[Cruver Collecter]

With all the model discussion on he welcome back thread, though it might be nice to have one just on that topic. Well, it your first kit was an Aurora, Hawk, Lindberge Line, Airfix or Frog, you probably started building kits some time in the 1960s (Or maybe a little earlier.). Nothing like a model made of some off colored brittle plastic with raised outlines to show you were the decals were supposed to go. These old kits none to fancy, but I know how much fun I had making them as a kid. I was 5 years old when I made my first plastic kit, and it was the Aurora F4F Wildcat. There is nothing like getting a little to much glue and making a soft spot on a wing. Hundreds of models later, I still get a kick out of putting one together. Here some photos of some kits I have been dragging around for quite awhile now. (A few have been previously posted, but nice to get them all together)

[Cruver Collecter]

If you are talking about the old days of kit building, then you really need to include some Airfix kits.

[Cruver Collecter]

Not sure how many modelers on this forum started earlier than the 1960s, but here are a few kits from the 1940s and 1950s. My Dad also taught me how much fun it was to carve a plane out of wood. Here a some real early wood models. Box plans and some pieces of wood. That and a couple of kits that you could take out and fly.

[JustPlaneNuttz]

Yes, it seems we travelled somewhat of a parallel path in our youth, CC. To this day I can remember my very first model I built was the Revell 1:72 Tony. It was a gift from a well-meaning friend whose Dad owned a store. I found later this kid had stolen it from the stock room! Gawd, and I was in Scouts with him too! Then I bought scads more Revell fighters. I had the toughest time with that Me 109 you show there. Eventually I finished with Revell at the 'Memphis Belle' and the 'Dambuster' Lancaster. (That model was evil at many levels) As I mentioned on the other thread, my very last was the Monogram 1:72 P-51B 'Ding Hao!'. That was such a lovely model. It helped that I had built countless numbers by then and my skill level was very much improved.

Then there was everything in between. Large amounts of the Monogram 1:48 aircraft from about 1964 on. Airfix by the score -- especially the bombers -- twin and 4-engine. Not to mention the odd amount of 1:32 ones like that Monogram F3F you and Miket showed. Hawk for all their 1:48 chrome-plated models and Lindberg with their large B-58 Hustler. Oh what days they were. My grades started to suffer too, as I was very much preoccupied with all things that flew with insignias. (Of course I still maintain the Testors glue fumes may have contributed to some of that! Mmmmm . . . the 60s. I am the Walrus!)

Curiously, I still have an original of that Airfix Anson that I picked up a couple of years ago at a vintage toy fair that I mean to build -- just as a test, of course. I'm kind of hoping that Corgi will release one first.

I plan to pop over to my Brother's place one of these upcoming weekends for a bit of a booze-up, so I'll bring my digital camera. He's collected tonnes of the original kits that he and I built. I trust there will be some unique ones in the mix worthy of posting/mention. (I'll make sure I get the shots before I get into the pints!)

Oh yeah -- and as much as box art was cool -- so were some of the instruction sheets. That was my FIRST source of detailed information!


Believe it or not the original was my personal 1967 Centennial Project, bought in a peanut plaza in Fargo, North Dakota!


Knowledge is Power!

If I can find it, I have a B & W shot from 1966 of part of my model aircraft collection. The shot is a bit soft and a wee small, but you'll get the gist! I'll find and post it here this weekend.

JPN

[jim]

Originally Posted by JustPlaneNuttz

Oh yeah -- and as much as box art was cool -- so were some of the instruction sheets. That was my FIRST source of detailed information!

JPN

Me too, the brief introduction on the instruction sheets was a great way to begin the search for knowledge.

The Airfix company did a good job with those and the instuctions were nice and easy for a budding young addict to understand.

At the age of 12 I spent one night building a Do217 while sitting on a bale of hay waiting for a sow to give birth. At 4am out popped 14 little piglets one after the other.
Then it was off to school at 8am after feeding all the other livestock!

You tell that to kids today and they don't believe you!

I still have the Do217 somewhere up in the loft.

[SKUNKY]

Originally Posted by jim

At the age of 12 I spent one night building a Do217 while sitting on a bale of hay waiting for a sow to give birth. At 4am out popped 14 little piglets one after the other.
Then it was off to school at 8am after feeding all the other livestock!

I don't believe you. (actually I thought this was the beginning of a shorn skrotim tale)

Oh yes, I had that Revell Memphis Belle kit too..In fact I think I had two of them. I remember cutting out that boxtop art and tacking it to my bedroom wall.

[jim]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

I don't believe you. (actually I thought this was the beginning of a shorn skrotim tale)

Oh yes, I had that Revell Memphis Belle kit too..In fact I think I had two of them. I remember cutting out that boxtop art and tacking it to my bedroom wall.

Tis all true buddy, an I will tell you this,
Times were hard in those days up on the farm and when another edition came into the family, (my youngest brother Nick) I was removed from the house and put into an old caravan in the backyard!!

Leaking roof and no heating!!!

But I was tough in those days and was happy to have my own space after sharing with my other brother for so long, plus I had somewhere to put all my 200 plus Airfix models where he couldn't get his destructive hands on them.

Another true story, not only was there no heating but there was a large gap at the bottom of the caravan door, the cats used this to get in and spend the nights curled up under my bed.
One morning I woke up and felt something a bit sticky on my toes, when I looked down I saw that one of the cats was curled up at the foot of the bed after having given birth to 4 kittens. Blood and yuk all over the place!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had an interesting childhood.

[SKUNKY]

Originally Posted by jim

I had an interesting childhood.

To say the least!

Yes, those Dodge Caravans did have quite a rot problem. You're lucky yours was confined to just the door.

[JustPlaneNuttz]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

Oh yes, I had that Revell Memphis Belle kit too..In fact I think I had two of them. I remember cutting out that boxtop art and tacking it to my bedroom wall.

Yup -- I stuck my original up in my work area which was a well lit ( but poorly ventilated ) area of our basement!

("Koo-koo-Ka-Choo! They are the eggmen . . . ")

JPN

[JustPlaneNuttz]

What's a Friday afternoon without a bit of levity, eh??

Well -- here it is. Below is the ONLY surviving photo I have of any of my model aircraft I built. This shot was taken on a card table with a Kodak Brownie with flash. What you are looking at is a small assortment of my 1/48 prop fighters. I had all kinds, but this is the only shot that survives. My best guess puts this at 1966 -- I was 13! I apologize for the 'grubby kwality' of the shot.



The photo below is 'Lil JPN' taken in 1966 by his 8 year old Brother. I am proudly holding the Monogram 1/48 P-38 (Bomber version) which was my pride and joy at the time! Gotta tell 'ya -- not much to do in Dawson Creek, B.C. except build model airplanes!!



Here was the original kit. Anyone else build this 1/48 beauty?



JPN