Share: Which models of your childhood set the hook?

[Brandon]

Asking about a Revell Street Demons kit was the result of a flood of thoughts. At 43 I'm a bit younger than many of you guys, and the wave of models released in the early 80s was my heyday. Many of these were re-boots of classics you guys enjoyed during the first rounds, and I admit, I was always a bit jealous. You guys had it good.

Many of the 3n1 kits from AMT had parts that weren't on the instructions for versions I knew little about. Old boxes from family and friends was like a peek backward in time with the hand-drawn illustrations and then "modern" performance and customization options that seemed so different to a kid in the middle of the Pro-Street boom. To this day I don't know why you would build anything with a single four barrel or factory wheels. Superchargers, mags, race items, all just normal...

Kits like the Revell stuff left a mark. The '54 Chevy panel in particular grabbed me by the eyeballs with the nose-high stance and flames. I didn't know what it was, but I was reeled in like a trophy fish. The curious four-pot injector without a scoop was odd, as was the "409" with funny valve covers. I tried so hard to cut the doors open and make them hinge, but ended up gluing them back into place. The front axle alone was one of the coolest parts that I would covet and use on a few other cars on down the line as they were harvested for parts for the next incoming hot ticket.

The AMT '57 Chevy with all of the 3n1 parts.. I'd never seen a Latham supercharger. It was as exotic as it was cool and curious.. and what was up with the little lizard? Mystery bits left on the trees from versions undone in time to make new ones always left me puzzled and inspired. The AMT '58.. you could build a'58 DRAG CAR? My mind reeled... instantly I cut the fenderwells out on the scribed lines inside. The '69 Chevelle with a rack of square headlights.. who would DO that? The AMT Cobra and Corvette drag parts were always a surprise. The Red Baron, Bad Medicine, T'rantula and Outcast C-cab left a mark, as did the Evil Iron trike. It was so big and alien to me after a world of 1/24th scale cars, and it had a skull... to a little kid this was mind blowing stuff. The descriptions on the box and instruction sheets were revered texts that inspired and energized. Where was this cool crowd of fun-loving car people? I wanted in.

It all started with the flamed Monogram '57 Chevy Nomad, my first kit. Flames, mags, and a wall of chrome options. Crossram intake? bucket seats and leaf spring shackles? What was this strange new world and what the heck as a "nomad?" I didn't know but as I smacked it together at breakneck speed I took the first steps of learning about cars and their variations that has served me well and landed me a career immersed in cars...

Which cars left a mark for you? Which ones opened your eyes or surprised you with their optional parts?

[41chevy]

There were models I did with my dad in the early 1950's, but the two that started my twisted path of building was a 1/32 scale (box scale actually) 1955 Mercury Montclair by . . .Revell/AMT and the Aurora 1904 Curved Dash Oldsmobile. Both of which I've tracked down and bought as memory builds. They was followed by Revells 1955 Cadillac and Buick and a ton of AMT 32 Ford kits and the rest is as they say history.   Paul

[Bert]

I am 49 years old and started building models in the mid 70s. I built what was on hand at the TG&Y or K Mart or what I was given at various gift giving occasions. I was a car kid from my elementary school days. I got my first Hot Rod subscription in October 1978, and of course Hot Wheels before then. The shelves in my room were filled with models. I remember being envious of my cousins and friends older brothers that had 1/16 Jungle Jim Vegas, S'Cool Buses, and Rommel's Rods in their rooms. The ones pictured are some that got me hooked. I loved the Monogram 57 Chevy Funny Car and the Rubber Duck. Vans were a big deal back then and custom vans were everywhere. So I built many vans. Although, not a big fan now, I built a bunch of Corvettes for some reason, and the Eckler's is one I liked as well as the Vette Van. The first showrod from the list that I really liked was the Big Rig Rod. Diesels and CBs were big then too. As an adult getting back to building, I have bought all of the ones I've mentioned here except the Rubber Duck and the Vette Van. The RD can get pricey for a good kit and the Vette Van is hit or miss.

[donculley]

My father built a B17 and two ocean liner kits when I was very young which still amazes me since he wasn't into the hobby at all. Maybe that got me interested in building. The first kits I had was Rommel's Rod, Moon Mixer ,and a Johan Hornet funny car ; the Hornet being the first kit I painted ,although it was painted AFTER I built it ! I built just about any kind of kit ,and when my mom signed me up for the Young model Builder's club my building sort of took off. Even though you checked "cars" on the club application ,you never knew what you would get from month to month . They were always leftover Revell stock and old Aurora kits , so you could get a Jag XKE one month , then an astronaut , 747 jet , tugboat, etc... The one car kit that I always wanted was the TD Street Fighter . My best friends older brother built one and I thought it was the coolest kit, but not having a lot of money as kid I was never able to get one. It wasn't until decades later when Ebay came into being that I was able to pick up an old built one to restore that got me back into the hobby.

[petec210]

For me it was the Aurora monster kits (wish I still had 'em!). But the show rod bug bit me soon after. It was TD's T'rantula! something about the color. Then it was Cherry Bomb, Pie Wagon, Red Baron, Ice 'T' and so on and so on...

[fordrodnkustom]

This is the one that did it for me.

[colbart/colin]

Used to build Airfix kits of cars I liked. E Type jaguar, Mini and Ford escort. Dad purchased lots of Dinky toys. from a market. Had many from UFO, Batman, Joe 90.

Wasn't until the 70s, when moved to Abingdon. I liked to build models when on holiday in family touring caravan.
Assemble them, hand painted with enamel paints, including bodywork- There were several Model Shops that sold these kits
Batmobile and other Wacky Show Rods/Tom Daniel. One shop sold them 50p each!!!!! Pocket money prices in the 70s...
Purchased 3 per holiday. Wish I saved a few boxes of them unopened.... Then found out about part swapping, and had fun with them.

Don't know if it was a good thing or not to go to a Model Show, and join IPMS International Plastic Model Society. Not many of us building this type of model. Then the enjoyment left the hobby. Striving to better my skills (to show quality). failing...then giving up on it. Purchased airbrush-compressor, tools. Disheartened I put the expensive electric tools away and threw all the paints/parts, in recycling bin . (new fangled thing introduced instead of a large dustbin). Around the same time shops closed, Mail order shops closed, and collector kit prices.

Not until 2016, I rediscovered the joy of building them. Easy purchased on Internet Internationally. (ebay and paypal, means no bother converting to different money). Few clicks linked to US/Japan/etc. Am able to get the old favourites again. and they make their way to the UK.

Then remember how difficult some of them were...Ed Roth Tiki Hut and Surfite... so small and fiddly....so purchased the tweezers and had fun detailing the hut, the Roth figure, making surf boards/boogie boards. Modifying the wheels. and spray painting (spray cans). Enjoyment re ignited....

[chromecop]

This was the first 1/24-25 car model kit I built in the early 70's:



I had built quite a few other kits before that one, mostly airplanes and a 1/35 scale Kübelwagen.

[beatnik]

Same as a few others I'm sure, Red Baron, Paddy Wagon, Cherry Bomb, etc. I also remember the Snoopy and Red Baron airplane kits with the powered props that spun when you turned them. I was a Hot Wheels kid and really liked the custom cars. The last kit I remember buying back then was the Dual Jewel.

[Brandon]

Great stories.. keep them coming.

I think Colin wasn't alone in becoming discouraged in the whole model show thing. I think the spiraling detailing fad left a lot of people discouraged on the outside. Not everyone enjoys sinking 30,000 hours and untold amounts of money on detail parts on one kit. Models were fun, and losing sight of that can be all to easy. Like I always say: Done is better than perfect.

I also might have been in a Young Modelers or Builders club. I can't quite remember, or maybe kits came with my Ertl Blueprinter subscription? I remember getting mystery kits in the mail in white boxes, and they were a military jet, a biplane, an MG and something else. Stuff I would never buy on my own, but I built them anyways. Probably the only two plane models I ever built...

[showrodjohn]

Easy Boothill Express.

[flounder]

Mine was a junkyard Black Widow I found at the bottom of a toy box at my Great Grandma's house. All the pieces were there, it just had to be glued back together. There were parts of a Long John too, but not enough to make a full model. I brought the Black Widow home and half a tube of glue later I had a my first model.

Hosted on Fotki

After that every allowance was spent on models. The TD kits were always first choice. I remember the Tarantula and Red Baron were some of the first. It all started when I was 5, so the memories are a bit fuzzy on which kits I had back then. I think I was part of the Revell Master modeler's Club. I got the magazine, but not the kits.

I have pretty much replaced my childhood collection and then some. There are a lot of built kits, but there are LOTS more unbuilt ones.

Here is the only photo I have of the early days. It's my room when I was about 10 or 12.

Hosted on Fotki

I am one of those guys that likes to put a ton of scratch built stuff into a kit, and it does take a long, long time. I always plan to keep it simple, but that is just not how my mind works. It's a hobby so there is a lot of freedom there. I am just as much of a fan of Brandon's (and other Klowns) creations as I am of the super detailed stuff. It's all fun.

[Brandon]

Maaaan, that wall paper brings me back! My brother and I each had our rooms done. His was gran prix cars and mine was 18 wheelers. Nothing cooler when you were a kid. I need to see if I can dig up a picture.

You are one of the guys who do like to wire the backs of gauges and make cotter pins for throttle cables, LOL.. and I love it. You are a gifted madman... I do think we got to a point in the hobby in the late 90s where the rush was on to create as much detail as possible, (especially by those selling the parts) that those who weren't wired like you were a little overwhelmed and left in the dust when trying to compete on the IPMS levels... and funny to me, sometimes those uber-detailers missed the simple stuff like stance or even sanded tire tread.

[flounder]

...and we forgot to mention how a lot of those uber-detailed projects stall. Sometimes they just become work.

[Brandon]

Nov 27, 2016 12:05:28 GMT -6 flounder said:

...and we forgot to mention how a lot of those uber-detailed projects stall. Sometimes they just become work.

LOL.. I think we ALL suffer from that. I can't count how many times I've gotten halfway through something and asked myself why the heck I even bit this much off? My Showboat Chris Craft gasser and Old School gasser bus are probably 15 years old or more... I chip on them until they become work and pack them up. One day...

When I was a kid my folks built me a "model bench" along the wall in my bed room. Best thing they did. When I was really young before we moved I had a workbench downstairs in the "cellar" as we called it. Then we moved and I had that bench in my room. Usually, though, I worked at the kitchen table. I even remember building a few outside on the picnic table in the summer.

The prices, too, made it easy. Every time we went to the store I came home with a model, or maybe two if they were really cool. I remember looking at the shelf in K-mart going; "Got that one, that one, that one, that one..." and shrugging and picking out a BMW because I didn't want to go home without SOMETHING. It got pro-streeted with Weld wheels and a Hemi with a Z/28 TPI fuel injection setup because I wanted to close the hood but have a big engine.

[Count Dragula]

Being a kid of the 70's,I started building a few T buckets,which I still love today.....but two kits in particular "set the hook" for me.One made me a Tom Daniel fan,and show rod fan FOR LIFE!!!!!




The other was my pride and joy as a teen....I had a lot of fun building it....I didn't care how many glue spots that I had on it....It was amazingly detailed,and I still occasionally "flash back" to when I was building it,and huffing the glue at the end of a "hard days building kits" (hence all of the extra glue spots,lol).



I found out years later as an adult that our Good friend Bob Paeth designed the trike pictured above....He originally created the Corvair Six Pack trike,and this was it's sister kit.....I thanked Bob for his inspiration that he gave to me personally,and I am glad I got to do that before he passed away ....This trike hooked me for good....

Todd

[Bert]

Wow! I have never seen this trike kit. I've seen the dragon version of course, but holy smokes that is cool. Probably cost an arm and a leg now if you could find one.

[41chevy]

Nov 29, 2016 19:29:48 GMT -6 Bert said:

Wow! I have never seen this trike kit. I've seen the dragon version of course, but holy smokes that is cool. Probably cost an arm and a leg now if you could find one.

Being a Corvair freak and having gone nuts over the Norm Gabroski's " Six Pack" Corvair powered 2 wheeler, and the AEE Choppers Corvair trike frames in the early 1970's make  both those Trike kits some of my Holy Grail  kits!!