitfire in 1/72. Did planes for a while, then went to armour and discovered 1/35 Tamiya tanks. I stopped again from 19 to 22, but can say that it is never far from my mind ever since.
I now have a dedicated modelling room, with all the tools and equipment, and close to 450 unbuilt kits in the stash waiting for construction, and I like most subjects. I like modelling because it is something that I can do without assistance from my friends (unlike my car!) and it makes me happy.
Been to the Model Expo in Melbourne several times, as well as attending the Qld Model Hobbies Expo in Brisbane. I am looking to go to the Perth one in the near future.

It makes me smile seeing all the people who used to model coming back to the hobby. There are new manufacturers making some of the best model kits ever produced; so yes while the hobby is in decline regarding the number of kids doing it, I think overall it is in a good position.

A couple of mine. Some are new.. some go back about 10 years.
1/35 Tamiya PBR

1/35 Tamiya Famo






Tamiya 1/48 Komatsu Bulldozer




Tamiya 1/48 Wildcat




1/48 Finemolds Snowspeeder ( I was really happy with the marking on this one, as it was the first time I masked and airbrushed them on)






1/24 Monogram 1953 Chev (as a barn/field find) I'm particularly happy with this one. I love the old beaten up look.






and a model thread somewhere might be a cool thing.

cheers
Chris

[Neale]

I loved building models. It was a great way to learn about alot of things. From How things worked to history & attention to detail. It was also great father son bonding time.

We mainly made planes but also had a few cars chucked in for good measure.

Heres some. I will get some better ones soon.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by Envi XR8

1/24 Monogram 1953 Chev (as a barn/field find) I'm particularly happy with this one. I love the old beaten up look.
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and a model thread somewhere might be a cool thing.

cheers
Chris

I love the "barn find" 53 Chev. I have the same model kit, but done up "normally". I particularly like the underbonnet...ratty wiring, no carby with fuel line "going nowhere" (that's a great touch), buggered battery...it all looks just right.

[Resurrection]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

Actually there's not a lot of kids doing model building these days. the majority are grey haired fat guys like me.

That is because today's generation of children spend their time indoors on computers.

[BA GT-HO]

Great skills Envi XR8

Having built quite a few kits/dioramas in my time I can appreciate the time and skill it takes to create that weathered effect.

I have not built a model for 4 years now, still have a 1:12 1992 Williams from Tamiya that I should finish. It's a great model, very detailed.

[Envi XR8]

anyone interested in a group build? we could pick one kit and all build it and take pics? Could be fun?!

[GT69]

Originally Posted by Envi XR8

anyone interested in a group build? we could pick one kit and all build it and take pics? Could be fun?!

I haven't even started my last group build (gen 4 fighter jets)

[Envi XR8]

Originally Posted by GT69

I haven't even started my last group build (gen 4 fighter jets)

Well hop to it then!

[Angeldust]

ive got models i built when i was in my teens. Particurarly amt 1:25 scale cars etc, but i have found that in time they start falling apart and the paint if not done absolutely perfectly either goes funny and/or picks up heaps and heaps of dust particles. Basically they need to be completely rebuilt.

This has prompted me to buy 1:18 scale biante/autoart etc diecast models as the quality is very very good though time will tell how well they hold up.


edit: some very very nice models shown here already.

[My poor XF]

Originally Posted by Geez Louise

It would be great to see a resurgance in model building.

Cheers
Col

Problem I have found is someone who is able to stock everything you need at decent price. I would normally buy locally but when eBay or hlj.com save me upwards of 50% on everything it's a no brainier. And photo etch, paints and stuff aren't cheap. Neither are the big ship kits.

[wulos]

Of late I've been searching around online - there are a number of quite cheap multi media conversion kits available, but you do need to search. Often times these conversion kits are based on kits that are not readily accessible here in Aus, which means buying the base kit online as well. This introduces the spectre of online purchasing from overseas vendors, & dealing with postage / handling issues.
Sometimes ya just gotta take a risk - never know ya may get lucky.

[K10wN]

I used to build many static car kits as a teen and into my 20's. Have a display cabinet full of 1:24 cars. Still have about 30 kits unbuilt hidden away in the back of the cupboard (mostly Fords). I sort of stopped building static kits when micro sized radio gear became easy to obtain, then I started to make them functional.

This was a 1:32 Monogram Cobra snaptite kit with a bit of extra detail added. It uses Losi Micro-T electric components, scalextric slotcar tyres and gearing. Powered by a tiny 7.4 volt Li-Po pack. Headlights and taillights work.





The one I'm currently working on is a 1:24 AMT 1969 Boss 302 Mustang. Moving parts have been copied from the plastic originals in aluminium (lots of dremel work). The electric motor and gear reduction has been hidden in between the halves of the plastic kit motor. Slotcar diff gears hidden inside the plastic diff housing. Nylon slip rings for bearings.

[LUXO_8]

thats really cool, would love to see more of your work!

[Nikked]

my models never turned out too good.

Always rushed them...always...

[2011G6E]

That's a great idea...I used to be into slot cars competitively at a big setup they had in Bundaberg, and I still have a huge box full of slot cars and more importantly all the little gears and crown wheels that we used to change to suit different conditions. They could come in handy for this sort of thing.

[basteve]

fantastic.....love these models...they can be worth a mint. very tedious and precise art...

[MNM96]

Okay, so I built a Milennium Falcon in 1980. i have done nothing since. My boy is 9. Interested in race cars. What size would be a good starter point, not too hard, not too expensive?

Love peoples efforts!

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by MNM96

Okay, so I built a Milennium Falcon in 1980. i have done nothing since. My boy is 9. Interested in race cars. What size would be a good starter point, not too hard, not too expensive?

Love peoples efforts!

1/24 for sedans - 1/24-1/20 for f1 models
these are good sizes for detail, ease of building and for storage/display options


20+ years ago, the hot rods and sedans were all generally 1/24. the tamiya f1's were 1/20 but might be a little advanced for a 9 year old beginner


the expense comes from having all of the paint colours needed. a tamiya f1 could need 10-20 colours from memory. well worth it in the end, but it can be a large initial cost. however most colours will be used on more than one model, so the unit cost reduces with each model