We all have to start from somewhere...

[Spiny]

Seeing the posts @galaxyg has been posting up got me thinking, wouldn't it be great to see what everyone else's early stuff was like too? So if anyone else is brave enough, post up a pic of your earliest surviving or available build. Whether it's a survivor from back when you were a kid, or your first build on returning to the hobby (and let's face it 90%+ of us have left then returned) doesn't matter. Just be brave, show where you started, then stand back and take satisfaction by looking at your most recent build and seeing how you've improved.

 

I'll get the ball rolling with mine:

 

Strictly speaking, my first build was a 1:43 Humbrol Land Rover, now sitting somewhere in a cupboard at my dad's and cunningly disguides as a glue ball, but the earliest one I have down here is this Dodge Charger from when I was about 7 or 8.

 

 

Happily it no longer looks like this as I've since done a rebuild of it.

 

In terms of my first build on my return, there was an Airfix Battle of Britain Memorial Flight set, but then my first car build was this Mustang done back in 2016.

 

 

Is anyone else brave enough to post their first?

[Six97s]

Most of my early models ended up in the bin. 😵‍💫 This is the oldest surviving model I have - albeit missing some bits - an MAN that I built in the summer of 1986.  It was converted from the 6x4 kit following Ted Taylor's magazine article.

 

 

 

This Tony Nancy 22 Jr was from around 1991, still knocking about in a box somewhere.

 

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These two are the only other complete models I have from the early '90s.

 

 

[Spottedlaurel]

Great idea Spiny!

 

I still have most of my older builds, even if they're just in the parts box or awaiting restoration someday. The only ones I have photos of for now:

 

 

 

Despite being done 40 or so years ago this remains perhaps my most ambitious decal job! I just put them straight onto the unpainted bodyshell and the rest of it fitted together nicely. It returned to the cabinet after I rescued it a few years back.

 

 

Brush-painted Tamiya F1! Who knew Darrell Waltrip ever drove a yellow Wolf? Another one that got put back together when I found everything in the parts box.

 

 

The unpainted Quattro was a weekend build from July/August 1984. I think my heavy-handedness with the glue would have made for a rather difficult restoration, but it did eventually donate some of its road car parts to the "rally car for the road" version I built in 2020 (such a productive year!).

 

 

The black '57 dates from about 1986, with brush-painted black Humbrol enamel and silver-painted chromework (the purple '57 was completed a few years ago after I started it back in the '90s, so it spans my main building periods). Another rummage through the parts box located most of what I needed:

 

 

I retained most of the original paint, just gave it a good polish and redid the brightwork with BMF and new wheels from the Monogram '70 Chevelle.

 

Still have several Tamiya and Monogram builds from the 1980s which need to be restored, and when one of my really early efforts has been lost/binned over the years I've bought a replacement kit to attempt again someday (like the 1/32 Matchbox Porsche 917, eek!).

 

I kept building until 1995, then had a break of around 11-12 years before I started again. With techniques learnt from going online and the realisation that aftermarket parts could be purchased I started turning out things like this, the first my 'modern era' builds:

 

 

[Potsie]

This is a great idea for a thread! A different automotive modeling site I used to be active on had a 'Biography' thread for which I created this album:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/139854026@N02/albums/72157712098972812/

 

These are photos of the models I have remaining in my collection and represent my builds from the early 1990's. Before then I had built many Revell USA kits as these were availalbe quite cheaply in large department stores in Australia when I was young. Struggling to recall them all, but they included: multiple pro-stock drag cars, a Willys Gasser, a modified VW Beetle, a Castrol livery top fuel drag car, a sprint car, Matt and Debbie Hay's Pro-Street Thunderbird (must source another and build again!!), an IMSA Mustang, a truck and trailer of some description and even a 1/12th scale Corvette. I did none of these kits justice as all were brush painted and many had unpainted bodies. I did enjoy decalling though.

 

Tamiya kits were comparatively much more expensive, so these were special occassion gifts once I was deemed sufficiently skilled! Again, I much preferred race vehicles as I enjoyed - and still do - the process of bringing to life a model with decals. Despite being kept in closed display cabinet (built with my late father) the models have not aged well due to lack of clear coat protecting the decals and the many hot and very humid days where I grew up. These are the first four of what is now over 130 completed builds.

 

 

I still have most of the old builds with a vague notion of restoring / rebuilding one day. I even have re-issue decals for some; e.g. the Paris-Dakar Pajero. Mind you, given the size of my new-in-box stash this is likely overly ambitious!

[Kiwidave4]

I am not really a car modeller, though I have built quite a few in my time. My earliest survivor is a Pyro Alfa 1750. Built this in 1968 for my then girlfriend - now wife of 55 years - as she was very impressed with the Alfas she saw on our first date;- I took her to Thruxton for a VSCC race meeting! The body is unpainted red plastic.

 

In 1970 or 71 I think my wife bought me the then new Tamiya 1/12th scale Ferrari and Lotus 49 kits. The Lotus was never finished - attempted to make it into a Rob Walker car but lost interest, then carted it around the world and the country and sold the half built kit online a couple of years ago! The Ferrari did get built! Brush painted with Humbrol enamels.

 

Then in I 1974 built a Mog Three Wheeler. Can't remember the kit but I think it is 1/16th scale and the only one available. Made two of these, the air cooled for me and a much better water cooled conversion in red for a friend.  It is a bit embarrassing with its chrome exhaust pipes complete with flash and the chrome carrier. Brush painted Humbrol green, but the mudguards are unpainted kit black.

 

Around 1989/90 I was working as a rep and on one trip I was idly browsing a model shop and saw this 1/24th Ferrari - can't remember the maker. Did the build in my motel room and the painted it when I got home. The tyres look sad! Brush painted with Humbrol enamels.

 

UPDATE!!!

I was having a tidy up in the garage today and picked up what I thought was an empty box and found some more cars!

This Airfix Bently would be the oldest car model I still own, built sometime between 1964 and 1966. Brush painted gloss Humbrol enamel with satin enamel for the fabric body. Missing the folded windscreen which is lost and gone.

 

This Pyro Type 59 is missing its scratchbuilt steering gear but has an aluminium tonneau and drilled chassis rails and maybe some other tweaks. The usual Humbrol enamel finish. Built around 1968 or 69.

 

A Merit Lancia Ferrari built around 1975. Scratchbuilt engine and other details. Aero screen has come off but I have saved it. Brush painted Humbrol enamel. While in the UK in the late sixties I grabbed any Merit kit I saw on sale as at that time they were a discontinued line. This is the only one I completed. The others are in a box somewhere which I will no doubt find in due course.

Edited October 10 by Kiwidave4

[Potsie]

@Kiwidave4 Your skills with a brush are amazing! I would never have though the Morgan was anything but sprayed green. Lovely models all. The Ferrari wasn't the Rosso kit was it?

[Farmer matt]

I love this idea, however I think it is just as well that nothing survives from previous lives!

I have memories of at least an overcomplicated Merc 300 SL that was probably left unpainted which had masses of red plastic for the interior and framing. Also a '56 Chevy which was white over midnight blue and I was quite proud of -then.

 

Matt

 

[Kiwidave4]

30 minutes ago, Potsie said:

@Kiwidave4 Your skills with a brush are amazing! I would never have though the Morgan was anything but sprayed green. Lovely models all. The Ferrari wasn't the Rosso kit was it?

 

Thanks. Brush painting was easy back then with the Humbrol enamel of the time which was a proper brushing enamel. I honestly have no idea what the Ferrari kit was. It was a pretty simple kit and, more importantly, cheap which was why I bought it!

[Neddy]

Thanks @Spiny for a great idea!  Here's a few that have already featured in various discussions and as such already have images stored and available...

 

This is from my teenage years (about 60 years ago) and started life as a TR7, modified to give more of a Stingray look...

 

 

Also from that period a T-Bucket created from an amalgam of spares-box parts and some scratched items...

 

...and the only metal kit I ever attempted, about 40 years ago...

 

 

I have more from the vaults but some serious dusting will have to take place before they're fit to photograph!

[Redstaff]

I haven't got any of my builds from my younger years and they would have all been planes and tanks at the time, I can't remember building any cars at the time 🤔

When I came back to the hobby a few years ago now I built a few more planes then discovered the range of rally and F1 cars available which took up less room than something with wings on the shelf   I got rid of most of my stash of planes except for a 1/48 Dam buster Lancaster, a 1/24 P51D Mustang and an Airfix Vulcan, all things I intend to build once I figure out where to put them  

My first car was a Tamiya Impreza WRC '98 which I found in Hobbycraft then the next was the Belkits Mk i Ford Escort (2 of my favourite rally cars)

They started the ball rolling and I've stuck to cars since

I've learnt so many different tips and skills along the way and will probably go back and redo these 2 kits at some point  

 

 

 

[Windy37]

This is where I started 

 

The Audi was my favourite rally car back in the mid 80's . My none motorsport dad took me to see the RAC Rally cars driving up the A1 near Clumber Park ( not an actual stage ) and I was so happy to see the Quattros passing by. Our local model shop , Shermans at Scunthorpe had the Tamiya Quattro on sale and I saved up my birthday money to make the purchase. A pot of silver and black paint was also bought. I don't think I've done a bad job . And the car is still displayed in the cabinet with most of my other builds. It has a  yellow tinge as I brushed some kind of clear on it. The decals are a bit scabby, but then it is a rally car !

 

Look at the detail painting in that engine bay !!

Gary

[RossFMJ]

18 minutes ago, Redstaff said:

 

Ooh, that's a cracking Escort there , A lovely looking car indeed, I've got one in the stash too.

[johnlambert]

21 hours ago, Spiny said:

 

 

 

 

Although I no longer have it, my first kit looked a lot like this one. I've lost the photos I took in lockdown of the old kits I discovered in my loft. I'll try and dig them out again for a new photo shoot.

[Redstaff]

41 minutes ago, RossFMJ said:

 

Ooh, that's a cracking Escort there , A lovely looking car indeed, I've got one in the stash too.

It's a cracking kit, but typical Belkits as the instructions are a bit vague 

[szeregowy]

My story is very similar to @Redstaff. In my teens I was more into planes and AFV's and although liked rally games I never had a chance to build a rally car. Years have passed and when finally I decided to return to modelling I started where I left... AFV's.

Only a few months ago thanks to an impulse buy I have decided to try my luck with cars and Tamiya's Subaru Impreza was my first.

 

 

I had a fair share of ups and downs with this build, ups with the interior and big downs with a body shell. I think I've learned a thing or two, so that is a positive, however I'm still quite anxious when it comes to painting.

[Spiny]

Great to see all your early stuff everyone.

 

One thing which stands out at me is how many of us have moved forward in the intervening years between childhood models (when if you were anything like me you just built as quick as drying glue would let you) and the first model in our current build times where it's obvious more time has been spent on the models.

 

I told you it would be a good way to see how far you've all come at this modelling lark

 

[galaxyg]

@Spiny Great idea for a thread.

 

Whilst none of the car models I built as a kid survive I can still remember them all: Tamiya Sierra XR4i, Tamiya Mercedes 500SEC Lorinser, Some brand I don't recall which Camaro Iroc-Z, Tamiya Ferrari F40, Tamiya Audi Quattro Rally, Hasegawa Ferrari 365 GTB (of which I have built another in my adult modelling era) and Fujimi Porsche 911. I did build a fair bit of military as a teenager too.  One of these days I will buy another Mercedes 500SEC Lorinser if I see one at a sensible price. The extra body kit on it makes it look perfect.  What I can say about those teenaged builds is that none of them were especially good, and I'm certainly all but the F40 were brush painted on the outside. The Camaro I never finished as it has a severely warped body.

 

The first adult era car I completed was a Fujimi AE86 in 2008 but it does not survive in it's original form, I stripped and rebuilt as a touring car many years later. A photo of it from back then is below. What is equally interesting to me is not only how far I've come as a modeller but also as a photographer, so I present builds 2 and 3 further below with a photo taken today, and below each a photo taken back in 2008 from which all three builds are from. The 2025 photos really flatter the 2008 builds as put one right next to a build from 17 years later and there's no comparison.  

 

Build number 1: Fujimi AE86.

 

 

Build number 2: Tamiya's Skyline R32.  No clearcoat!  Poly cement for everything including the clear parts. No black rubbers around the light lenses. No detailing of the engine bay beyond what was in the box. Flaky number plate on the front.

 

 

Build number 3: Tamiya Honda Prelude XX

 

No clearcoat!  Chrome parts are just dull aluminium paint and a bit scruffy too around the lights and grille and windscreen. Glue mark on the bonnet. And by now, dust that's practically become part of the model.

 

Now this kit is reissued, I have thought I might get one and do it again, and certainly not in red. I would change the wheels and the only thing that put me off all this is that the wheels are so small and so thing I can't imagine what I can get to fit in those arches.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 8 by galaxyg

[Redstaff]

4 hours ago, Windy37 said:

This is where I started 

 

The Audi was my favourite rally car back in the mid 80's . My none motorsport dad took me to see the RAC Rally cars driving up the A1 near Clumber Park ( not an actual stage ) and I was so happy to see the Quattros passing by. Our local model shop , Shermans at Scunthorpe had the Tamiya Quattro on sale and I saved up my birthday money to make the purchase. A pot of silver and black paint was also bought. I don't think I've done a bad job . And the car is still displayed in the cabinet with most of my other builds. It has a  yellow tinge as I brushed some kind of clear on it. The decals are a bit scabby, but then it is a rally car !

 

Look at the detail painting in that engine bay !!

Gary

I'd love to get hold of one of the old Tamiya Quattros (at the right price) as it's so much better than the Italeri version

I thought they may have re-released it as they have re-released the road going version, but alas, not up to yet 😒 

Ian  

[Redstaff]

3 hours ago, Spiny said:

One thing which stands out at me is how many of us have moved forward in the intervening years between childhood models (when if you were anything like me you just built as quick as drying glue would let you) and the first model in our current build times where it's obvious more time has been spent on the models.

I must admit that I was in the same school of modelling as you, sometimes the glue wouldn't even be dry before I started painting, along with the obligatory glue thumbprint on the canopy  

 

Ian  

[SnøMotion]

Fantastic thread, @Spiny! 

 

I'm not a particularly sentimental person, so I tend not to keep hold of things.

 

I think, like many, I started modelling by making planes and hanging them from my bedroom ceiling with black cotton. Then I might have made some 1:43 cars, certainly a Heller Alpine A310 in brown plastic (built unpainted), before moving to 1:25 and 1:24 scale. My car modelling has happened in several phases:

 

Phase 1: late 70s - early 80s

Builds I can remember

1:16/1:20: Motorised Baja Buggy, Motorised Mini

1:24/1:25: 2x part painted Porsche 911 Targa (snap fit), Corvette C3 in silver plastic (unpainted), Z28 Camaro in orange Plastic (unpainted), Monogram Bad Actor (unpainted), Chrysler Imperial (bought in Largs 1983, maybe Airfix, spray painted Black and Green).

 

Phase 2: late 80s - early 90s

Builds I can remember

1:24/1:25: Tamiya Ferrari F40, Fujimi Ferrari 365GTB Daytona, 1966 Cadillac Coupe De Ville (bought by my dad on a business trip to Scotland, headlights filled, bonnet cut out and scratch built engine bay with a blown V8 and drag wheels and tyres from a different kit), Mercedes R129 500SL - I thought the kit was Tamiya, but I can't find it on Scalemates as it had no engine detail (Modified to a removable 1 piece front with scratch built space frame and suspension, engine, bonnet scoop and wheels from a Revell 55 Chevy (no 7194) bought over the phone from the US), 1940 Ford Pick Up (built mid-engined using the previously built Ferrari F40 subframes, suspension, engine and wheels), Tamiya Lamborghini Diablo (Built OOB and the last build of this phase and the ONLY survivor)

 

Phase 3: 1999 - 2015

All unfinished builds

1:12: Tamiya Nissan Fairlady 240ZG (late 2014 - early 2015) Link to WiP

1:24 Tamiya Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R Street Custom (late 2014 - early 2015)

1:24 Tamiya Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec R34 (about 1999 or 2000) Link to RFI

 

Phase 4: 2022 - Date

First builds

1:24 Tamiya Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R Street Custom (finished... poorly...)

1:24 Fujimi Lexus IS350 (finished... poorly...)

 

Now, after all that waffling, here are photos of the only survivor from Phases 1&2

 

 

And the first two from Phase 4...

 

Finished the Skyline with 3D modelled and printed wheels, tyres and wing mirrors (because the originals had disappeared) I got glue on the side windows of this and kind of gave up at that point, which is why some of the decals and badges are still missing. I'll add them at some point...

 

 

And built this purely for displaying wheel designs. It has 3D modelled and printed lowered suspension, wheels, tyres and exhaust tips. It was my first airbrushed model and I learnt about pulling paint off when masking for painting window rubbers and also about attaching the bumpers before you paint! I kind of gave up on this one, too, which is why it doesn't have number plates and there's still some polish in the panel lines.  I did go back and add some rust into the bits where the paint had been pulled off, just so it looked partly intentional.

 

 

Anyway, I've taken onboard what I learnt from these two and it has certainly helped with what I've built since. Still learning on every build, though... 

 

Martin

 

[Technics]

Nice thread. Thanks for sharing everyone.

I have been thinking what to write as it is difficult looking that far back for me but here it goes.

 

My first model was in 1992.

Monogram 1:24 Porsche 911, bought from at department store age 8. Horribly difficult kit, butchered mess with impossible materials available in that time for a child. 

 

1992-2002

+100 models I´m estimating 5 glue bomb models a year, it can be way higher, it may as well be maybe double that.

Only cars in 1:24-25 scale

Only Tamiya TS paint  I remember trying testors paint once, it had a bad cap it was basically spraying whipped cream out. Devastating day that day.

 

2003-2005

6 models

Entered 3 model shows with 3 different "podium" finishes under age 18 category  Life shaping moments.

 

2008-2021

No modeling, one or two started. Still have the WIP

Lots of forum lurking, youtube content ingesting.

Ebay troll and purchase holy grails from childhood with a adults salary. BTCC, JTCC, 80s-00 era cars adored, and drooled over discovering BBC´s Top Gear and only watching it ( 90s- till it ended ) Tiff Needle is and was everything to me.

 

2021

sell everything ( tape lifted the clear coat 😆 )

 

2022

Covid full swing buy everything 😆

 

2024

Re-enter hobby commitment to finish everything started with dignity, no matter what. Finish the project. 

Have built 3 model in that year.

 

I have those handful of models from the 03-05 era. Looking back, I´m proud and impressed at my child self.. so much emotion, effort and soul crushing moments took place throughout each era as the result was never enough.

So it is difficult to look at the models if I am honest. Here is one from 2005 photographed in 2005.

 

I am so happy the patience ( mainly via age? ) access to knowledge, incredible phone cameras, any material or kit delivered within days to your doorstep is finally here. Enjoying the process much more now.

 

 

 

Most models from the tail end of 90s to 2005 era looked like this, which was photographed in my recent 2021 sell era, sell off for parts. Anything and everything ( almost, everything. Still have some WIPs )

Majority were given away / thrown out 20 years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 10 by Technics

[SnøMotion]

18 minutes ago, Technics said:

That's a great looking Mini!

 

18 minutes ago, Technics said:

Tiff Needle is and was everything to me.

There's a man who knows how to create great sideways footage! 

[RossFMJ]

18 minutes ago, SnøMotion said:

38 minutes ago, Technics said:

Expand  

That's a great looking Mini!

That's a stunning looking mini 

How on earth did you make such a small steering wheel out of real wood and steering column wotsit out of Bakelite??

[Alan R]

This is by no means my best effort. Time hasn't been too kind, but I still like this one:

I must have built this nearly 40 years ago. It certainly pre-dates my wedding.

 

 

Taken outside on a bright sunny afternoon with a very low sun...

 

I thought that I had removed all the dust, but it appears that some was still adhering to it!

 

 

 

 

 

The decal colours have faded somewhat, notably the reds.

I do remember enjoying this build. 

Now it's out pf the storage  bin, I will find a prominent place for it.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

Cheers,

Alan.

 

 

 

[Windy37]

That's a really good survivor @Alan R . It'll probably out live most 1:1 205's !!

Gary