I really enjoyed this video! I am 73 years old. I started building plastic model aircraft in 1955 at age 5. My father helped me build a F-80 Shooting Star. It might have been from the Lindbergh Line. I believe it was in 1/4" scale. The model was tail heavy and not able to rest on its nose gear. My dad thought it out. He put a metal bolt with nut attached in each of the fuselage halves. He then bonded them in place with a great deal of our polystyrene glue. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Dad told me to leave the completed model alone while the glue dried. 5 year old me was impatient and picked it up way too soon. Unfortunately, I picked up the model jet by the nose. I was aghast that my fingers squeezed the heck out of the nose. I single handly destroyed the model. My dad was embarrassed by his improper use of solvent. He tossed the model jet fighter in the trash and never built another model with me again. My mother later helped me build a model of the U.S.S. Nautilus submarine (probably Revelle) and a Sherman tank. I started building model cars by myself in 1959...the early 1/25th scale AMT Styline? Kits I am still building model cars. The first serious model aircraft I built was the Monogram 1/4" P-40B kit...I would go on an build most of their aircraft in 1/48th scale from 1965-1969.
The oldest Plastic model kit that I can remember building was a Lindberg Saab Draken jet fighter in !/48 - !/50th scale. It was packaged in a box with a transparent acetate viewing window so you could see the parts. It was molded in white plastic. It also included a rocket pod that was operable thru the use of a rubber band. Pretty cool for the mid 1960's.
My first kit was a Ford GT, probably 1/32 scale. I was 5 years old, painted it red with a gold interior. It couldn't have been a very complex kit, but I remember it fondly. Started a lifetime of plastic modeling. 1969 or early 1970. I'm gettin' old!
The first kit I can remember was a 1/72 scale Airfix Hawker Typhoon in around 1960 when I was seven. I put the transfers on, then painted it red having to work round the transfers - ! Doh - !
I found an old Comet X-18 VTOL aircraft from 1959 in a drug store. They were removing some shelves for renovations and there it was , also an Original Revell Eastwind Icebreaker 1957 tooling. I might still have the X-18 in storage but lost the Eastwind 3 yrs ago ( lost 80% of my stuff ) The good old days , when you could get models everywhere. As a kid ( late 60's) I used to buy my kits in a Funeral wreath store. Not kidding. Hope you have a great/safe week !
That history lesson on T Bird field was Awesome, bud. Being pretty much my neighborhood for the past 34 years. I've been driving by and fascinated with that place for years. It's been tough watching it slowly vanish.
The very first kit that I can remember building was an Aurora 1/48 scale M-46 "Patton" tank from about 1965. It had this weird plastic base molded in a tan color that looked like a diorama base. I bought it in a Woolworths, there were no dedicated hobby shops near where I lived at the time.
OMG now THERE'S a blast from the past! F.W. Woolworths 5 and 10 cent store! Had one on State Street in Erie for decades til the Transitway Mall went bye-bye in the mid 80s! Fond memories....
I built an F-86 Sabre back when I was about 10 or 11, circa '68-'69. The toy shop I bought it from was a kids dreamland, I'll never forget it! Hawthorne Toy Shop,....Hawthorne, N.J.
From Colombia. Back in the 60s Revell models were made entirely in my country, mainly airplane models from Avianca national airline and 2d oldest in the world.
1/72 Matchbox 3 colour mold Beaufighter (in 1977). I had to bike 17 km to get it. (there was no store in my little village) - Price: $4.00 CAN. But what a rush and good memory. I still build today and enjoy every minute of it. Thanks Andy. Really love your channel!
Those Aeroskins kit were nice. built a couple of them. Only problem I had was cutting the thin silk like panels. You need it sharp scissors but as a kid , you were not allow it to have them. I have in my stash ( prized possession ) a 1958 Hawk Matador missile with truck in 48th scale. Almost mint condition . Also have the 1963 ? original Monogram missile set ( with horizontal missiles ) the later reissues 1966, 1980's , were all vertical. Hope you and your loved ones have a great/safe week ! Tony
First kit was an Airfix Dogfight Doubles with Fokker Dr1 Tri Decker and the British F2B, somewhere around 1973. I built them 2 parts tube cement to 1 part plastic.
My dad was deep into models from the 50's thru 70's. Planes mostly. Also tanks, subs, etc. 4000 kits when he died, 1000 assembled (i counted them all). And that was just ONE of his hobbies.
My first kit was a P-51D. It was in a small box, and I don't remember the brand. I was in the Cub Scouts, so it was around 1962/62. Our den had gone for a hike. We stopped into a neighborhood store, where our leader offered to buy us drinks. I saw the models on a shelf, and asked for the P-51 instead of a drink. He ought it for me. My second kit is more memorable. After a dentist appointment, my mother bought me the Aurora F9F Panther kit in 1/4".
I built an old Renwal 1/72 Curtis Pusher of this same vintage from the series of early aircraft in the mid-1970s. I used Testors liquid cement on the tissue enclosed in the kit and thinned the parts to make a realistic airfoil before application of the tissue paper. It worked so well, after painting (becomes somewhat translucent revealing the dark plastic of the wing structure, so painting became necessary) that I created a diorama and entered in the IPMS regional contest at Cleveland and won First Place for the category! I still have the kit in my possession to this day. I'll bet this model would build into a great kit, with white plastic contained with instead of black as the Pusher had.
Late 50's early 60's, a model of a B58 Hustler being fueled by a jet tanker of some sort. Small scale, built in the attic on a card table set up just for me. Good times!
The jet tanker would have been the KC-135A. I got to fly an incentive flight 4 day mission on one when I was stationed at Grissom AFB, IN in May 1979. Air refueling is quite an art to watch from the boom pod under the tail. Air Refueling specialist job description back then. It takes 3 officers and an 8 million dollar aircraft to take me to work. Then when I get to work, all I do is go to the back of the aircraft, lay down and pass gas!
I have very dim memories of building a P-80 Shooting Star. I don't even remember who made it. I really messed that kit up. I have to edit this. After an internet search I found the kit, it was an F 84 Thunderjet. Thanks for the history about Thunderbird field #1!!
I remember that era. Thanks for posting. I built only 1 of those Aero-Skin kits. A WWI bi-plane. Made an real mess of it trying to glue on the "skin". And the fumes from the glue were very, very strong back then.
Finally able to watch this video. When I was about 10 I was able to get that F 100 model by collecting eight or ten cereal box tops. I believe it was the first model I purchased. Thanks for the memories.
Was that the one that had working dive flaps, retracting landing gear and droppable bomb? I cant remember who made those kits but i had a Dauntless, a TBF Avenger and a Junkers Stuka, all of which had working parts and droppable ordnance. Fun times (but not for our cat!) 😂😂😂😂😂
Fantastic history,great look back at those old kits,the first model kit I remember,when I was 8 years old my older brother bringing back from a trip he went on at the time,a 1/24 scale Airfix Supermarine Spitfire kit 1973 & painting & putting it together,around 7 or 8 years back on ebay I bought 2 old Revell 1/32 scale model cars,a Chrysler 300 & a ford Sunliner,the Sunliner has the old box & instructions along with 2 figures of a man in a polo outfit & a woman,1956 it says on the box or instructions,cheers
Oldest kit, and first kit I built as a kid, was the 1:32 Monogram Pontiac Trans Am (molded in red with yellow and black fire-chicken), although I painted it a two-tone color scheme. I have sense purchased that kit with intent to build it again. Thanks for showing all those planes, very interesting. And those raised decal lines are a dead giveaway of OLD kit. LoL
Started building model kits about 1966, when I was in 6th grade. After a few cars switched to planes and ships. Planes, generally either Revell 1/72nd and Aurora 1/48th. Built both the Fokker Eindecker and Sopwith triplane by Aurora, Grumman Wildcat and Bf 109 by Revell. I think Renwall may have been bought by Lindburg. Took a break of many decades, now building again.
I tried building several of the Renwal WW1 Aeroskin kits back in the late 60's. They were a disaster. After covering the parts with Testors liquid glue, it was almost impossible to keep the "skin" stretched tightly enough to get a smooth, tight bond. If you used too much glue, it would seep through tiny pores in the fabric and smear the printed markings. A cool idea that didn't work as advertised! Oldest kit I built was the 1959 Revell USS Forrestal.
I built a couple of the Renwall aeroskin WWI biplane kits in the 70's. They worked pretty well and looked neat having a fabric feel to them. It was much better than my brush painting skills.
I love these kinds of videos. Oldest kit I can remember would be a Captain America kit, from 1972. I had just turned 10 years old, and my mom gave me a dollar for my birthday. So I walked down to Ackerman's ( actually Groveport (OH) Pharmacy, but we all still called it by the founder's last name), which was the only store that sold models in Groveport (still largely a small village of less than 1,000 residents). So I bought the Captain America kit, probably by Aurora since I think they had a superhero line at the time. Did not have paint, so I built it as it was. Turned out okay for a 10-year old, though since it wasn't painted I recall he was kinda blue :). In the late 70s I visited my brother's house and walked to Town & Country Shopping Center and discovered a dedicated model shop...thought I was in Heaven :)
The oldest kit I built was in 1965,it was a small snap kit of a 64 Mustang. After that I have been building models since then,can say I got hooked on building them.
My uncle Dave gave me a Revell F-84F Thunderstreak, which we built at the dining room table when I was about 10 years old. I have been building models ever since....
I just bought an Aurora AT-6 on the internet for 20 bucks... beautiful box art. Some parts missing and some plastic deformation but it will be hung way up under a high ceiling. The box is marked for $.79 retail. The last time I assembled this kit was 1958. I recognized the box the moment I saw it. And remembered the smell of toluene.
I had that Viking ship as well as the Scotch Lad (the first plastic model I can remember building) My brother and I also had all those knights as well. God! the memories those little catalogs bring back!
When I started building kits in the 50's Aurora made a great overall range but their WW1 kits and Knight kits were the mist popular. Revell built the best ships and jet aircraft .Renwal great armor kits along with Adams. Monogram did the best WW2 aircraft and later armor. Hawk made great aircraft kits. Lindberg was known for all types of kits but always had bad parts fit.
The first model I made was the 1/72 Airfix Spitfire bought by my Gran in 1962 when I was 8 years old. In those days the Airfix kits of this scale were sold in polythene bags with e instructions folded and stapled over the bag to seal it. The instructions also contained the artwork. I looked it u and found it was a scaled down version of the Aurora 1/48 kit so a good link to what you have been showing us. All very interesting stuff.
I vaguely remember Aurora airplane kits with markings molded into the plastic to assist in decal placement. But sheesh, that going back 50 - 60 years. My father and I were big fans of Aurora WW I airplane kits. The boxes had wonderful cover art.
The first model kit I built was in the 1960's when i was about ten years old. It was the Giant Cyclops from the TV series " Lost In Space ". He was standing on a big rock and holding a huge boulder over the Robinson family. I did not have the Chariot with my model.
My first plastic kit was a Comet Model Hobbycraft , Inc. Lockheed F-94C Starfire jet fighter, a very small scale kit produced in the early 1950's, I was 6 years old, so it would have been 1955 or so
@@GRAYR189 it was quite impressive for a 6 year old, and I am still pleased with the detail. No landing gear, almost like a Spotter model, clear canopy, Around 10 parts including stand
The first kits I remember were the model houses my mom built and painted for me to go with my airfix British and German infantry back in 63,first model I did myself was jonnie Johnson spitfire,still got the model houses and most of the infantry still.
Really enjoyed this video, really nostalgic. Like you Andy I started my interest in modelling in the 1960/70’s. i remember spending hours browsing and buying models like Airfix, Frog, Hawk in my local toy/hobby shops. My addiction with models started with a Christmas present of an old Airfix model in a plastic bag with instructions printed on the inside of the card top which was stapled to seal the bag. How the hobby has come along inside 50 years.
Early 1970s, 72-73, I lived in Smyrna Delaware and remember building the big Aurora XB-70 and several varieties of B-58. After that, the Revell and Aurora warships, and especially the Revell aircraft (1/72 B-17, etc.)
Man, I feel these little waves of sensation looking at these old box art model kits & logos. I was big in modeling in the 60's. Bi-planes were always hard for me to this day. I just did the Fokker D-7 & Spad from the Johnny Quest episode Day of the Condor or something like that. Plus I have a 1/48 scale Pete waiting to build. Wires & cables are tough. Good collection though. I do wish you had more aircraft. Car parts are awesome too. Tires are easy sells. Especially White walls.
When I was a kid here in the UK all the models were Airfix with a very few imported Revel kits, So my forst kit was probably the Airfix 1/72nd scale Spitfire
The first model airplane I can ever remember building was made out of one sheet of paper. Folding it in the proper way, and adding a paperclip to the nose. It flew fantastic. I remember thinking as a little kid, how unbelievably cool it would be if it was powered, and I could actually control it. How much things have changed in my lifetime of 58 years. RC = Really fuckin cool! Actually that would be RFC. 😁
The first kit I actually built was the old 1/1200 MPC USS Missouri back in 1972, my mom picked up at a five and dime in Lafollete, Tennessee when my dad was stationed in Italy on remote tour. Just six years old at the time.
Aurora 1/48th Panther tank. I built it around 1964. Great fun as were nearly all the kits back then. My skills have improved considerably and the accuracy and complexity of today's kits make for incredible builds, but sometimes I don't know if I enjoy it as much as back then.
Great video Andy! I remember most of the kits in the video. My brothers and I got into models in 1967. We had that P-51D kit. Impressive kit for the era.
The oldest kit l can remember building as a kid was a really small scale voodo jet my dad got from the coles store on payday for me and a spitfire for my brother. Happy days 😀
The oldest kit I remember was a Revell '56 Mercury convertible. These were the kits that had multiple piece bodies and I know I brush painted everything.
Hi andy, I remember the time I was bored and didn't want to silly knitting so I brought a plastic kit that was around 1965 I brought the paints for this and glue when I came home I sat down and read the instructions that said locate and cement wow I got down to it and I was amazed thje kit was the Lancaster bomber that was my first kit I ever brought lena
I have some Revell Quick Construction kits “Highway Pioneers” H-35 Cadillac 1903 and H-33 Packard 1900. 3/8 inch scale. A unique thing about these kits to attach the wheels to the axles you were instructed to hold the axle carefully over an open flame until the plastic became soft than quickly press the axle against something hard! These models are some my mom had as a girl. I can’t find a date for these but I think they might be from either 1940’s or 50’s. I was born in 1960.
I love it that back then the kits usually came with a clear stand, at least the smaller ones did, even upto the 70's when i was building 1:72 and 1:100 planes
thanks Andy ... great video ... Renwal had twelve 1/72 scale WWI Aeroskin kits ... i did five or six and the skin worked great -- just cut carefully, use the liquid cement and gently file the edges smooth ... the only painting required was the wheels, struts, engine, etc ... Renwal also had several in 1/48 scale ... i have a Jenny in my collection.
I remember building Roy Brown’s Sopwith Camel with the aero skin fabric. If I recall correctly, it came with a small bottle of liquid cement. If you do decide to build the plane with the aero skin, do it with adequate ventilation, if not outside! Your kit is quite a bit larger than the 1/72nd scale model that I had, it might be interesting to see wing ribs under the fabric after it’s applied. The smaller kits didn’t have that feature.
Boy does that bring back memories!! I built the Goshawk , Hawk and the Hellidiver. The Viking Long Boat as well. The problems with the Aurora kits was that on a complete canopy the glass was always similar to an old Coca Cola bottle. Also the plastic was different. I remember that paint that would work on a Monogram Kit did not work on the Aurora. On the Hawk P-51, I can remember when I read an article about that in a model airplane magazine 1966-1967. Do the Israel decals have "Milk & Honey". That is a good find , About 1965 Hawk figured to how to chrome plate the parts? I also remember building the Renall " General Patton Tank"
Hey Andy. my first build was a Sea Vixen in 1:72. Proberly from FROG and I tink it happened in '63-65. I don't remember as I was only 5-6 years old but now I'm 63 and still building. :-)
I built a 1/32 PT-76 that apparently dates back to the 50's. I am also a big fan of the old Monogram 1/32 military vehicles from the 70s. They are all very well done for their time and are such neat kits to look at.
The first model kit I remember "helping" my older brother build was an old Star Trek TOS Enterprise somewhere about 1972, probably made by AMT/ Ertl. He did most of the building while I took the parts he finished (with Pactra paints!) and ran around the room with them. The first kit I built myself was a Monogram Ju-87 my dad picked up for me in the hospital gift shop when i was in for surgery in 1974.
Hello, The first plane I assembled was a balsa wood plane then you put paper on it and sprayed with water and it would shrink sometimes in the 60s I do have some old kits if you are interested let me know. Sparrow, Southwith camel, Fokker d7, curtiss pusher, I think that's it.
My age is evident - i remember building the Helldiver and the F-86D, and the Hawk P-51. Hawk later issued chrome plated versions of a lot its kits including the P-51 and a large scale U-2 which were must have kits. Renwal also did a lot of armor kits in a fairly large scale ranging from tanks to mobile missle launchers, we grew up spending our allowances every week at the local hobby shop. great memories you have brought back
The Aeroskins were a clever marketing trick. I had one and was not terribly impressed but it was a neat idea. I had trouble with 5he glue it used and trimming them right.
Having a tissue paper printed "paint"/"decal" thing, that you apply to the kit surface is, IMO, a great idea. It would generate a very realistic surface for the fabric covered parts. Although, I'd rather not have that on the parts, that were not covered with fabric on the RL prototype. I wish, someone would revive that idea as aftermarket, or special super detailed kit sets. BTW, never even knew this thing existed. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Andy, I really dug the history lesson about Glendale and the Thunderbird Fields. My first kit was a 1/48 A-10 from Monogram, purchased from the BX at Tyndall AFB in PCB, Florida. Interestingly, the version I remember buying (in the very early 90’s) was re-tooled the year I was born! I remember back then you could buy model kits from places like Walmart and K-Mart, and I seem to remember hobby shops on every corner. Keep nailing these history of plastic modeling videos, Andy!
This just "breathes" my childhood.
I really enjoyed this video! I am 73 years old. I started building plastic model aircraft in 1955 at age 5. My father helped me build a F-80 Shooting Star. It might have been from the Lindbergh Line. I believe it was in 1/4" scale. The model was tail heavy and not able to rest on its nose gear. My dad thought it out. He put a metal bolt with nut attached in each of the fuselage halves. He then bonded them in place with a great deal of our polystyrene glue. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Dad told me to leave the completed model alone while the glue dried. 5 year old me was impatient and picked it up way too soon. Unfortunately, I picked up the model jet by the nose. I was aghast that my fingers squeezed the heck out of the nose. I single handly destroyed the model. My dad was embarrassed by his improper use of solvent. He tossed the model jet fighter in the trash and never built another model with me again. My mother later helped me build a model of the U.S.S. Nautilus submarine (probably Revelle) and a Sherman tank. I started building model cars by myself in 1959...the early 1/25th scale AMT Styline? Kits I am still building model cars. The first serious model aircraft I built was the Monogram 1/4" P-40B kit...I would go on an build most of their aircraft in 1/48th scale from 1965-1969.
The oldest Plastic model kit that I can remember building was a Lindberg Saab Draken jet fighter in !/48 - !/50th scale. It was packaged in a box with a transparent acetate viewing window so you could see the parts. It was molded in white plastic. It also included a rocket pod that was operable thru the use of a rubber band. Pretty cool for the mid 1960's.
My first kit was a Ford GT, probably 1/32 scale. I was 5 years old, painted it red with a gold interior. It couldn't have been a very complex kit, but I remember it fondly. Started a lifetime of plastic modeling. 1969 or early 1970. I'm gettin' old!
The first kit I can remember was a 1/72 scale Airfix Hawker Typhoon in around 1960 when I was seven. I put the transfers on, then painted it red having to work round the transfers - ! Doh - !
Ah, the mistakes our younger selves made that we would just KICK ourselves for making today! 😂😂😂😂😂
1964 P-40. Got from a barber shop on Livernois Rd. Detroit. Yes our local barber shop had model kits!
I found an old Comet X-18 VTOL aircraft from 1959 in a drug store. They were removing some shelves for renovations and there it was , also an Original Revell Eastwind Icebreaker 1957 tooling. I might still have the X-18 in storage but lost the Eastwind 3 yrs ago ( lost 80% of my stuff ) The good old days , when you could get models everywhere. As a kid ( late 60's) I used to buy my kits in a Funeral wreath store. Not kidding. Hope you have a great/safe week !
That history lesson on T Bird field was Awesome, bud. Being pretty much my neighborhood for the past 34 years. I've been driving by and fascinated with that place for years. It's been tough watching it slowly vanish.
The very first kit that I can remember building was an Aurora 1/48 scale M-46 "Patton" tank from about 1965. It had this weird plastic base molded in a tan color that looked like a diorama base. I bought it in a Woolworths, there were no dedicated hobby shops near where I lived at the time.
OMG now THERE'S a blast from the past! F.W. Woolworths 5 and 10 cent store! Had one on State Street in Erie for decades til the Transitway Mall went bye-bye in the mid 80s! Fond memories....
My earliest kit was a D 7 by Comet 1947. Ten cent kit.
Oh yeah! I remember those Comet kits
I built an F-86 Sabre back when I was about 10 or 11, circa '68-'69. The toy shop I bought it from was a kids dreamland, I'll never forget it! Hawthorne Toy Shop,....Hawthorne, N.J.
From Colombia. Back in the 60s Revell models were made entirely in my country, mainly airplane models from Avianca national airline and 2d oldest in the world.
Andy, thanks for posting that military history of Thunderbird Field. It is so cool that your shop is just across the street.
1/72 Matchbox 3 colour mold Beaufighter (in 1977). I had to bike 17 km to get it. (there was no store in my little village) - Price: $4.00 CAN. But what a rush and good memory. I still build today and enjoy every minute of it. Thanks Andy. Really love your channel!
Those Aeroskins kit were nice. built a couple of them. Only problem I had was cutting the thin silk like panels. You need it sharp scissors but as a kid , you were not allow it to have them. I have in my stash ( prized possession ) a 1958 Hawk Matador missile with truck in 48th scale. Almost mint condition . Also have the 1963 ? original Monogram missile set ( with horizontal missiles ) the later reissues 1966, 1980's , were all vertical. Hope you and your loved ones have a great/safe week ! Tony
I loved that on old kits the parts in the assembly were named so you could learn at the same time as building , tank cupola, ailerons pistol port etc.
First kit was an Airfix Dogfight Doubles with Fokker Dr1 Tri Decker and the British F2B, somewhere around 1973. I built them 2 parts tube cement to 1 part plastic.
My dad was deep into models from the 50's thru 70's. Planes mostly. Also tanks, subs, etc. 4000 kits when he died, 1000 assembled (i counted them all). And that was just ONE of his hobbies.
Love looking at old model kits my first kit i built was a 53 Chevy i think it was revell..
Love the history and photos of the airfield!!
My first kit was a P-51D. It was in a small box, and I don't remember the brand. I was in the Cub Scouts, so it was around 1962/62. Our den had gone for a hike. We stopped into a neighborhood store, where our leader offered to buy us drinks. I saw the models on a shelf, and asked for the P-51 instead of a drink. He ought it for me.
My second kit is more memorable. After a dentist appointment, my mother bought me the Aurora F9F Panther kit in 1/4".
I remember building some of those kits when I was very young
What an amazing collection its heaven to model makers WOW
I built an old Renwal 1/72 Curtis Pusher of this same vintage from the series of early aircraft in the mid-1970s. I used Testors liquid cement on the tissue enclosed in the kit and thinned the parts to make a realistic airfoil before application of the tissue paper. It worked so well, after painting (becomes somewhat translucent revealing the dark plastic of the wing structure, so painting became necessary) that I created a diorama and entered in the IPMS regional contest at Cleveland and won First Place for the category! I still have the kit in my possession to this day. I'll bet this model would build into a great kit, with white plastic contained with instead of black as the Pusher had.
Late 50's early 60's, a model of a B58 Hustler being fueled by a jet tanker of some sort. Small scale, built in the attic on a card table set up just for me.
Good times!
The jet tanker would have been the KC-135A. I got to fly an incentive flight 4 day mission on one when I was stationed at Grissom AFB, IN in May 1979. Air refueling is quite an art to watch from the boom pod under the tail. Air Refueling specialist job description back then. It takes 3 officers and an 8 million dollar aircraft to take me to work. Then when I get to work, all I do is go to the back of the aircraft, lay down and pass gas!
I have very dim memories of building a P-80 Shooting Star. I don't even remember who made it. I really messed that kit up. I have to edit this. After an internet search I found the kit, it was an F 84 Thunderjet. Thanks for the history about Thunderbird field #1!!
I remember that era. Thanks for posting. I built only 1 of those Aero-Skin kits. A WWI bi-plane. Made an real mess of it trying to glue on the "skin". And the fumes from the glue were very, very strong back then.
Finally able to watch this video. When I was about 10 I was able to get that F 100 model by collecting eight or ten cereal box tops. I believe it was the first model I purchased. Thanks for the memories.
I Remember building a few of these as a kid. Brought back a flood of memories.
Hi Andy, I actually built a Hawk 1/48 scale P-51 Mustang (chrome plated version) back in 1970.
My first and oldest (yet) kit, was the Matchbox 1/32 SBD-5 Dauntless....back in the late 70's!
Was that the one that had working dive flaps, retracting landing gear and droppable bomb? I cant remember who made those kits but i had a Dauntless, a TBF Avenger and a Junkers Stuka, all of which had working parts and droppable ordnance. Fun times (but not for our cat!) 😂😂😂😂😂
Fantastic history,great look back at those old kits,the first model kit I remember,when I was 8 years old my older brother bringing back from a trip he went on at the time,a 1/24 scale Airfix Supermarine Spitfire kit 1973 & painting & putting it together,around 7 or 8 years back on ebay I bought 2 old Revell 1/32 scale model cars,a Chrysler 300 & a ford Sunliner,the Sunliner has the old box & instructions along with 2 figures of a man in a polo outfit & a woman,1956 it says on the box or instructions,cheers
Oldest kit, and first kit I built as a kid, was the 1:32 Monogram Pontiac Trans Am (molded in red with yellow and black fire-chicken), although I painted it a two-tone color scheme. I have sense purchased that kit with intent to build it again. Thanks for showing all those planes, very interesting. And those raised decal lines are a dead giveaway of OLD kit. LoL
Started building model kits about 1966, when I was in 6th grade. After a few cars switched to planes and ships. Planes, generally either Revell 1/72nd and Aurora 1/48th. Built both the Fokker Eindecker and Sopwith triplane by Aurora, Grumman Wildcat and Bf 109 by Revell. I think Renwall may have been bought by Lindburg. Took a break of many decades, now building again.
cool way of using paper to simulate canvas
Definitely ... would such kits be considered rare and collectible? =D
That's a cool story about Thunderbird. Thanks for sharing Andy! I believe the oldest one I built was a B-58 by Lindberg. Somewhere around the 70's.
OMG I had the same kit! Lost it in a house fire though when i was about 9 so never got to build it 😞
Lindberg....el aviador....tenia una marca de modelos plasticos?
Great video. The airfield info was awesome. Keep the old kit videos coming.
I tried building several of the Renwal WW1 Aeroskin kits back in the late 60's. They were a disaster. After covering the parts with Testors liquid glue, it was almost impossible to keep the "skin" stretched tightly enough to get a smooth, tight bond. If you used too much glue, it would seep through tiny pores in the fabric and smear the printed markings. A cool idea that didn't work as advertised!
Oldest kit I built was the 1959 Revell USS Forrestal.
I remember in the late '50's building a Lindberg Vega; 'Winnie Mae' flown by Wiley Post...
Interesting WWII history lesson. Love your collection so far.
I built a couple of the Renwall aeroskin WWI biplane kits in the 70's. They worked pretty well and looked neat having a fabric feel to them. It was much better than my brush painting skills.
I love these kinds of videos. Oldest kit I can remember would be a Captain America kit, from 1972. I had just turned 10 years old, and my mom gave me a dollar for my birthday. So I walked down to Ackerman's ( actually Groveport (OH) Pharmacy, but we all still called it by the founder's last name), which was the only store that sold models in Groveport (still largely a small village of less than 1,000 residents).
So I bought the Captain America kit, probably by Aurora since I think they had a superhero line at the time. Did not have paint, so I built it as it was. Turned out okay for a 10-year old, though since it wasn't painted I recall he was kinda blue :). In the late 70s I visited my brother's house and walked to Town & Country Shopping Center and discovered a dedicated model shop...thought I was in Heaven :)
The oldest kit I built was in 1965,it was a small snap kit of a 64 Mustang. After that I have been building models since then,can say I got hooked on building them.
My uncle Dave gave me a Revell F-84F Thunderstreak, which we built at the dining room table when I was about 10 years old. I have been building models ever since....
I just bought an Aurora AT-6 on the internet for 20 bucks... beautiful box art. Some parts missing and some plastic deformation but it will be hung way up under a high ceiling. The box is marked for $.79 retail. The last time I assembled this kit was 1958. I recognized the box the moment I saw it. And remembered the smell of toluene.
The first kit I built was a 1965 Chevy Station Wagon (AMT?) with my dad, about 1970.
I had that Viking ship as well as the Scotch Lad (the first plastic model I can remember building) My brother and I also had all those knights as well. God! the memories those little catalogs bring back!
When I started building kits in the 50's Aurora made a great overall range but their WW1 kits and Knight kits were the mist popular. Revell built the best ships and jet aircraft .Renwal great armor kits along with Adams. Monogram did the best WW2 aircraft and later armor. Hawk made great aircraft kits. Lindberg was known for all types of kits but always had bad parts fit.
First kit I built was the Aurora F-100 in 1960. Father had bought it for me when he returned from working on a different ranch for around 6 months.
1953 Revell 1/56 F-94 Starfire, what an interesting subject and kit! Markings molded into the plastic just like that Curtis Hawk
The first kit ever I remember my dad bringing home was the AMT 1965 Buick Riviera 3N1 kit.
The first model I made was the 1/72 Airfix Spitfire bought by my Gran in 1962 when I was 8 years old. In those days the Airfix kits of this scale were sold in polythene bags with e instructions folded and stapled over the bag to seal it. The instructions also contained the artwork. I looked it u and found it was a scaled down version of the Aurora 1/48 kit so a good link to what you have been showing us. All very interesting stuff.
Holly smokes! You really have wittle that collection down. Impressive!
I vaguely remember Aurora airplane kits with markings molded into the plastic to assist in decal placement. But sheesh, that going back 50 - 60 years. My father and I were big fans of Aurora WW I airplane kits. The boxes had wonderful cover art.
I had a p-61 black widow that has the decal placement location molded on, long ago.
Thanks Andy for these beautiful souvenir I remember those kits very well.
The first model kit I built was in the 1960's when i was about ten years old.
It was the Giant Cyclops from the TV series " Lost In Space ".
He was standing on a big rock and holding a huge boulder over the Robinson family.
I did not have the Chariot with my model.
We had a lot of the Aero-Skin stuff when we were kids,mostly WW1, but I never knew the Goshawk existed. That is COOL.
I also remember building the Renwall "Aeroskin" models. I remember partially melting a wing on one by applying too much cement.
My first plastic kit was a Comet Model Hobbycraft , Inc. Lockheed F-94C Starfire jet fighter, a very small scale kit produced in the early 1950's, I was 6 years old, so it would have been 1955 or so
just learned it was a scale of 1:91
@@poldet148 Wow! That's smaller than HO scale! Detail must have been really limited!
@@GRAYR189 it was quite impressive for a 6 year old, and I am still pleased with the detail. No landing gear, almost like a Spotter model, clear canopy, Around 10 parts including stand
I've built a release of that Lindbergh goshawk, just a few years ago, it goes together nicely
Love seeing these old kits! My first was an Airfix Hurricane in 1978 when I was eight years old.
I remember building an Aurora Nieuport 17 with my dad back in the mid sixties, around 1966-67. Been a modeler ever since.
The first kits I remember were the model houses my mom built and painted for me to go with my airfix British and German infantry back in 63,first model I did myself was jonnie Johnson spitfire,still got the model houses and most of the infantry still.
Really enjoyed this video, really nostalgic. Like you Andy I started my interest in modelling in the 1960/70’s. i remember spending hours browsing and buying models like Airfix, Frog, Hawk in my local toy/hobby shops. My addiction with models started with a Christmas present of an old Airfix model in a plastic bag with instructions printed on the inside of the card top which was stapled to seal the bag. How the hobby has come along inside 50 years.
I have one hawk kit. It’s a San Francisco cable car. Unfortunately it was molded in a bright green color.
I still have that model as well, gotta been 25 or 30 years since I built it
Early 1970s, 72-73, I lived in Smyrna Delaware and remember building the big Aurora XB-70 and several varieties of B-58. After that, the Revell and Aurora warships, and especially the Revell aircraft (1/72 B-17, etc.)
Early 1980's 1/72 scale monogram F-4 phantom snap kit and a monogram 1/48 F-15 Eagle. Had a blast building them! Used way to glue and paint!
I had (probably) the same kits. Was so surprised at how big that Eagle turned out to be 😂😂😂
Man, I feel these little waves of sensation looking at these old box art model kits & logos. I was big in modeling in the 60's. Bi-planes were always hard for me to this day. I just did the Fokker D-7 & Spad from the Johnny Quest episode Day of the Condor or something like that. Plus I have a 1/48 scale Pete waiting to build. Wires & cables are tough. Good collection though. I do wish you had more aircraft. Car parts are awesome too. Tires are easy sells. Especially White walls.
the oldest kit i remember building was tamiya's 1990 SL coupe. After which was Tamiya's sdkfz 222.
When I was a kid here in the UK all the models were Airfix with a very few imported Revel kits, So my forst kit was probably the Airfix 1/72nd scale Spitfire
The first model airplane I can ever remember building was made out of one sheet of paper. Folding it in the proper way, and adding a paperclip to the nose. It flew fantastic. I remember thinking as a little kid, how unbelievably cool it would be if it was powered, and I could actually control it. How much things have changed in my lifetime of 58 years.
RC = Really fuckin cool! Actually that would be RFC. 😁
I remember the renwal kits with aeroskin. It was always challenging to get everything lined up properly.
I can see why - it's an interesting concept though!
Oh man, does this bring back memories! I still have my Hawk P-51 kit. That box art just captivates me. I don't know why.. Nice job Andy,
Thanks Andy for the trip down memory lane....my first model was a Douglas Sky Ray, it was white is about I remember about it.
The first kit I actually built was the old 1/1200 MPC USS Missouri back in 1972, my mom picked up at a five and dime in Lafollete, Tennessee when my dad was stationed in Italy on remote tour. Just six years old at the time.
Aurora 1/48th Panther tank. I built it around 1964. Great fun as were nearly all the kits back then. My skills have improved considerably and the accuracy and complexity of today's kits make for incredible builds, but sometimes I don't know if I enjoy it as much as back then.
Great video Andy! I remember most of the kits in the video. My brothers and I got into models in 1967. We had that P-51D kit. Impressive kit for the era.
The oldest kit l can remember building as a kid was a really small scale voodo jet my dad got from the coles store on payday for me and a spitfire for my brother. Happy days 😀
Good memory 👍
The oldest kit I remember was a Revell '56 Mercury convertible. These were the kits that had multiple piece bodies and I know I brush painted everything.
I think it was a 1932 Ford Hot Rod. The year was 1964 I believe. I was born in December of 53.
Really enjoy the "behind the scenes." 👍
Cool old kits, nice video Andy! 😉
Very interesting stuff nice to see you teaching us some of the history of model kits
The first kit I ever bought was a 1:72 sopworth pup in 1978.
Hi andy, I remember the time I was bored and didn't want to silly knitting so I brought a plastic kit that was around 1965 I brought the paints for this and glue when I came home I sat down and read the instructions
that said locate and cement wow I got down to it and I was amazed thje kit was the Lancaster bomber
that was my first kit I ever brought lena
Aurora, Nieuport 1958, I can still remember the raised 'hat in the ring' moulding.
I have some Revell Quick Construction kits “Highway Pioneers” H-35 Cadillac 1903 and H-33 Packard 1900. 3/8 inch scale. A unique thing about these kits to attach the wheels to the axles you were instructed to hold the axle carefully over an open flame until the plastic became soft than quickly press the axle against something hard! These models are some my mom had as a girl. I can’t find a date for these but I think they might be from either 1940’s or 50’s. I was born in 1960.
I love it that back then the kits usually came with a clear stand, at least the smaller ones did, even upto the 70's when i was building 1:72 and 1:100 planes
thanks Andy ... great video ... Renwal had twelve 1/72 scale WWI Aeroskin kits ... i did five or six and the skin worked great -- just cut carefully, use the liquid cement and gently file the edges smooth ... the only painting required was the wheels, struts, engine, etc ... Renwal also had several in 1/48 scale ... i have a Jenny in my collection.
Loved the pictures from WW2
I remember building Roy Brown’s Sopwith Camel with the aero skin fabric. If I recall correctly, it came with a small bottle of liquid cement. If you do decide to build the plane with the aero skin, do it with adequate ventilation, if not outside! Your kit is quite a bit larger than the 1/72nd scale model that I had, it might be interesting to see wing ribs under the fabric after it’s applied. The smaller kits didn’t have that feature.
Boy does that bring back memories!! I built the Goshawk , Hawk and the Hellidiver. The Viking Long Boat as well. The problems with the Aurora kits was that on a complete canopy the glass was always similar to an old Coca Cola bottle.
Also the plastic was different. I remember that paint that would work on a Monogram Kit did not work on the Aurora. On the Hawk P-51, I can remember when I read an article about that in a model airplane magazine 1966-1967. Do the Israel decals have "Milk & Honey". That is a good find , About 1965 Hawk figured to how to chrome plate the parts? I also remember building the Renall " General Patton Tank"
Hey Andy. my first build was a Sea Vixen in 1:72. Proberly from FROG and I tink it happened in '63-65. I don't remember as I was only 5-6 years old but now I'm 63 and still building. :-)
That aero skin kit was well ahead of its time. I think it would work perfectly if you just used diluted white glue.
My oldest kit was a 1/72 scale Tiger Moth from Airfix in around 1965/1966. It was molded in YELLOW.
I built a 1/32 PT-76 that apparently dates back to the 50's. I am also a big fan of the old Monogram 1/32 military vehicles from the 70s. They are all very well done for their time and are such neat kits to look at.
The first model kit I remember "helping" my older brother build was an old Star Trek TOS Enterprise somewhere about 1972, probably made by AMT/ Ertl. He did most of the building while I took the parts he finished (with Pactra paints!) and ran around the room with them. The first kit I built myself was a Monogram Ju-87 my dad picked up for me in the hospital gift shop when i was in for surgery in 1974.
Hello, The first plane I assembled was a balsa wood plane then you put paper on it and sprayed with water and it would shrink sometimes in the 60s I do have some old kits if you are interested let me know. Sparrow, Southwith camel, Fokker d7, curtiss pusher, I think that's it.
My age is evident - i remember building the Helldiver and the F-86D, and the Hawk P-51. Hawk later issued chrome plated versions of a lot its kits including the P-51 and a large scale U-2 which were must have kits. Renwal also did a lot of armor kits in a fairly large scale ranging from tanks to mobile missle launchers, we grew up spending our allowances every week at the local hobby shop. great memories you have brought back
The Aeroskins were a clever marketing trick. I had one and was not terribly impressed but it was a neat idea. I had trouble with 5he glue it used and trimming them right.
I had both the P-6E and the P-51D....neat for their time. The P-51 was a very good model for its' time.
Having a tissue paper printed "paint"/"decal" thing, that you apply to the kit surface is, IMO, a great idea. It would generate a very realistic surface for the fabric covered parts. Although, I'd rather not have that on the parts, that were not covered with fabric on the RL prototype. I wish, someone would revive that idea as aftermarket, or special super detailed kit sets.
BTW, never even knew this thing existed. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Andy, I really dug the history lesson about Glendale and the Thunderbird Fields.
My first kit was a 1/48 A-10 from Monogram, purchased from the BX at Tyndall AFB in PCB, Florida. Interestingly, the version I remember buying (in the very early 90’s) was re-tooled the year I was born!
I remember back then you could buy model kits from places like Walmart and K-Mart, and I seem to remember hobby shops on every corner.
Keep nailing these history of plastic modeling videos, Andy!