Remember Your First Model Car?

In the early years before the model kits were widely available the dealer promo types were the big deal; many stores also sold the friction drive or wind -up vision's that were the basis for the neighborhood youth customizers.

 

I'm 40 and these are the first two model cars I built with my dad when I was a kid. They'd been knocked around quite a bit over the years but I still have them. I finally got around to doing a sympathetic restoration on both of them. I had to buy another corvette for a replacement windshield and hood. The '57 I was able to find replacement glass but I still had most of the other parts that fell off.

 

To be totally honest,I really don't remember the first one, I was obsessed when I started building them and all my spare money went into model cars, I would think I probably got my first model car for a Christmas gift around the age of 8.

I probably built at least 30 by the age of 15 and when I got married I gave Brenda's brother several boxes of models, I don't know what he did with them, I have a few unbuilt models at home but no real interest in building them. HRP

 

My dad had piles of them growing up, mostly mustangs and which all the cars he had he should have kept these. I remember them being piles of parts and don't remember them ever being completed...So not sure if I had something to do with that or if he just let me play with them.
When I was 7th-8th grade when the Revell Big Deuce was re-released he bought one as a father son project, but I don't think I was patient enough to wait for him.

 

I'm still buying kits, have sold off about 100 in the past year. Doubles, things I got real cheap.

I'd hit the discount stores to see what they had. I found that 40 of the NASCAR truck kits will fit into a shopping cart. At $1.97 each it was hard to pass up.

I grab some old original kits if the $ is right. I have a couple AMT '32 Ford kits, a mint '49 Merc from 1963, a rare '57 T-Bird kit in the small box. It still has the putty that is soft, decals, white wall tire rings and the "suede" seat cover material. I got 2 original unbuilt '62 Ford convertible kits. And more I'm sure.

I still have some from my teen years. One in my bedroom closet is an AMT '58 Chevy I built at age 14. And a '71 Torino I built at age 16.

AMT had 2 lines of spray paints. The 1st I recall was a lacquer in cans similar to the small Duplicolor cans. At the time, who had 69 cents to spend when a 10 cent jar would work? The 2nd line I guess came out around 1966. Shorter cans, like the current Model Master size. As I earned money, these were affordable. The trick was to see how many cars you got out of 1 can. That Torino I have, the paint texture looks like the south end of a north bound alligator.

 

Monogram 36 3window coupe, I was 13
It later got a re-build with a rebuild & chopped top & 37 headlights grafted in. Never really got finished, still have it here somewhere...

 

My first model build was in 1969 or 1970. Can’t remember exact year. Had an older kid that was in to models help me with it. Learned much from him off that single first build. The model was a full size ‘69 Pontiac. Built many more on my own through the early and mid 70s until I was highschool age. I would say 3/4 of my builds were HAMB friendly. Most being drag cars. Gave my entire collection with parts away to neighbor kid when I was in college. Now in my 60s, I have a 1/18 diecast collection. I’ve modded a few of those. No models newer than 1970 with majority being vintage drag cars. Have around 150. Guess I’m still a kid.

 

This is one of two I have bought recently

 

AMT 3 in 1 Deuce Coupe. Bought it around 1960. Put it together no fenders, channeled. Still have it.

 

Maybe not my first, but the one remember the most, was trying to build Tommy Ivo’s Showboat! The four wheel drive four engine dragster! I never got it built to my satisfaction! It must of had a million pieces!





Bones

 

Since the thread has migrated into later achievments,,,,
First spray paint was a '40 Tudor in medium Blue metellic.
Red wheels beauty rings red corduroy upholstery. ( tuck 'n roll )
Still exists at my sisters house on the mantle.
Began to use thread and skinny-assed wire for plug wires and fuel line.
One AMT kit came with a go-kart. I found a head rest to make seat,
a chrome wish bone to fashion the frame, along with the go-kart motor, and 2 tires,
I had a mini bike.
One afternoon my Bud showed up with a purple '62 Buick he didn't want no more, and an M-80.
While my retired neighbor was sunning himself next door we put it in my front yard.
Inserted the 'bomb' lit and ran. Hoodlum you say?

 

My first model car kit was a 1952 MG TD I built when I was 8 y/o. I was born in 1946, so it was almost a new car at the time.

 

My first model was this one when I turned 11....

 

I built this one when I was around 10 years old. Turned out what I thought was perfect. Me and my friend were playing with our models in the living room right after I finished it, and he accidentally sat on it, crushing it into bits.

 

When I was young, probably 6 or 7 my dad came home with a model of a patty wagon. I don’t remember if it was a model T or a model A but I didn’t have any interest in an old police car. It looked complicated to put together and I didn’t have the glue needed to make it. But a couple years later I jumped in with a Ford Ranchero kit because it reminded me of our 61 two door wagon and it was game on after that.

 

In 1963 I won the Pinewood Derby Race in my Cub Scout Pack. My trophy for the win was an AMT 3 n1 1960 Mercury Comet model. This was my introduction to 1/25 scale modeling. I have been building ever since. I started collecting kits about ten years before I retired so I could fill my idle retired time. Been retired 9.5 years and completed 4 kits. I sure hope I get some more idle retired time in the future. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!

 

Grew up a few miles from the AMT plant. would ride our "customized" bicycles there, and dig through the dumpsters and find all kinds of rejects, until they ran us off...still plenty good stuff for us!

 

Guessing You mean AMT

 

Correct! fixed it.

 

In the same concept I built the Pie Wagon. In Jr High I started a 6X enlargement of it in drafting only to have the penciled outline, model kit box top and partially colored in drawing stolen over summer. The model as well is long gone. Don’t ask, all the classic’s of the day I built suffered the same fate but not by me.

 

I feel ya, man.

 

I joined a model club a couple of years ago. Maryland Automotive Modelers Association. Check out their website. It kinda renewed my interest in building again.

 

Even Santa is into model building.

 

Lots of kids I knew built models, my brothers as well. We had a bike shop close by that had discounted models. Even my sister built a few.

Cut a lawn = a model kit and a couple jars of brush paint. We all hustled to feed our habit.

One close friend, he was way advanced for his age. He built the complex "unbuildables" that none of us could finish. He helped me paint my first spray job. A 1965 Pontiac.

 

Only thing surviving from the model years is this picture.

 

A little off topic for the thread, but on theme.

My dad built models as a kid but hasn't done one since he was a teenager.

I got him several books and the '34 SLAMMER Modified kit, glue and paint for Christmas.

 

...my first model was THE BOOT HILL EXPRESS, molded in color!

 

That was a tough kit for a kid to build.

 

This Red Chariot From Monogram. I always Like the Cone Shaped Wheel Covers. I've never seen too many of those in Real Life Hot-Rodding