Howzit Frank,

I don't have any kiddies of my own, but I worked in a LHS for a few years...

I'm not sure how much things have changed (ITO kids interests) in the 5-6 years since I left the store, but I found the Academy 1/144 and 1/72 scale aircraft were great for kids about your son's age... there are minimal parts, and it tends to be fun little painting "experiment"... of course the other thing I remember was that the more guns and bombs the model had, the more popular it was amongst the "4 foot high" crowd...

As you know, kids at that age change their minds and interests on a per seconds basis :-) so I wouldn't spend too much cash on his first few kits...

I'm sure Mary (Tankysgal) will reply to this post... but her and Kevin (JackHammer81) bought one of Mary's sons the little motorised Tamiya jeep (Wild Willy - or something like that) - and he had a great time building that... In fact I seem to recall her posting pics of it here on the Big A...

HTH

Rudi

Hi Frank

My seven year old son a member here at Armorma call sign "Mattyboy" makes 1/72 armour. He is due to make a post on the Introduction forum in the next day or two.

He just loves this site and he thinks it is the coolest.

I am not sure if he is the youngest member of Armorma as he is yet to turn seven years old.

I got him the Airfix Tiger I in 1/72nd scale he made it up and painted and put the what he calls "stickers" (decals) on as well.

He is currently working on the Airfix Panther in 1/72nd as well.

The reason I went this way was for several reasons:

1. Cost here they are only $6.00 a kit at the local LHS;

2. Simple kits which fell together for him

3. Because they were simple he got it almost completed in one session

4. The 1/72nd scale/size suites kids

5. He could get some matching 1/72nd Airfix soldiers to match which he has done

6. Other 1/72nd kit brands are too expensive here as are the later 1/48's for someone just staring out

7. Accuracy is not important fostering the fun and interest is

8. I have taken along Mattyboy's work to my AMPS club they loved it and everyone remembered that Airfix 1/72nds is how they all started. He has been duly signed up as an AMPS member and is offically our youngest member.

So that was my criteria and it has been a real postive experience the only real "guidance" I gave him was of course in the direction of WW2 German and as he said at the LHS "Dad the Tigers are the best tanks aren't they?" I felt so proud I almost cried.

Regards

Sean

Frank,just a thought.
I assume you build side by side with him?
This is a good way to offer on the spot encouragement,and advice on how to best assemble a fiddly bit. (++) (++)

Animal - that's the exact kit he picked up, then put back after I slipped and said I heard it wasn't too good. Just wasn't thinking like a young boy. I just might have to stop on the way home and pick it up for him.

I'll explore the idea of 1/72 aircraft with him. He's messed around with some 1/144 aircraft that were cheap and did ok. He definitely gets a kick out of painting them, that's for sure.

He seems drawn to 1/72 armor at times, but I've found that they can be too small for him. Definitely need to explore the Monogram stuff again. I know I like building their aircraft, even if the kits are dated.

He's working on a Hasegawa 1/24 Jeep right now and doing well. We do work side-by-side at the table in the basement. He's even got his own sprue cutters and cutting mat. And paints too!

All this talk of Airfix kits and the like are reminding of the good ol' days when I'd build models with my grandfather. As a WWII vet who spent considerable time in the UK, he was always picking up British and German subjects for me to build. Such good memories!

- Frank

Hi Frank

Just a thought.

Do a Dad and son thing both go to the LHS together let him pick out the kit and take it to the counter.

He will remember that special moment for the rest of his life.

Thats what I did Mattyboy just loved it.


Regards

Sean

Frank, My oldest one is almost eight. She has yet to complete a model but I have helped her with several kits. She seems to do well with the older Tamiya kits. She almost completed Tamiya's old jeep kit herself. I finished building it and she painted it. It ended up being pink and baby blue with a load of play-dough in the back.

From the sounds of it, the next time he gets the armor bug, I'll check out some of those older Tamiya kits.

As way of an update, I left work a bit early yesterday to take the kids off of my wife's hands. Of course, my plan was to take him to the hobby shop!

After walking around the store, he settled on some 1/144 scale Minicraft kits. In the end, he chose a DC-3 and a B-29 "Enola Gay". He couldn't wait to pop open the box once we got in the car and a few seconds later, I heard his excited voice from the backseat saying "Look at this! I can do this in one day!"

He's got most of the DC-3 completed and I have to admit, he's done a pretty nice job. I think with each kit, I'll teach him a new basic technique, but I don't want to overwhelm and discourage him. The skills will come with time as long as he keeps his interest.

Thanks all for the suggestions and support!

- Frank

hi frank! having read this thread i would certainly agree with everyone who has mentioned the airfix kits as being a great introduction to the hobby, especially the series one stuff, which is what i built when i was about your boys age, (apart from being barred from having model paints after using some enamels to make a big mural on my bedroom wall!)

Who was it that used to make those " snap tite " kits ?? Are those still made?? If not, pretty sure you could find a couple at any model show. No glue for your son to inhale, and you could watch over him as he begins to paint it.

I think those are appropriate for a 7 yr old.

There's a few still out there. Monogram and Revell make aircraft, I believe. I haven't seen a Snap-Tite car for years, but I might have glossed right over them.

He does like some of the snap togethers that he's done, but my guess is that they don't hold his interest long enough in the sense that the variety is limited these days.

Maybe you might want to try some of Dragons 7/72 scale armor, or the Tamiya M-41, it is only 12 bucks, and if you go to a hobby lobby during 50% off week, it is even cheaper. They have a lot of kits that might catch his eye. Although we are all freying away from smaller parts, why is this the case? Unless you are afraid of him eating them. His hands are half our size and he is probably twice as steady. Pick up 2 Trumpeter KV-1's and have a father and son build. Do it together and each use different decals. (of course his will look better). Just a thought. Back to the small parts thing dont let that keep your from having him build a kit that has them. he built a 1/144 DC-3, how big could those parts have been?????

Oh ya i do remember Gino's girls jeep, didnt she paint it red?? and it was on its way to the beach?


Herky



Post some of his builds please. Like to see the young mew talents work

Herky,

We gave the 1/72 armor a go and he tended to get a bit frustrated with the small parts. Maybe in a couple of years. That 1/144 DC-3 had only about 30 parts total, and he opted to do his gear up, so that cut out about 10 of 'em!

I do like the idea of building the same kit. Thanks for the idea!

He's got the DC-3 mostly painted. When I pointed out (gently) that he missed a spot or two, he told me that was intentional as that's where the paint was worn away!

I'll see if he'll let me post a pic when it's done.