I remember my first model. My father bought home a Revell 1/32 scale F4F Wildcat kit. He had built models as a kid–he contracted Rheumatic Fever as was pretty much bedridden for a year. As a diversion, he built balsa wood models. He wanted me to enjoy the hobby, too, I guess, so he bought the Wildcat. He and I read the instruction sheet a few times, and he explained to me that in order to build the model correctly, I had to follow the directions in order. We started to build the model–he had bought some paints, too (if memory serves, one of the Testor's PLA Enamel sets), so we painted the cockpit parts in colors close to what the instructions called out. What's Chromate Green? Well, we had a green color, so that worked. The first night, we painted the parts, then set everything aside to dry overnight. Actually, I think we put the kit and supplies on top of the refrigerator…
We would build a little bit each night. With each step completed, I could see an airplane start to emerge from that bunch of plastic parts. Some steps I could do myself; others I would get Dad to help me with. After about a week–I'm not quite sure, as I was young at the time–we had a nearly finishe model. We couldn't find the hole in the wing where the pitot tube was supposed to go, so Dad took the tip of the hobby knife and made one. When everything was glued together, we set the model aside, again, to dry.
The next night was paint night. I helped paint the model to match the pictures on the box. Dad explained to me that it was better to apply a thin coat of paint, let it dry, then apply another coat. Above all, he said, we needed to let it dry overnight…
The following evening we applied the decals, and "my" first model was finished. The model was placed on the bookshelf for all to see and admire. To this day, though, I don't remember what became of the model–we moved not too long after, so I suppose it must have been damaged in the move. No matter, it wouldn't be my last model…
There's something refreshing about that story–I built a model, spent time with my Dad, and wasn't worried if the final product wasn't perfect. Later, as we got older, Dad helped my brother and I each purchase a Guillow's balsa wood kit (I think I got the Cessna 170 and my brother got the Piper Cherokee) and he assisted us in building–well, almost building–them. He would remind us that the balsa wood kits were his kind of modeling, and that we had it easy with those plastic kits to which I, for one, had become addicted. I don't think either of those Guillow's kits got built, but he'd go on about the plastic kits we'd build, telling us that if we were real model builders we'd tackle a wood kit–yet to anyone who would listen, we were the family's artistes-in-waiting.
Later on, I would buy and build Guillow's 3/4" scale Spitfire (it didn't fly, I built it as a static model), and my brother built a Dumas boat kit, which was waiting for a motor and radio control gear when he discovered BMX and Daisy's contribution to settling the Old West.
Dad's gone now. I don't think my brother has touched a plastic model kit since about ten years ago when we (my brother, my wife, my nephew, and I) got together and built (what else?) Snap-Tite kits. My nephew was seven or eight at the time, and I don't think he's taken up the hobby (habit?)–he's been exposed to it, so he knows what it is about. Each of us has seen and participated in the hobby, even of that time was brief.
We will always have those memories of how we were each introduced to the hobby.
Thanks for reading. Be good to one another, and I bid you Peace.