A kit you built as a kid GB Chat

[Adrian Hills]

Klr, you remember well. An interesting little story 😊

[Dansk]

21 hours ago, klr said:

Lots of kits from the early years stand out, for both good and bad reasons, and sometimes for reasons not related to the quality of the kits.

 

I have clear memories of building my first batch of 7 kits (all Matchbox), as a 10 year-old at Christmas. I was sick in bed that Christmas morning, but it didn't stop me starting on the Phantom. I didn't paint any early kits, so I built them very quickly - and badly. Some time later, I did go back and paint some of those kits. They were still not anywhere near "display quality" though. I probably didn't get to that level until I was 17. Of those 7 kits from that first Christmas, I only have the Me 410 in my stash that I could build again.

 

Not long after, I got some more kits for my 11th birthday. The Airfix Beaufighter was very bad, and the Matchbox Fw 190 very good. My faith in Airfix was restored a few months later by the Gazelle, which was one of the very few kits I bought in the  "bubble" packaging. The Gazelle was my very first helicopter kit. It was (and still is) an outstanding kit - and I have several in my stash.

 

I remember also being hugely impressed by the Heller Arado 196 a couple of years later. I still have some my stash in a Revell box. The same year, I discovered a shop that was selling ESCI armour kits, and I bought about one a week during the summer holidays.

 

In those early years, you could still buy kits in many shops: Not just big stores, but smaller shops like newsagents & even post offices. Probably the very first kit I remember seeing in a shop was the Airfix Brewster Buffalo. I was probably about 6 or 7 years old at the time, I did eventually build it when I was 15, and I have one my stash as well.

 

I have clear memories of Christmas shopping for kits with my parents on a Friday evening, age 11. This was long before shops were open on Sundays, and Friday evening shopping was a big event. I got the Airfix Dauntless, Bf 110 and Blenheim that evening. I can even remember some of the prices (75p, 92p). I have several Dauntless kits in my stash, and one Blenheim. But as I have many of the new Blenheim kits, I don't know if I want to build the old kit again. I definitely do not want to build the old Bf 110 kit again, not even for nostalgia.

 

I remember building the Matchbox USS Indianapolis while I was on my summer holidays age 12, stuck inside a caravan. I remember building the Airfix HMS Ark Royal on a very rainy St. Patrick's Day.

 

And so on it goes ... I remember being on a half-day from school, and scraping together just enough money to buy the Airfix Ju 87 Stuka. 1 pound 95p was a lot of money in those days 😀

Fantastic stuff! that totally sums up the essence of all this.

This is pretty much a custom GB for you!

😎
How on earth are you going to choose what to build?🧐

 

[PeterB]

On 1/27/2020 at 11:46 PM, klr said:

Lots of kits from the early years stand out, for both good and bad reasons, and sometimes for reasons not related to the quality of the kits.

 

I have clear memories of building my first batch of 7 kits (all Matchbox), as a 10 year-old at Christmas. I was sick in bed that Christmas morning, but it didn't stop me starting on the Phantom. I didn't paint any early kits, so I built them very quickly - and badly. Some time later, I did go back and paint some of those kits. They were still not anywhere near "display quality" though. I probably didn't get to that level until I was 17. Of those 7 kits from that first Christmas, I only have the Me 410 in my stash that I could build again.

 

Not long after, I got some more kits for my 11th birthday. The Airfix Beaufighter was very bad, and the Matchbox Fw 190 very good. My faith in Airfix was restored a few months later by the Gazelle, which was one of the very few kits I bought in the  "bubble" packaging. The Gazelle was my very first helicopter kit. It was (and still is) an outstanding kit - and I have several in my stash.

 

I remember also being hugely impressed by the Heller Arado 196 a couple of years later. I still have some my stash in a Revell box. The same year, I discovered a shop that was selling ESCI armour kits, and I bought about one a week during the summer holidays.

 

In those early years, you could still buy kits in many shops: Not just big stores, but smaller shops like newsagents & even post offices. Probably the very first kit I remember seeing in a shop was the Airfix Brewster Buffalo. I was probably about 6 or 7 years old at the time, I did eventually build it when I was 15, and I have one my stash as well.

 

I have clear memories of Christmas shopping for kits with my parents on a Friday evening, age 11. This was long before shops were open on Sundays, and Friday evening shopping was a big event. I got the Airfix Dauntless, Bf 110 and Blenheim that evening. I can even remember some of the prices (75p, 92p). I have several Dauntless kits in my stash, and one Blenheim. But as I have many of the new Blenheim kits, I don't know if I want to build the old kit again. I definitely do not want to build the old Bf 110 kit again, not even for nostalgia.

 

I remember building the Matchbox USS Indianapolis while I was on my summer holidays age 12, stuck inside a caravan. I remember building the Airfix HMS Ark Royal on a very rainy St. Patrick's Day.

 

And so on it goes ... I remember being on a half-day from school, and scraping together just enough money to buy the Airfix Ju 87 Stuka. 1 pound 95p was a lot of money in those days 😀

Hi Kir,

 

I guess I am a bit older than you - when I first started the only kits available were Airfix, and to get them involved a bus trip into town, where Woolworths were selling them, although later I found another shop which sold a wider range, but by then I would have been around 11 years old. You mention other shops - in my case my local Chemist started selling Airfix kits in around 1959 and I bought quite a few from him over a period of around 12 years, starting I think with the Beaufighter you mentioned and probably finishing with the F4 Phantom just before he closed. The disadvantages of that period were the lack of places to buy kits and the very limited selection available,, but that was in part offset by the low prices - 2/- for Series 1, 3/- for series 2 and so on, though of course my pocket money was also low - 1/- a week I believe. I suppose I have built all the kits you mention, and in fact the Matchbox Indianapolis is sitting on a shelf just behind me as I write this as are the Airfix and Matchbox Buffalos - this build brings back many happy memories, and also a little sadness when I remember the kits I had and threw away.  Like model railways it was then still a "children's hobby" in terms of cost (Hornby Dublo Duchess Class City of Liverpool for £3 10s in 1967), whereas now it is definitely more aimed at adults - when I dig out some of my 40+ years old magazines and see the prices back then it seems unreal, and I started modelling in around 1957 when they were even cheaper!

 

Enjoy whatever you decide to build - you probably have a greater choice than I have as most of the stuff I built up to the "deadline" for me no longer exists, but I have managed to find a couple of things.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Edited February 1, 2020 by PeterB

[Wince]

Would love to join as recently had disaster with a revell hurricane 2c and got a smer replacement I built aged 13 . I do want to crack on with that but might seek out an old tool typhoon or fw190d by airfix as that was my first solo pair. The latter was painted in Brown Bess overall....

[G.E.SAUNDERS]

         hi  ALL ,

 

                           my 1st Plastic Model kit was an AIRFIX MiG 15 in 1958 ........ still got parts of it  !

 

                                                                                                                  cheery "Modellin' " mumbas !

 

                                                                                                                                        Geoff

 

                                                                                                                                                 F.T.G.3156

[klr]

On 2/1/2020 at 10:07 PM, PeterB said:

Hi Kir,

 

I guess I am a bit older than you - when I first started the only kits available were Airfix, and to get them involved a bus trip into town, where Woolworths were selling them, although later I found another shop which sold a wider range, but by then I would have been around 11 years old. You mention other shops - in my case my local Chemist started selling Airfix kits in around 1959 and I bought quite a few from him over a period of around 12 years, starting I think with the Beaufighter you mentioned and probably finishing with the F4 Phantom just before he closed. The disadvantages of that period were the lack of places to buy kits and the very limited selection available,, but that was in part offset by the low prices - 2/- for Series 1, 3/- for series 2 and so on, though of course my pocket money was also low - 1/- a week I believe. I suppose I have built all the kits you mention, and in fact the Matchbox Indianapolis is sitting on a shelf just behind me as I write this as are the Airfix and Matchbox Buffalos - this build brings back many happy memories, and also a little sadness when I remember the kits I had and threw away.  Like model railways it was then still a "children's hobby" in terms of cost (Hornby Dublo Duchess Class City of Liverpool for £3 10s in 1967), whereas now it is definitely more aimed at adults - when I dig out some of my 40+ years old magazines and see the prices back then it seems unreal, and I started modelling in around 1957 when they were even cheaper!

 

Enjoy whatever you decide to build - you probably have a greater choice than I have as most of the stuff I built up to the "deadline" for me no longer exists, but I have managed to find a couple of things.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Woolworths were still around when I started. Along with a couple of big Irish chain stores, and some newsagents, they were my main source of kits for years. I don't recall any chemists selling kits, more's the pity. I guess I was too late for that. I also found a specialist hobby shop that went by the wonderful name of "Planes, Boats and Trains"*, but that closed down after only a few years. A real pity, because it had a very exotic range of kits.

 

*It was only years later I heard the Bacharach and David song "Trains, Boats and Planes".

 

Decimalisation happened when I was very young, so I never saw prices in old money, although the old coins were around for years afterward. I think I spent almost all my pocket money on kits, except for maybe some war comics and reference magazines. If it wasn't models or something modelling-related, I wasn't really interested.

 

While I could take the bus, I've always preferred to walk. One Saturday morning, I walked to the other side of the city, and then back with the huge Italeri Me 323 Gigant - a round trip of about 11 miles.

 

Re price: I suspect a lot of older modellers like us are still quite price-sensitive, always wondering if a particular kit is value for money.

 

I haven't decided what I'm going to build yet - that's going to take some serious thinking. I may even decide to build more than one kit ...

Edited February 4, 2020 by klr
bloody spelling again ...

[RJ-WobblyHands]

Haha weekend trips to 'Woolies' to spend the pocket money on Airfix kits and watching Bob Symes 'Model World' TV Series those were the days !

 

Complete builds in 30 mins more model cement on my hands than holding the kit together, humbrol enamels everywhere followed by recreating BoB dogfights.

 

KIts I remember from my early teens Airfix's  'Bit O Lace' B-17G - box art was great as well and saving up for Tamiya's  A-10 Warthog and A-1J Skyraider  probably because they both had lots of missiles and bombs  , and dreaming of buying the 1/32 F-14A 

 

At least I have 3 months to decide which kit to source and make

[PeterB]

Bob Symes aka Robert Alexander Baron Schutzmann von Schutzmansdorff - that takes me back! Don't remember much of his modelling progs but I do remember the one on building a house German (or maybe Austrian) style with thick concrete bedroom floors - no more creaking floorboards or dry rot but you had to chase out channels for the services. He was one of those good old fashioned "expert" presenters the BBC used to have - a railway enthusiast and an inventor, and a former RN Lieutenant Commander to boot, I suppose he was the equvalent of Dick Strawbridge these days.

 

Pete

Edited February 4, 2020 by PeterB

[JOCKNEY]

On 03/02/2020 at 21:18, RJ-WobblyHands said:

 

KIts I remember from my early teens Airfix's  'Bit O Lace' B-17G - box art was great as well

 

At least I have 3 months to decide which kit to source and make

I'm doing "Bit of Lace" you are very welcome to join me, and yes the box art means you can never throw that box away !

 

cheers Pat 

[PeterB]

Hi Pat,

 

Seem to recall that the "Bit O' Lace she is wrapped in is in the wrong colour on the old Airfix decs - white instead of red I believe!

 

Pete

Edited February 9, 2020 by PeterB

[vppelt68]

34 minutes ago, PeterB said:

Hi Pat,

 

Seem to recall that the "Bit O' Lace she is wrapped in is in the wrong colour on the old Airfix decs - white instead of red I believe!

 

Pete

I based this banner on the Milton Caniff Miss Lace drawing sent to 447th BG, and it's red:

 

[stevej60]

This GB could encompass most of Airfix or Revell's 60's or 70's output for me depending when you stop being a kid! but Pat's choice has inspired me

to stop the little work I've done on this one an save it for this GB hopefully to a better standard than the brick red gluey fingered attempt back in about

1973.

 

[JOCKNEY]

Take a bow @stevej60 outoutstanding choice old mate !

[stevej60]

10 hours ago, JOCKNEY said:

Take a bow @stevej60 outoutstanding choice old mate !

Thought you'd like it Pat.one thing though she's going to be in OD over gray.so not your usual Superfort finish.

[klr]

On 2/9/2020 at 8:57 PM, stevej60 said:

This GB could encompass most of Airfix or Revell's 60's or 70's output for me depending when you stop being a kid! but Pat's choice has inspired me

to stop the little work I've done on this one an save it for this GB hopefully to a better standard than the brick red gluey fingered attempt back in about

1973.

 

Oh boy ... does that take me back ... to about Christmas 1980 I think. For some reason, I remember that it cost me IR£ 5.25. I painted mine brick red as well, and of course built it rather poorly. It was too big and complex, and I'd only been modelling for two years or so.

[klr]

I have yet to decide kit(s) what I'm going to build myself. These are all 1/72 unless stated otherwise:

 

Matchbox Me 410 (almost definite)

Matchbox Wellesley (very likely)

Airfix Cessna O-1 (possible, but may end up in the high wing GB instead)

Airfix AW Seahawk (maybe, just maybe)

Airfix Westland Whirlwind HAS (possible, but could be for the chopper GB instead)

Airfix SA 341 Gazelle (as above)

Airfix Ju 88A-4 (will I have the time to turn this into something passable?)

Matchbox 1/700 U.S.S. Indianapolis (more likely to be in the Navy GB, if built at all)

Airfix Aichi D3A1 “Val” (I have a good replacement canopy)

Airfix Mitsubishi Ki 46 “Dinah”

Airfix Fw 190 D-9 (would I try a JV44 aircraft with the red undersides?)

Airfix Spitfire Vb (the very first kit I ever attempted to build)

Airfix 1/1200 Bismarck (the second ever kit I ever attempted to build)

 

... and there's more:

 

Matchbox 1/76 Char 1 bis + Renault Ft 17

Matchbox 1/76 Monty's Caravan + Daimler Scout Car

Matchbox AH-1 Huey-Cobra

Airfix F-84F Thunderstreak

Airfix P-39 Airacobra

Airfix Alpha Jet

ESCI Carro Armato M13/40

 

... and many more I won't bother to list

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

On 2/10/2020 at 7:57 AM, stevej60 said:

This GB could encompass most of Airfix or Revell's 60's or 70's output for me depending when you stop being a kid! but Pat's choice has inspired me

to stop the little work I've done on this one an save it for this GB hopefully to a better standard than the brick red gluey fingered attempt back in about

1973.

 

+ 1 for this one. I remember getting this one on a Thursday night 'Late night shopping' trip and it was finished on Friday morning before going to school! No paint was harmed in the construction then. I also built the B-17 and it was the first model I put paint on, good old Airfix enamels. The Airfix Boston also brings back memories, also an unpainted build at the time.

 

I don't have another of them in the stash at the moment, but will look around to see if I can pick one up at a reasonable price.

[PhantomBigStu]

On 2/9/2020 at 8:57 PM, stevej60 said:

This GB could encompass most of Airfix or Revell's 60's or 70's output for me depending when you stop being a kid! but Pat's choice has inspired me

to stop the little work I've done on this one an save it for this GB hopefully to a better standard than the brick red gluey fingered attempt back in about

1973.

 

 

Like to see that one built, before woolworths went boom they were selling that and the b-24 together, mine only got as far as the bomb bay tunnel before it went into storage and then I assume the bin when I went away to Uni and my parents redid the house.....if the all that NMF didn't terrify me I might join you 

[JohnT]

This GB has me thinking way back ???

Airfix Halifax and HMS Victorious bought for me on way back from hospital after losing my tonsils

Airfix original He 111 on holiday on Isle of Wight 

Airfix Ju 88 made one evening at my Aunties

Revell Red Albatross taking me to the delights of WW1 biplanes

Airfix Catalina or Liberator or He 117 for the moment I saw the box in Woolies and went what is that?

Any Frog V Bomber

The Frog Shackleton that I dreamt someone - anyone  - would make one day

The old Airfix Defiant - a true glue fest

The Airfix Arado 196 that went together so well

so many more each with a memory and meaning

Who thought of this GB?  The mans a genius 

Can it run for a year or two maybe?

 

Nostalgia, more contagious than Corona Virus 🦠 

[Ted]

Great idea for a GB, I built lots of models but the only ones I remember clearly are:

 

1/28 Revell SPAD - age 9

1/28 Revell Fokker Dr1 - age 9

1/35 Tamiya Tiger tank - age 14

1/35 Italeri Elefant sp gun - age 14

 

If I find any of these at an upcoming model show/sale I'll pick one up and join.

[JOCKNEY]

This is such a brilliant idea for a GB, is there extra marks awarded for gluey finger prints everywhere especially on the clear parts. 

Would it be ok to ride back from the model shop on your bike and then try to get it built that evening before mum says your tea is ready ?

Oh dear I think ive been completely overcome with nostalgia !

Apologies  Pat  

[modelling minion]

On 2/11/2020 at 4:32 PM, JohnT said:

Who thought of this GB?  The mans a genius

That would be our glorious leader @Dansk, and it really is a great idea which is going to be GB filled with a wide variety of classic plastic and there are some stunning choices listed in the threads above.

[stevej60]

18 hours ago, JOCKNEY said:

This is such a brilliant idea for a GB, is there extra marks awarded for gluey finger prints everywhere especially on the clear parts. 

Would it be ok to ride back from the model shop on your bike and then try to get it built that evening before mum says your tea is ready ?

Oh dear I think ive been completely overcome with nostalgia !

Apologies  Pat  

Saturday mornings for me Pat,paper round pay received get the morning round done then straight to the hardware shop and the "Airfix" corner,I could

stand for a good hour making my mind up which one to buy,I don't think our younger members realise we had no internet and magazines were few and

far between and would have eaten into our sweet and model money so how often did we not know of a new release until  it was there on the shelf shouting

buy me! I still remember Airfix's Shooting star sitting on the counter with the latest delivery of kits never even made the shelf snapped it up there and then.

[Dansk]

On 2/11/2020 at 11:32 PM, JohnT said:

so many more each with a memory and meaning

Who thought of this GB?  The mans a genius 

Can it run for a year or two maybe?

I keep telling my wife that but she doesn’t seem to share the sentiment 🤔

i can feel your excitement can’t wait to see your builds.

18 hours ago, JOCKNEY said:

This is such a brilliant idea for a GB, is there extra marks awarded for gluey finger prints everywhere especially on the clear parts. 

Would it be ok to ride back from the model shop on your bike and then try to get it built that evening before mum says your tea is ready ?

Oh dear I think ive been completely overcome with nostalgia !

Apologies  Pat  

I think it could be ace if one of us ends up doing that excited kid speed build with humbrol enamels and a tube of polystyrene cement 😁

an unpainted matchbox tri-colour kit could be great too!
 

Sorry  i’ve not kept up to date on the last bunch of posts but wow there are some wonderful nostalgia laden builds!

On 2/11/2020 at 8:15 AM, Romeo Alpha Yankee said:

+ 1 for this one. I remember getting this one on a Thursday night 'Late night shopping' trip and it was finished on Friday morning before going to school! No paint was harmed in the construction then. I also built the B-17 and it was the first model I put paint on, good old Airfix enamels. The Airfix Boston also brings back memories, also an unpainted build at the time.

 

I don't have another of them in the stash at the moment, but will look around to see if I can pick one up at a reasonable price.

Will you do an unpainted one ray? Haha could look great in the gallery a pure build when nicely photographed.
What a great and wide collection of builds this will yield.

 

 

[PeterB]

On 2/9/2020 at 8:57 PM, stevej60 said:

This GB could encompass most of Airfix or Revell's 60's or 70's output for me depending when you stop being a kid! but Pat's choice has inspired me

to stop the little work I've done on this one an save it for this GB hopefully to a better standard than the brick red gluey fingered attempt back in about

1973.

 

Hi Steve,

 

Built this when it came out (1966?) having bought it from the model railway shop in Frizinghall near to my school and lugging that big box home on 2 buses - cost me about 12/- (60p) as I recall. Shortly after I moved down to South Wales in 1979 the local John Menzies newsagent was having a sale and I picked another one up in a rather battered box for what was then a bargain price though I can't remember how much - it is still in my stash - probably the first one there in fact. It is not a bad kit I suppose thought the moving control surfaces, bomb doors etc result in some unsightly gaps which I did not bother filling first time round - brush painted Hu11 all over! If I ever get round to building it again I should be able to do a bit better, but not I think in this GB, though it would just qualify as I must still have been 17.

 

Good luck.

 

Pete

Edited February 12, 2020 by PeterB