What car kits did you build as a child and what became of them?

[galaxyg]

For the purposes of discussion, child = <18 years old. For me most of these were built around 13-15 years old, after which I lost interest in the hobby until I was 35.  There were also many planes, tanks and other military which survived a lot better than the cars did - most of those I still have.

 

Mine:

 

Tamiya Ferrari F40 - Fate: Set fire to it. I still have the instructions*

Tamiya Ford Sierra XR4i - Fate: Set fire to it.

Tamiya Audi Quattro Rally - Fate: Unknown but I still have one wheel and one part of the engine.

Hasegawa Ferrari 328 GTS - Fate: Unknown

Fujimi Porsche 911 - Fate: Set fire to it (there's a pattern here)

Tamiya Mercedes 500SEC Lorinser - Fate: Unknown

MPC Camaro Z-28 - Fate: Unknown but I should have set fire to it, terrible terrible kit with a warped body. Not sure I ever finished it properly.

 

*For whatever reason the F40's instruction sheet stayed with me throughout life until in 2017 I bought another Tamiya F40 at IPMS which was discounted as it had no instructions. So I united the two items. And it promptly sat in the stash ever since. But it's day will come.

 

Michael.

 

[dbostream]

Airfix Austin Healey 1/32

AMT '57 Ford Thunderbird 1/16

AMT '57 Chrysler 300C 1/25

AMT '58 Plymouth Belvedere 1/25

 

Last time I checked they were still on a shelf in my old room at my parents' house. But who knows, maybe my parents have set fire to them by now.

Edited October 26, 2021 by dbostream

[Pete in Lincs]

I think I built most of the Airfix 1/32nd car kits. The Escorts got wide wheels and arches.

There was the odd Revell kit, I still have a couple of body parts of an Austin Healey 3000.

Mostly they got destroyed when played with by younger relatives after I left home to join the RAF. 

I have a small box containing the remains.

[johnlambert]

I feel like I was quite prolific, if not very good, at building kits.  I must admit I've no idea what happened to most of them, I suspect they fell apart and ended up in the bin.  The very first kit I built was the Monogram snap together 1:24 Dodge Charger (the 1980s FWD Charger, moulded in yellow and built initially without paint or decals) although I think I tried painting it later.  I think it was a present for my 11th birthday.

 

Other kits that I remember, which are long gone:

 

Tamiya 1:24

Morris Mini Cooper S

Ford Sierra XR4i (I had two and found the bi-plane spoiler of one recently in a box of toy cars)

BMW 635 CSi Group A racer

BMW M635 CSi road car

Toyota Soarer 3.0

Lamborghini Countach

 

Italeri 1:24 Bugatti Royale Berline de Voyage, which was really way to complicated for me at the time and slowly fell apart on the shelf.

 

Airfix 1:32

Aston Martin DB5

Jaguar E-type

MGB

 

Heller 1:43

BMW 635

Mini Cooper

Peugeot 205 T16

 

There may have been others, long gone and currently forgotten.  Some have definitely survived, I have posted photos before but forgive me for doing so again.

 

This Hasegawa 1966 Buick WIldcat is the oldest survivor, I was probably 11 or 12 when I built it so it's lasted at least 33 years.  I still love this era of American cars and I think the kit does get re-issued occasionally so it might be one to revisit.

 

Next, I think would be this Tamiya Porsche 911 "flatnose" which was probably built 6-12 months after the Buick.  It's lost the lip to the spoiler and one of the suspension arms that locates the back axle.  Another kit to revisit some day although I'd rather get Tamiya's conventional 911 Turbo.

 

Another Tamiya, the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 6.0 (I think that's how it was named), again probably about 6-12 months after the Porsche.  Brush painted in Humbrol gloss black and not looking too bad in this photo.  I've now got a Tamiya 1:24 Mercedes-Benz 500SL in my stash (I didn't know Tamiya did the ordinary SL back then, although I suspected it might from the way the AMG went together), but if I ever found another AMG I'd be tempted to give it another go.

 

And finally, I'm not sure where this came relative to the Porsche and Mercedes but the 1:24 Lotus Super 7 was an experiment with Humbrol aerosol paint from about the same time as those two.  It's had a little light restoration but I've tried to conserve the poor fit and finish on the whole.  The paint was sprayed straight on the plastic with no primer and no subsequent rubbing down.  Naturally I had to get the re-issued Tamiya Lotus when it came out and that's again waiting for the mood to strike and I'll see how it goes now I'm 30 years older and (hopefully) a little wiser (or at least less inclined to rush in order to complete everything in a weekend or half-term week).

[Pig of the Week]

The earliest vehicle kit I recall making was the Airfix old bill bus, the army-fied version of the 1910 London bus. Prior to that I'd just built Airfix aircraft

Not got a scooby what happened to the bus model, but I've got another one in the stash to re-visit at some point.

I have a vague memory of building a Lotus Europa kit in bright yellow plastic, no idea what the kit manufacturer was, or indeed what happened to the model.

There was a Moto Guzzi racing motorcycle too with a racing fairing, a larger scale model.... I also did the Airfix Ariel Arrow in the bike line of things... (Then at age 12 I started messing with real motorbikes )

My modelling after this was pretty much exclusively Tamiya 1/35 armour, mostly German subjects....as regards their fate, a number of the tanks were subject to experimental conversion to flamethrower tanks, using butane gas and more successfully lighter petrol, which squirted a jet of liquid flame in a most realistic manner, we thought !

Needless to say most of these met a fiery end in "battle"  

[davecov]

I built three car kits before I left school and joined the RN in the latter half of the Seventies. They were the Airfix 1/32 Bentley, Airfix 1/32 917 Porsche and the Tamiya 1/12 Ferrari 312T. They all ended up being binned by my mother.

 

Dave

[keefr22]

When I was a kid it was the era of a brand new Airfix aeroplane or tank kit every week or so, so my pocket money was spent on one of those in Woolworths every Saturday, and the only car kit I actually remember making was the Airfix 1/32 Mini. Ended up in landfill I assume, quite possibly after being blown up by a banger or shot to pieces with my air rifle - the usual way my mates and I disposed of our models!

 

One car I do still have though, and which has stayed with me for 60 odd years is a Lincoln Continental MkIV (I think) convertible. This was built for me by my late dad when I was about 3. I have no idea where he got the kit from or who the maker of it was. I don't ever recall seeing anything other than Airfix or Frog in the many local model selling shops we had when I was a kid. This one has stayed with me all that time and I'm in the middle of doing what I hope will be a 'sympathetic' restoration on it at the moment.

 

Keith

[Six97s]

41 minutes ago, keefr22 said:

One car I do still have though, and which has stayed with me for 60 odd years is a Lincoln Continental MkIV (I think) convertible. This was built for me by my late dad when I was about 3. I have no idea where he got the kit from or who the maker of it was. I don't ever recall seeing anything other than Airfix or Frog in the many local model selling shops we had when I was a kid. This one has stayed with me all that time and I'm in the middle of doing what I hope will be a 'sympathetic' restoration on it at the moment.

 

Keith

 

Playcraft issued the AMT 1959 Lincoln convertible and 1959 Buick hardtop over here.  It was probably that one.

 

1 hour ago, johnlambert said:

This Hasegawa 1966 Buick WIldcat is the oldest survivor, I was probably 11 or 12 when I built it so it's lasted at least 33 years.  I still love this era of American cars and I think the kit does get re-issued occasionally so it might be one to revisit.

 

I would suggest buying the oft-reissued AMT '66 Wildcat instead.   The Hasegawa one is just a direct copy of the AMT body with a generic chassis and interior.    Admittedly, the AMT kit's promo style chassis isn't that much of an improvement, but it does have an engine, more accurate wheels and a proper interior.

[Spiny]

On 26/10/2021 at 19:45, johnlambert said:

The very first kit I built was the Monogram snap together 1:24 Dodge Charger (the 1980s FWD Charger, moulded in yellow and built initially without paint or decals) although I think I tried painting it later.  I think it was a present for my 11th birthday.

 

 

Funnily enough, that was the first 1/24 kit I did as well. I think I was probably about 8 or 9 when I built it - I remember that was how I learned to use the waterslide decals that came with Scalextric cars. Those decals had me puzzled for quite a while before that... There had been at least one before that, I remember an especially badly built 1/43 Land Rover from when I was about 6 (if that) which ended up more glue than plastic, before I slathered it in Datsun burgundy touch-up from my dad's previous car. All my kits still survive (I think), but only the 1/24s have made it down here. Speaking of which...

 

 

These are the ones which are in the display cabinet. The Mini is the only 1/43 which has made it down here so far, but didn't seem to want to come apart so has just had the roof repainted (it was matt white), the tyres repainted (from gloss to matt black) and the chrome work done with the molotow pen. The Lancia, Dodge Charger and Porsche 961 all have their build threads on here (see list in my signature) as I've given them a good refurbishment. The Mercedes, Skyline and Ferrari were the last kits I made as a kid, done when I was 15-16 before girls and real cars took over. They were the only ones I painted, and that was just brush painting - we didn't have a lot of money so rattlecans weren't an option at the time. The Ferrari is almost as it was with only a few repairs where bits had fallen off. The Skyline has had a coat of Future and a light polish, but again is almost as it was. I remember the ESCI Mercedes being a pain, especially the rear left wheel, and this had the body taken off so I could paint the interior, plus the chrome tidied up and the body polished. That one is probably the worst car in the cabinet. The Models of Yesteryear at the back have quite a bit of sentimental value - they belonged to my grandad and I used to play with them as a young kid when I went to their house. I'm pretty certain those are older than me. When he died, I didn't care what else I got from his estate, but I wanted those five cars for the memories.

 

As for my remaining kits from childhood, they're still waiting to be repaired.

 

 

The Subaru Alcyone and Bluebird shouldn't be too tricky to rebuild, although the Bluebird might not want to come apart too easily. The Renault 5 and Porsche need decals, and the Porsche probably needs brave pills too. Fortunately, the aforementioned lack of family cash means most were built with UHU rather than modelling glue (the later ones did use solvent cement), so taking these apart isn't as hard as it could be. The Mazda was my first glue kit (age about 11) and, apart from the broken window also has a broken grille at the front and will likely need some careful repair. The Renault and Porsche were done when I was 12 and I think the Subaru when I was 13, and the Nissan I was probably 14 or 15.

 

None of my kits were set on fire

 

 

[Hamster Volant]

Mmh... let me think about it...

I was in middle school / early high school at the time, trying my hand at various types of models...

Soon I decided 1/72 planes was what interested me most.

 

1/43 Heller Peugeot 403

1/43 AMT '69 Mustang Fastback

1/48 CGGC Grisoni Range Rover, Dyane 6 and Citroën CX

1/25 Revell "Mother's Cherry Pie" ('31 Ford Model A)

1/24 Heller Matra FII MS5

 

None has survived...

 

I still have a started AMT 1/25 '55 Chevy Nomad on the shelf of doom... I shall try to remove my ugly mess of paint and finish it, someday...

Edited October 26, 2021 by Hamster Volant

[ElectricLightAndy]

I think I had a new cheap kit every other month and better ones for Birthdays and Christmas... hmm seems I haven't changed much 🤔 

 

Two I remember particularly are the Airfix 1/24 ferrari 250 hi-tech kit, I had no idea how to build it and ended up losing most of the bits, I'd love to have a go at one now. Also I was given a 1/16? (Possibly) ferrari F40, my mum binned it before I could build it because I'd been naughty or something ☹ I remember my Dad was really wee weed of with her about it! 

 

Like the rest of you mine have just been lost or blown up/binned by mum.

 

Andy.

[Alan R]

I did build the usual aircraft suspects when I was a child, but they don't count for this thread...

 

I do remember building:

 

Airfix 1/32:

Six Minis

MG (?) 1100

Austin Maxi

Morris Marina

TR4A

Jaguar E-type

Jaguar 420G

Two Bond Bugs 

AH Sprite

 

Frog 1/16:

Ford Cortina

 

Monogram 1/8:

Jaguar XK-E

 

Otaki (?) 1/16:

Jaguar Piranha

 

Quite a stash when I look back!

 

All long gone!

 

Cheers,

Alan.

[Windy37]

My first build was a yellow Jeep SUV thing , probably from Ertl. Built OOB and don't know where it is now . Then I built Tamiyas Quattro rally car as I was leaving school ; the next were Heller 1:43 rally cars and F1 cars  . By then I was working and started building Hasegawa rally cars that were coming through , starting with a Mitsubishi Galant VR4 . All these are either in the loft or still in display . The Audi has stood the test of time really well considering it sat on an uncovered shelf in my bedroom for maybe 20 years !   

  Gary. 

[Alan R]

Although this is a little out of the scope of the question, but ...

 

When I was doing my degree Finals in 1976, I needed to have a break from revision (any excuse!). So I built a Tamiya 1/35 Quad Gun tractor. I still have it sitting in my man-cave windowsill. Nothing missing! Not much dust, Decals still look good.

Over 45 years! Not bad going...

 

Cheers,

Alan.

 

[Alan R]

Blimey! I have just been on e-bay, and guess what? ... A Frog 1/16 scale Cortina!

 

Assembled, unfortunately.

 

Cheers,

Alan.

 

P.S. Not one for sale, but two!

Edited October 27, 2021 by Alan R

[Ray_W]

My first and only was a Volkswagen Beetle. A Beetle built before the Beatles broke up. All I remember is the green plastic.

 

I keep promising myself it is time to build another auto. Very much outside my comfort zone. 

 

 

[nearsightedjohn]

My two older brothers and I must have built nearly every one of the AMT “annual” 1/25 auto kits that were issued starting in the late 50’s. I remember them selling for around our weekly allowance back then ($1 -$1.25 for mowing the front and back lawns). I built most of mine unpainted with plenty of glue finger prints and crooked decals. My two brothers were both “artists” who introduced me to Pactra spray cans and those little bottles of Testor’s enamel. I wish I still had some of their builds, they were beautiful for the times.

What happen to all of them? I suspect our mom tossed them as they broke up into pieces (I “played” with mine pretty hard as a kid). Models were mostly “toys” when I was a child, now they’re my “art” pieces (or at least that’s what I tell myself). 

Edited October 27, 2021 by nearsightedjohn
Content

[keefr22]

1 hour ago, Alan R said:

P.S. Not one for sale, but two!

 

Did they come with two bodyshells? Box art shows a two door while the assembled kit is a 4 door.....??!!  (I'd always thought the kit was a more-door but had never noticed the ''wrong'' box art!  )

 

Keith 

[Alan R]

I'm not sure, but I think it was a four door.

Box art was a bit fanciful in the past...

 

Cheers,

Alan.

[Ben Brown]

I mostly built airplanes as a kid, but when I was 17, I bought a ‘75 TR7. Monogram released their TR7 kit around the same time, so I built it to represent my car. The kit lasted much longer than the car. I still have the model in my attic, destined to someday be modified into a convertible. The 1/1 car lasted 6 months before I traded it for a (relatively) more reliable MGB. 
 

I also built a ‘77 Trans Am and a Ferrari 308 GTS that I took to college with me. My roommate, who was a complete jerk, destroyed them both. One of many things I should have punched him in the mouth for.

 

Ben

[Paul J]

I built most of the Airfix 1/32 scale car kits. The only ones on the market within reach of my pocket money. Mainy the veteran and vintage series. Of the modern  ones the Mini , Austin Healey Sprite come to mind but whatever happened  to them  heaven knows!  I really wish that Airfix would reissue more of them. Especially the veteran  cars. 

In fact, at one point in that time I had virtually  all the  series one kit's built consisting of the aircraft   ships and AFVs.

[Pig of the Week]

I just remembered another one I did.. It was  "Rommel's Rod"  by Monogram c.1/25 scale, (I think)... a kind of daft comic pastiche of a German staff car / half track, complete with skeletons as crew

It seems they have even done a re-issue of it. My one undoubtedly died the same kind of death as the flamethrower tanks !

[Marco F.]

When I was a child I built followings...

 Revell Porsche 911, Revell Herbie the love Bug, VW Porsche,  BRE Datsun 510 and 240z, Jaguar XKE,  Bandai Fiat x1/9 Bandai Excalibur , Airfix Bentley Blower  both 1\12 ...more to follow when I remember...

Marco F 

[Marco F.]

... Revell Yamaha 250DT on 1/12 

In 1976 I spent the summer holidays in California where I discovered the AMT and MPC range and built a lot of these models 

Marco F 

[malpaso]

Yay, I built that Revell dirt bike too.  It was way more impressive than the rather desperate selection Airfix offered.  I only built a couple of the Airfix 1/32 moderns (a mini shell is still on a scalextric chassis in the roof).  The historics were better but the Matchbox ones were much better (I built the JAG, Surtees and 917 at least).

More exotically,  some local shops around W Essex / E London provided 1/20 Mini Cooper (LS? ) and Nichimos 1/20 CJ7 and Mitsubishi CJ3 copy , which were very nice kits.  A less nice kit was the even then obviously archaic built up body shell of the Revell Healey 100/6, though I remember building it superbly!

I can easily get a replacement 1/20 JPS mk3 by Tamiya (none of that Lotus 78 nonsense in those days 😂)  which was ruined by my Humbrol Modellers Airbrush (remember those?) blowing off all the transfers when spraying with gloss.  Took me 40 years to return to trying airbrushing!

A couple of kits I'd really like to try again, but unlikely as they seem one issue only, are the MPC Force 440 police car (complete with enough guns aboard to start a small war) and the same company's Chevy Dualie.  I think they must have come from Beatties, but unfortunately these two kits seem to have been retooled for different versions so I doubt there are many unbuilt ones floating round the UK nowadays.

Fun topic to discuss.

Cheers 

Will