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When I grew up I would spend hours looking through all the plastic model kits at the local hobby store. I just loved building plastic models. I never mastered

When I grew up I would spend hours looking through all the plastic model kits at the local hobby store. I just loved building plastic models. I never mastered painting them. The most advanced I got was rattle-can style spray paints — maybe masking a bit for a camouflage or what-have-you. Only when I got older and got back into plastic model building did I make the leap to air-brushing and really finishing models correctly. So many YouTubers (Aztec Dummy comes to mind) have since showed me that assembling the model is more or less nothing. Painting, lighting the model is everything. I can't complain though. There was a joy putting together the models when I was young. The smell of the glue of course — the spatial reasoning it fostered... It was like sculpture to my young mind — forms, shapes in three-dimensions. I grew to love the lines of certain cars, planes, spacecraft… I think too it fueled a kind of designer mindset in me. I would soon draw cars, spaceships, etc. of my own design. What a great hobby. I'm saddened that it kind of seems like another hobby, like R/C planes or model rocketry, that has fallen by the wayside. I mean I feel like most boys when I was growing up had a model or two hanging from their bedroom ceiling. Right?

mbrd 1y ago
It's definitely not the hobby of choice for young boys any more, but it feels like it is having a golden age of kit quality aiming at an older audience with disposal income. Manufacturers like Tamiya, and also Eduard or Meng (those are my favs anyway) are producing extremely high quality kits. There is always consternation amongst modelers about where the next generation will come from, but the Gundam/Gunpla scene is supposedly very large in Japan and growing in the West.
- JKCalhoun 1y ago
  That's true — there are certainly a lot of variety now, especially with 3D printing and garage kits. The "long tail" has definitely been kind to the esoteric modeler. Adult-me recently took to designing a kit for a NASA "Space Tug" that never existed (only proposed "artist's renderings" from the 1970;s) [1]. It is so esoteric that no one made a kit for it — I had to learn to use Blender, ha ha. I just wish more kids were into modeling. [1] free to download: https://github.com/EngineersNeedArt/Space-Tug_3DModel https://github.com/EngineersNeedArt/Space-Tug_3DModel
  - Joel_Mckay 1y ago
    It is funny, as the metal 3D printer I've been working on is designed to handle printing/repairing large girder structures. Making things work in vacuum is an interesting design challenge, but also opens a lot of design possibilities for arbitrary structures that can't launch on cargo rockets. People are often too judgmental these days, and youth must make their own decisions about the world they want to live in. If you know the history of how JPL started, than you can probably guess it is the "odd" ones that tend to change science for the better. =3
    - Rediscover 1y ago
      Jack Parsons' Lab? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons
      - Joel_Mckay 1y ago
        Entertaining times =3
  - wiz21c 1y ago
    Really nice job !!!
  - sho_hn 1y ago
    FWIW, this kind of thing is a lot easier to model in a CAD package (e.g. FreeCAD or Fusion) than Blender. If you ever go again!
    - JKCalhoun 1y ago
      I have played with a couple of CAD packages (free ones like FreeCAD anyway). There is quite a learning curve to those as well. I had hoped that learning Blender would pay dividends in other types of pursuits as well since it is a fairly broad tool. And as you probably now, there are "mathematical" ways to use Blender — parametrization though is a bit lacking (without going down the plug-in rabbit-hole).
- the_af 1y ago
  The wargaming hobby (yes, Warhammer but not limited to it, there are very brands nowadays) is going stronger than ever. Plastic, resin ans 3D printed kits galore, which require painting, converting, etc.
- Cthulhu_ 1y ago
  I bought my first Gundam model the other day (never seen them before in shops, but they can be bought online) and I was really impressed. I've built two Revell models before and some Warhammer stuff in the past. This model was cheaper than all of those (about €19), bigger, multicolour plastic, different materials, the result is fully poseable, different weapons and hands, fiddly stickers and decals, the works. And it's very cleverly designed, no glue needed. I'd argue that if someone wants to get started with building models, Gundam is the way to go. Painting optional, no glue needed, etc. Plus, giant robots are cool.
  - zephyrfalcon 1y ago
    Also: Zoids... https://zoids.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Zoids https://zoids.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Zoids
rightbyte 1y ago
> I never mastered painting them. It was really hard to paint with these old oil based paints if you are as old as me or older. I struggled with that too. The water based one sold by e.g. Games Workshop I bought years later was way easier to work with.
- gerdesj 1y ago
  Enamels vs acrylics. Brush vs airbrush vs air gun (not to mention sponge, cloth and even toothbrush). Your air brush can have one or two controls - one for the amount of compressed air and one for amount of paint. For models like airplanes and tanks, a single control is enough to get a flat smooth finish. Then you discover washes and other techniques and it goes on 8) I still have a scar in the side of my thumb where I stuck an Xacto blade into it, 45 years ago.
  - wiz21c 1y ago
    Enamel, Xacto,... Memories !!!
- whartung 1y ago
  Oh boy, yea. I tried to put together a helicopter (probably an Apache) a few years ago, and got a couple of those classic Testor paint bottles to help finish it. I had to put it all away. The fumes from the paint, my reaction to it was nothing like I remembered. I had no issues with them as a boy. But, today, yea they were making me loopy. I’m surprised the AQMD in California still allows these. I’d like to try again with some modern acrylic, but the only place in my orbit is a Michaels, and they really don’t cater much to plastic kits. So opportunity has bumbled my way yet. The other trick is to keep it me and not be intimidated by the YouTube experts. Easier said than done.
  - wredcoll 1y ago
    The michaels and hobby lobby near me both have a fair amount of acrylic paint for what it's worth, but have you looked for any gaming stores? Lots of them carry warhammer and thus carry model acrylic paints.
Joel_Mckay 1y ago
The kits with decals only required a primer and a gloss base coat. I often ponder if it was the main reason the 3D printing hobby gained popularity. People that add more fun to the world are always needed in manufacturing. =3
VTimofeenko 1y ago
I'm kinda in the same boat. Built quite a few kits back in the day but never painted them (at least to a quality I would admit to). I picked up a ww1 British tank some time ago and hope to finally get it right. When I was in the store, however, I'd say the majority of customers in the model kit section were teenagers. Maybe there's just more hobbies available these days so fewer folks end up building the models.
pjmlp 1y ago
Yes, a 1970's child, I built quite a few airplane and helicopter models during my teenage years, painting skills were lousy though. :)
eleveriven 1y ago
There's something almost meditative about the process
imdsm 1y ago
I'd love to get involved in R/C planes but in the UK it seems there's nowhere to do it, and with the law due to drones, it feels impossible to get started even just with starter kit
- Lio 1y ago
  I've seen people flying RC plains at disused airfields in Suffolk. Even some RC jets. I'd contact your local RC club and they'll help you get into it.
- lebski88 1y ago
  There's a model aircraft club near to where I live (UK). They have a runway and people use it most days. In the summer they have a two day festival where people come and camp and do model plane stuff. Presumably it's the Glastonbury of model aircraft. It's quite fun to watch them fly around for a couple of hours. Anyway, my point is that if I didn't live just around the corner, I would never have known it existed. I'd imagine there are similar setups around the country. You do need quite a big space and a runway is presumably helpful, so it probably makes sense for them to be collectively run.
  - imdsm 1y ago
    Thanks. I'd love a runway to build & test experimental aircraft. This and the other comments below are great, and found an area I can fly near me (council controlled), just need paperwork first. A new project!
- samlittlewood 1y ago
  Have a look at the BMFA - http://https://bmfa.club http://https://bmfa.club. They have a directory of clubs and pointers for learning. You will need insurance and CAA flyer/operator IDs. This can be arranged through club, or directly via the BMFA above. Some of the clubs can be rather .... err ... clubby - older members whose hobby has become running the club the way see fit, vs. flying planes.
- hermitcrab 1y ago
  RC aircraft flying is very much alive and well in the UK: https://bmfa.club/ https://bmfa.club/ There are also some model rocketry clubs. However model rocketry is a relatively small scene in the UK, compared to RC planes.
hermitcrab 1y ago
>I'm saddened that it kind of seems like another hobby, like R/C planes or model rocketry, that has fallen by the wayside. I think physical hobbies like modelling find it hard to compete with the instant gratification of online dopamine fixes. However RC planes and model rocketry are still a thing. If you know any school age kids interested in engineering or rocketry and they are in the UK, point them at: https://www.ukroc.com/ https://www.ukroc.com/ The US, France and Japan have equivalent competitions.
7thaccount 1y ago
I think the kind of plastic model kits like building muscle cars and ships has died down, but Warhammer and Gundam are both extremely popular. Battletech and Star Wars are also popular in my area. There are a lot of Warhammer models and the parent company "Games Workshop" is doing extremely well and expanding despite it all being built in Britain. One neat thing about Warhammer is that there are a LOT of books and video games as well, so the IP is very strong. There is always new lore coming out from the various factions too, so the models have special connections with the fans. I have 3 game stores in my medium-sized city that cater to Warhammer and there is always a game going on. Warning: it is a very expensive hobby. There is also a lot of popularity with 3D printing. I'd check out thingaverse or other popular 3d model sites to see how many downloads are coming from WW2 and muscle car models to maybe get a feel why hobby shops are struggling. Modeling never died. It just evolved a bit. If you were ever into the WW2 kits, I'd check out Bolt-Action if you're interested in wargaming with models. It's not as big as 40k, but people do play.
- hibikir 1y ago
  What is amazing is how much the modeling tech has improved. A modern warhammer model is much bigger and better not just than in the 80s or 90s, but even 110 years go. The painting experience is also much better. As for Gundam, the improvements in detail in assembly makes Games Workshop's models look bad and expensive. An amazing attention to the building experience. Even cheap HG model made this year would look like it was from Mars compared to the first few series, and it's still very cheap.
  - Loughla 1y ago
    I know it's a mistype, but thinking of Warhammer and Gundam existing in the first world war is amazingly hilarious to me. >Dear Mother, I've grown a reputation among the men in my regiment as being both fearless and introspective. I never hesitate to go over the top, even when Jerry is close enough that we can smell him. But also the men are impressed with the play of light and shadows that I am able to accomplish on my Eldar Warlock using only mud and dog food.
miiiiiike 1y ago
There’s a lot to modeling as well. Getting the parts off the sprue, removing mold lines, getting the gap filler in the right places and sanding and sanding the filler down until you wouldn’t ever think that the part was anything but smooth. I think the modeling is a much fun as painting for me.
burnt-resistor 1y ago
In San Jose, the place was D&J Hobby. https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/12/04/san-jose-hobby-store-with-long-history-closes-doors/ https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/12/04/san-jose-hobby-store-...
prmoustache 1y ago
I built 3 1/18 scale models (2 of them being Tamiya one) in my teenage years but objectively: - unless you go 1/45 which is less enjoyable to build, it doesn't scale well (pun intented) given the room needed to store your finished models. - it is quite an expensive hobby As an adult living in couple, you need either to have your "hobby cave" or a comprehensive partner. Scale models are nice for nerds who like them, but it makes your living room look like a toy store.
chrisweekly 1y ago
Similar experience; building model planes was one of my favorite activities for several preadolescent years.

mbrd 1y ago

It's definitely not the hobby of choice for young boys any more, but it feels like it is having a golden age of kit quality aiming at an older audience with disposal income. Manufacturers like Tamiya, and also Eduard or Meng (those are my favs anyway) are producing extremely high quality kits. There is always consternation amongst modelers about where the next generation will come from, but the Gundam/Gunpla scene is supposedly very large in Japan and growing in the West.

JKCalhoun 1y ago
That's true — there are certainly a lot of variety now, especially with 3D printing and garage kits. The "long tail" has definitely been kind to the esoteric modeler. Adult-me recently took to designing a kit for a NASA "Space Tug" that never existed (only proposed "artist's renderings" from the 1970;s) [1]. It is so esoteric that no one made a kit for it — I had to learn to use Blender, ha ha. I just wish more kids were into modeling. [1] free to download: https://github.com/EngineersNeedArt/Space-Tug_3DModel https://github.com/EngineersNeedArt/Space-Tug_3DModel
- Joel_Mckay 1y ago
  It is funny, as the metal 3D printer I've been working on is designed to handle printing/repairing large girder structures. Making things work in vacuum is an interesting design challenge, but also opens a lot of design possibilities for arbitrary structures that can't launch on cargo rockets. People are often too judgmental these days, and youth must make their own decisions about the world they want to live in. If you know the history of how JPL started, than you can probably guess it is the "odd" ones that tend to change science for the better. =3
  - Rediscover 1y ago
    Jack Parsons' Lab? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons
    - Joel_Mckay 1y ago
      Entertaining times =3
- wiz21c 1y ago
  Really nice job !!!
- sho_hn 1y ago
  FWIW, this kind of thing is a lot easier to model in a CAD package (e.g. FreeCAD or Fusion) than Blender. If you ever go again!
  - JKCalhoun 1y ago
    I have played with a couple of CAD packages (free ones like FreeCAD anyway). There is quite a learning curve to those as well. I had hoped that learning Blender would pay dividends in other types of pursuits as well since it is a fairly broad tool. And as you probably now, there are "mathematical" ways to use Blender — parametrization though is a bit lacking (without going down the plug-in rabbit-hole).
the_af 1y ago
The wargaming hobby (yes, Warhammer but not limited to it, there are very brands nowadays) is going stronger than ever. Plastic, resin ans 3D printed kits galore, which require painting, converting, etc.
Cthulhu_ 1y ago
I bought my first Gundam model the other day (never seen them before in shops, but they can be bought online) and I was really impressed. I've built two Revell models before and some Warhammer stuff in the past. This model was cheaper than all of those (about €19), bigger, multicolour plastic, different materials, the result is fully poseable, different weapons and hands, fiddly stickers and decals, the works. And it's very cleverly designed, no glue needed. I'd argue that if someone wants to get started with building models, Gundam is the way to go. Painting optional, no glue needed, etc. Plus, giant robots are cool.
- zephyrfalcon 1y ago
  Also: Zoids... https://zoids.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Zoids https://zoids.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Zoids

rightbyte 1y ago

> I never mastered painting them. It was really hard to paint with these old oil based paints if you are as old as me or older. I struggled with that too. The water based one sold by e.g. Games Workshop I bought years later was way easier to work with.

gerdesj 1y ago
Enamels vs acrylics. Brush vs airbrush vs air gun (not to mention sponge, cloth and even toothbrush). Your air brush can have one or two controls - one for the amount of compressed air and one for amount of paint. For models like airplanes and tanks, a single control is enough to get a flat smooth finish. Then you discover washes and other techniques and it goes on 8) I still have a scar in the side of my thumb where I stuck an Xacto blade into it, 45 years ago.
- wiz21c 1y ago
  Enamel, Xacto,... Memories !!!
whartung 1y ago
Oh boy, yea. I tried to put together a helicopter (probably an Apache) a few years ago, and got a couple of those classic Testor paint bottles to help finish it. I had to put it all away. The fumes from the paint, my reaction to it was nothing like I remembered. I had no issues with them as a boy. But, today, yea they were making me loopy. I’m surprised the AQMD in California still allows these. I’d like to try again with some modern acrylic, but the only place in my orbit is a Michaels, and they really don’t cater much to plastic kits. So opportunity has bumbled my way yet. The other trick is to keep it me and not be intimidated by the YouTube experts. Easier said than done.
- wredcoll 1y ago
  The michaels and hobby lobby near me both have a fair amount of acrylic paint for what it's worth, but have you looked for any gaming stores? Lots of them carry warhammer and thus carry model acrylic paints.

Joel_Mckay 1y ago

The kits with decals only required a primer and a gloss base coat. I often ponder if it was the main reason the 3D printing hobby gained popularity. People that add more fun to the world are always needed in manufacturing. =3

VTimofeenko 1y ago

I'm kinda in the same boat. Built quite a few kits back in the day but never painted them (at least to a quality I would admit to). I picked up a ww1 British tank some time ago and hope to finally get it right. When I was in the store, however, I'd say the majority of customers in the model kit section were teenagers. Maybe there's just more hobbies available these days so fewer folks end up building the models.

pjmlp 1y ago

Yes, a 1970's child, I built quite a few airplane and helicopter models during my teenage years, painting skills were lousy though. :)

eleveriven 1y ago

There's something almost meditative about the process

imdsm 1y ago

I'd love to get involved in R/C planes but in the UK it seems there's nowhere to do it, and with the law due to drones, it feels impossible to get started even just with starter kit

Lio 1y ago
I've seen people flying RC plains at disused airfields in Suffolk. Even some RC jets. I'd contact your local RC club and they'll help you get into it.
lebski88 1y ago
There's a model aircraft club near to where I live (UK). They have a runway and people use it most days. In the summer they have a two day festival where people come and camp and do model plane stuff. Presumably it's the Glastonbury of model aircraft. It's quite fun to watch them fly around for a couple of hours. Anyway, my point is that if I didn't live just around the corner, I would never have known it existed. I'd imagine there are similar setups around the country. You do need quite a big space and a runway is presumably helpful, so it probably makes sense for them to be collectively run.
- imdsm 1y ago
  Thanks. I'd love a runway to build & test experimental aircraft. This and the other comments below are great, and found an area I can fly near me (council controlled), just need paperwork first. A new project!
samlittlewood 1y ago
Have a look at the BMFA - http://https://bmfa.club http://https://bmfa.club. They have a directory of clubs and pointers for learning. You will need insurance and CAA flyer/operator IDs. This can be arranged through club, or directly via the BMFA above. Some of the clubs can be rather .... err ... clubby - older members whose hobby has become running the club the way see fit, vs. flying planes.
hermitcrab 1y ago
RC aircraft flying is very much alive and well in the UK: https://bmfa.club/ https://bmfa.club/ There are also some model rocketry clubs. However model rocketry is a relatively small scene in the UK, compared to RC planes.

hermitcrab 1y ago

>I'm saddened that it kind of seems like another hobby, like R/C planes or model rocketry, that has fallen by the wayside. I think physical hobbies like modelling find it hard to compete with the instant gratification of online dopamine fixes. However RC planes and model rocketry are still a thing. If you know any school age kids interested in engineering or rocketry and they are in the UK, point them at: https://www.ukroc.com/ https://www.ukroc.com/ The US, France and Japan have equivalent competitions.

7thaccount 1y ago

I think the kind of plastic model kits like building muscle cars and ships has died down, but Warhammer and Gundam are both extremely popular. Battletech and Star Wars are also popular in my area. There are a lot of Warhammer models and the parent company "Games Workshop" is doing extremely well and expanding despite it all being built in Britain. One neat thing about Warhammer is that there are a LOT of books and video games as well, so the IP is very strong. There is always new lore coming out from the various factions too, so the models have special connections with the fans. I have 3 game stores in my medium-sized city that cater to Warhammer and there is always a game going on. Warning: it is a very expensive hobby. There is also a lot of popularity with 3D printing. I'd check out thingaverse or other popular 3d model sites to see how many downloads are coming from WW2 and muscle car models to maybe get a feel why hobby shops are struggling. Modeling never died. It just evolved a bit. If you were ever into the WW2 kits, I'd check out Bolt-Action if you're interested in wargaming with models. It's not as big as 40k, but people do play.

hibikir 1y ago
What is amazing is how much the modeling tech has improved. A modern warhammer model is much bigger and better not just than in the 80s or 90s, but even 110 years go. The painting experience is also much better. As for Gundam, the improvements in detail in assembly makes Games Workshop's models look bad and expensive. An amazing attention to the building experience. Even cheap HG model made this year would look like it was from Mars compared to the first few series, and it's still very cheap.
- Loughla 1y ago
  I know it's a mistype, but thinking of Warhammer and Gundam existing in the first world war is amazingly hilarious to me. >Dear Mother, I've grown a reputation among the men in my regiment as being both fearless and introspective. I never hesitate to go over the top, even when Jerry is close enough that we can smell him. But also the men are impressed with the play of light and shadows that I am able to accomplish on my Eldar Warlock using only mud and dog food.

miiiiiike 1y ago

There’s a lot to modeling as well. Getting the parts off the sprue, removing mold lines, getting the gap filler in the right places and sanding and sanding the filler down until you wouldn’t ever think that the part was anything but smooth. I think the modeling is a much fun as painting for me.

burnt-resistor 1y ago

In San Jose, the place was D&J Hobby. https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/12/04/san-jose-hobby-store-with-long-history-closes-doors/ https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/12/04/san-jose-hobby-store-...

prmoustache 1y ago

I built 3 1/18 scale models (2 of them being Tamiya one) in my teenage years but objectively: - unless you go 1/45 which is less enjoyable to build, it doesn't scale well (pun intented) given the room needed to store your finished models. - it is quite an expensive hobby As an adult living in couple, you need either to have your "hobby cave" or a comprehensive partner. Scale models are nice for nerds who like them, but it makes your living room look like a toy store.

chrisweekly 1y ago

Similar experience; building model planes was one of my favorite activities for several preadolescent years.