discussion Choosing a kit from your childhood

[Darian Frey]

It's been a really interesting thread this - some real 'classics' for sure.

For me it's three kits I tried to build as a kid. The first was the Airfix 1/72 F-105E, and the Second was their 1/72 F-111E. Both Aircraft I loved and both were Christmas presents from my uncle (ex-Green Jackets, blackbelt in various martial arts and my hero as a kid) and both I messed up completely - I remember trying to make them as proper models rather than 'things to play with' and being rather upset when I found they were beyond my skillset.

I actually built the F-105E again a few years ago - I really should get around to adding the tanks and bombs etc. And get myself an F-111.

AS far as the third goes - well that was this one, my first 1/48th kit...

Again this was a present from my uncle. At the time I was completely mad on playing Microprose's 'Gunship' on my Commadore C64 and he knowing this got it me for my birthday. Again I tried to build it properly, but struggled with the clear parts etc. and then horror of horrors, having left it in it's box on my bedroom floor, I got home from school to find the cat had used said box as a litter tray!!! (not the cat's fault, someone had locked him in my room). I was absolutely gutted! Sufficed to say it went in the bin.

I'd love to get another and rebuild it, in my favourite Gunship load out of 16 Hellfires!

 

[pjgtech]

Nice kits, I used to play Gunship too, (ZX Spectrun) and before that I think there was a Heli game called Tomahawk?
Never built a AH64 either, so that might have to go on the "possible future stash item" list....

 

[colin m]

I remember as a kid looking up at this high on the shelf in the model shop. It was expensive so I never asked for my parents to buy it. I just looked and wondered. Well years later, ebay.

 

[EBAR]

This one.



Not because I have any fond memories but because I tried and failed to build it twice as a kid and well... third times the charm.

 

[Neil]

The Bentley Racing car - which is ironic as I never do cars.

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

I remember as a kid looking up at this high on the shelf in the model shop. It was expensive so I never asked for my parents to buy it. I just looked and wondered. Well years later, ebay.

You crazy fool you!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

This one.

View attachment 1296167

Not because I have any fond memories but because I tried and failed to build it twice as a kid and well... third times the charm.

Got bought one of these recently.
'But you do between wars silver wings, and this is just the navalised Fox, right?'
Ah, no. No connection between the Seafox and Fox, Fox.

Now, how man y Matchbox Furies do I have to build. Three and counting...

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

The Bentley Racing car - which is ironic as I never do cars.

Okay,
Pyro or Airfix 1/32
Heller 1/24
Or Airfix 1/12?
Take your pick! (Gentlemen, start your engines..!)

 

[PaulTRose]

Okay,
Pyro or Airfix 1/32
Heller 1/24
Or Airfix 1/12?
Take your pick! (Gentlemen, start your engines..!)

Or Revell 1/24........thats the one I did, nice kit

 

[boatman]

I remember as a kid looking up at this high on the shelf in the model shop. It was expensive so I never asked for my parents to buy it. I just looked and wondered. Well years later, ebay.

YES i always wanted this B36 but my mum only had 5 shilling in her purse an needed that to get the bus home an i still would like it but its too big an my first kit was a black hunter by airfix cant remember if any before that as i should have been at the school xmas party but i was ill so my mate then bught it home for me as when at school i over heard the teaches talking about what present to get me an my lady teacher said well he's crazy on areoplaens as he is always drawing them in class so thats how i come to get the hunter but cant remember if i built it
BUT I WISH i could go back to them days as they were magic days an to top it all i was young about 10 an still had my whole life ahead of me(sigh) now its near the end oh dear
chrisb

 

[Richard48]

It's been a really interesting thread this - some real 'classics' for sure.

For me it's three kits I tried to build as a kid. The first was the Airfix 1/72 F-105E, and the Second was their 1/72 F-111E. Both Aircraft I loved and both were Christmas presents from my uncle (ex-Green Jackets, blackbelt in various martial arts and my hero as a kid) and both I messed up completely - I remember trying to make them as proper models rather than 'things to play with' and being rather upset when I found they were beyond my skillset.

I actually built the F-105E again a few years ago - I really should get around to adding the tanks and bombs etc. And get myself an F-111.

AS far as the third goes - well that was this one, my first 1/48th kit...

Again this was a present from my uncle. At the time I was completely mad on playing Microprose's 'Gunship' on my Commadore C64 and he knowing this got it me for my birthday. Again I tried to build it properly, but struggled with the clear parts etc. and then horror of horrors, having left it in it's box on my bedroom floor, I got home from school to find the cat had used said box as a litter tray!!! (not the cat's fault, someone had locked him in my room). I was absolutely gutted! Sufficed to say it went in the bin.

I'd love to get another and rebuild it, in my favourite Gunship load out of 16 Hellfires!

The F111 brings back a memory of Christmas c1979.My uncle and Aunty bought me this for Christmas along with the DH Beaver kit from Airfix..
Richard

 

[Richard48]

I remember as a kid looking up at this high on the shelf in the model shop. It was expensive so I never asked for my parents to buy it. I just looked and wondered. Well years later, ebay.

Wow Colin.Ive seen this one built up at Model shows on RAF Bentwaters museum stand.Always impressed by this monster aircraft.My good Friend David cycled to Fairford in his youth to see these.Ive seen a Roden 1.444th one and still a large plane.
Richard

 

[Richard48]

YES i always wanted this B36 but my mum only had 5 shilling in her purse an needed that to get the bus home an i still would like it but its too big an my first kit was a black hunter by airfix cant remember if any before that as i should have been at the school xmas party but i was ill so my mate then bught it home for me as when at school i over heard the teaches talking about what present to get me an my lady teacher said well he's crazy on areoplaens as he is always drawing them in class so thats how i come to get the hunter but cant remember if i built it
BUT I WISH i could go back to them days as they were magic days an to top it all i was young about 10 an still had my whole life ahead of me(sigh) now its near the end oh dear
chrisb

No Chris.You have to live till you are 100 to build all them kits.The best little kits are had were when i was 11 in 1980 and my mate Adrian got me an Airfix T34/85 kit in blister pack and a bright blue Renault Dauphin car.You could get the Roden B36 as its not as big in 1.144th Im tempted myself.
Richard

 

[Darian Frey]

Nice kits, I used to play Gunship too, (ZX Spectrun) and before that I think there was a Heli game called Tomahawk?
Never built a AH64 either, so that might have to go on the "possible future stash item" list....

Ah man I had a ZX Spectrum too! I loved those old 8-bit machines - the games were so much fun!

there are so many cool aircraft I've not built yet, the Apache is one of them (never have finished one) so I'd say go it - I suspect there's a better kit out there than the old Airfix one though!

I remember as a kid looking up at this high on the shelf in the model shop. It was expensive so I never asked for my parents to buy it. I just looked and wondered. Well years later, ebay.

I used to do that - two kits that spring to mind was the Airfix 1/72 Nimrod and the AC-130. Never owned either.

The F111 brings back a memory of Christmas c1979.My uncle and Aunty bought me this for Christmas along with the DH Beaver kit from Airfix..
Richard

Nice! I hope you had butter luck with it then I did.

I've still yet to actually build an F-111. I did start the Hasegawa kit but it wasn't a very enjoyable build (and the wings didn't swing, what's the point of that!) so I sold it part-started.

 

[Richard48]

Ah man I had a ZX Spectrum too! I loved those old 8-bit machines - the games were so much fun!

there are so many cool aircraft I've not built yet, the Apache is one of them (never have finished one) so I'd say go it - I suspect there's a better kit out there than the old Airfix one though!



I used to do that - two kits that spring to mind was the Airfix 1/72 Nimrod and the AC-130. Never owned either.




Nice! I hope you had butter luck with it then I did.

I've still yet to actually build an F-111. I did start the Hasegawa kit but it wasn't a very enjoyable build (and the wings didn't swing, what's the point of that!) so I sold it part-started.

 

[Richard48]

Ah man I had a ZX Spectrum too! I loved those old 8-bit machines - the games were so much fun!

there are so many cool aircraft I've not built yet, the Apache is one of them (never have finished one) so I'd say go it - I suspect there's a better kit out there than the old Airfix one though!



I used to do that - two kits that spring to mind was the Airfix 1/72 Nimrod and the AC-130. Never owned either.




Nice! I hope you had butter luck with it then I did.

I've still yet to actually build an F-111. I did start the Hasegawa kit but it wasn't a very enjoyable build (and the wings didn't swing, what's the point of that!) so I sold it part-started.

I think i made a right hash of the 111.Ended up doing something with the cockpit escape capsule if my memory is correct.

 

[Darian Frey]

I think i made a right hash of the 111.Ended up doing something with the cockpit escape capsule if my memory is correct.

Glad to hear it wasn't just me!

 

[Darian Frey]

Gents - I know I'm new here, but given the love this thread is getting it really does sound like a potential future GB idea, just saying.

 

[boatman]

WELL i built a F111 cant remember what make an i made it so the escape cockpit lifted out of the fusealarge an done it with a hairy stick in veitnam camo an it was quite a nice plane an it was quite big esp the main undercart an the wings opened an closed but cant remember what happened to it but nice modell all the same maybe got shot up with my airgun lol

chrisb

 

[Geoffers]

The thread seems to have morphed into best kits from our childhood

In which case I had a 1/72 B-17 Flying Fortress by Revell I think for Christmas and I’m sure it was white plastic. I also had an Airfix 1/72 AC-47 Gunship from my Nan and Grandad possibly the s as me Christmas, both have really stuck in my memory

Geoff.