Model car kits -- who was into 'em?

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Benzadmiral

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I'm sure a lot of us, way back before we could drive, spent our Saturdays painting and assembling plastic model kits. Back in the '60s, before the cost of oil shot into the troposphere, model kit companies such as Aurora, Revell, ITC, Jo-Han, Pyro, Airfix, etc., had models of everything from figures such as cowboys and Scottish lassies in kilts, to airplanes, tanks, and cars.

My favorite car was probably the Monogram 1/8th scale Jaguar E-type 2 + 2. It came molded in red with (I think) tan interior, steerable wheels, opening doors and hood, etc. I assembled it over Christmas vacation in 1966. In the fall of '86, after my mother died, I found she had saved it in a closet, and it was still intact except for some exterior bits like the door handles. I wish I'd saved it. Runner-up was AMT's '40 Ford coupe; I must have bought five or six of 'em, painted and customized each differently.

Favorite non-car: Remember the Aurora monster models (the Frankenstein monster, the Wolf-Man, Dracula)? Those were well-done, and I wish they could be reissued today. Aurora even issued two kits from "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," and I have them both (partly painted, not assembled) from a friend's garage sale in '73.

What models did you build and remember fondly?
 
I used to build airplanes. F-4, F-15, P-51, Spitfire, Hurricane, Corsair, Beaver, Tiwn Otter...Then we got into bulding and launching model rockets. Are kids still allowed to do that?
 
I did a few models (now in Great Trash Can in the Sky) and never could make them properly (I have shaky hands). So I just stick with diecast cars in my collection.
 
I've built dozens of cars, have entered them in shows, been to many "cons" and was a long time subscriber to Scale Auto Enthusiast and other mags back in the day. Still have my Paasche paint rig and most of my tools......somewhere.

It's a great hobby if you have the space and the weather's bad several months of the year. It's much more popular in the midwest, supported by clubs, events and great hobby shops. Down south it doesn't seem to be as popular (haven't found a decent hobby shop) but it's prolly due to me being out of the hobby since moving here.
 
I still have some I need to finish.

One is a rare Monogram (I think?) 1/20 scale Explorer sport. I have done the engine, but the rest of the truck has not been touched in a couple years now. I have a few others I have been meaning to finish as well...Mercury Cyclone, International Scout, Dodge Ram 50 (converted to 4WD w/ a Tacoma kit). Who knows if any will be finished...
 
my father still has all of his models from when he was a child.

hes actually got a revell model of a 60's honda 305 superhawk. (he owned that bike in the 60's)_ he bought a model to build incase 1 day be breaks a leg or is held up in the house because of illness, he will build that revell model.
well hes been holding onto that model box sence the 60 and hasnt opened it yet.
i really hope he never does have a reason to open it.
 
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my father still has all of his models from when he was a child.

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All my models were lost in terrible battles. The planes crashed and burned, the ships blew up and sank.
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When a kid, I was into planes. B17, F14, Mirage, and heaps of others. Lost my entire collection of planes when my brother kicked off a shoe one afternoon after school into my display.

Got into cars there for a while.

Built a Dodge about 6 years ago, and have an unfinished '57.

Been thinking about getting back into it, but they don't stock models that much these days, it's all got to be pre-assembled "theme" stuff that doesn't even test creativity anymore.
 
I was active during the model car kit heyday during the 1970s. Wish I still had some of the models, but still sealed in the boxes, of course, as those same kits that were $3 in 1975 go for $50 at the swap meets. In recent years I've been collecting kits of rotary engines and associated cars, most still sealed or at least unassembled in the boxes. Don't plan to build the kits—just collect them....
 
I remember when KB toys closed out all the model cars (we're a toy store now!) clearance meant buy all the stuff you always wanted. Mostly AMC/Ertl 1/24 or 1/25 kits for like $2 per kit if even that. I was in heaven.

Their mid/late 80's Dodge Daytona was so cool, you could build it with the turbo engine or without, with interior options like dash to match, very thoughtful. I remember doing a 1969 Charger along with the 80's model to show the differences.

I gave the Daytona to my uncle as a birthday present which probably broke in a dillion pieces in the mail if my mom even ever sent it. Glue pens, using the "chrome" parts, not painting anything except for sharpie marker engine bay detailing, it was so much fun!
 
Oh, gosh, yes, I remember all the AMT 1/25th scale promotional cars. In sixth grade, all my friends were into them -- assembling them and greasing the "axles" (which consisted of a steel rod through the chassis with the wheels pressed on the end) so they could "race" 'em down the hallway during recess.

My first car model was a '63 or '64 Sting Ray, followed by the '64 Mustang and the '64 Lincoln Continental. I didn't spray-paint the bodies of those three; it took a while for me to convince my mother it would be safe. After that, I was always haunting the local Woolworth's to see what was new and to try new colors of spray paint on my cars.

The best glue was Revell's own brand of styrene cement. I used it on the Monogram Jaguar I mentioned above, and I suspect it's a good part of why the model endured for 20 years.
 
I built a lot of models when I was growing up. My daughter bought a kit for my birthday about 7 years ago. Took me a couple years to finish it, but it was fun. Like to do some detail work, especially in the engine compartment, like red paint on the battery caps, etc.

My brother was really good with models, even blending two bodies together for a lengthened car and fancy paint jobs. That was the 60s.
 
I was heavily into model cars between roughly the ages of 5 and 10, which was 1960-65. My allowance was $1/wk and kits were around $1.50, so every other week I could buy a kit, plus the odd paint and glue. AMT, Revelle, Monogram. Since it only took a couple of days to build them I had a long wait between projects.
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Then slot cars hit the scene, first at the local YMCA, then at various "emporiums". By the time I gave that up in favor of real cars, girls, music, etc I was traveling to other tracks and cities to race. Cars were 1/24 scale then, not 1/32 as today.
 
Okay, while it is nothing special, it's the level of detail I am comfortable with, so here are a few
shots of the model I built a few years ago. It's a 56 Ford with a Chevy engine painted Ford blue:
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Well, I haven't built a car model kit or a car model from scratch for a long time, but I did modify a 1/64 scale (note 35 mm film canister for scale) Johnny Lightning when I needed a Beetle toy model for a photo shoot. I had to install working headlights. I drilled holes for the headlamps (starting with a 0.5 mm drill) and I used SMD LEDs and a coin cell (you can see the coin cell near the driver side rear wheel in the last picture, wiring and a switch. The headlamp covers were done with clear resin. The interior remained untouched. The rivets on the bottom plate were replaced with small brass studs and nuts.

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PS: I did not perform an oil change, so I was clearly of a sane mind.
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PPS: Maybe I should put it up on ebay!
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As I have mentioned before, including today, I do not post really good photos because of picture thieves. And I'm not cracking wise.
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