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Who Remembers the 'Bad' Old Days?
generalzod
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 3,172 posts
Armorama: 2,495 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 11:47 PM UTC
Who else ,besides me, used to play with the motorized Tamiya kits? Don't be shy now :-) :-) I also remember the Monogram 1/32-1/35 kits Some of the German kits had zimmerit molded on
TankCarl
Joined: May 10, 2002
KitMaker: 3,581 posts
Armorama: 2,782 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 12:29 AM UTC
Hi,my name is TankCarl.
I confess to being a bad ol days refugee.
I bought and built the motorised tamiya kits.
The older kits pretty much got us all building and collecting.As the manufacturers saw the market expanding,some decided to improve accuracy so that we,the builders would go for the better molded product.
As technology improves,better design of kits and parts make for better detail,and ease of adapting a 1/35th kit down to 1/48th.
I confess to being a bad ol days refugee.
I bought and built the motorised tamiya kits.
The older kits pretty much got us all building and collecting.As the manufacturers saw the market expanding,some decided to improve accuracy so that we,the builders would go for the better molded product.
As technology improves,better design of kits and parts make for better detail,and ease of adapting a 1/35th kit down to 1/48th.
jimbrae
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 03:23 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Who else ,besides me, used to play with the motorized Tamiya kits? Don't be shy now I also remember the Monogram 1/32-1/35 kits Some of the German kits had zimmerit molded on
Guilty as charged! :-) I distinctly remember 'motorizing' a PzII...
arnie360
Joined: January 28, 2006
KitMaker: 62 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 03:38 AM UTC
Hmm I don't remember the bad old days but I do remember posting a couple of comments in here that were removed without explanation on the forum or by personal message.
Don't mind you guys deleting stuff but a quick communication would be polite you know?
Don't mind you guys deleting stuff but a quick communication would be polite you know?
Bodeen
#026
Joined: June 08, 2002
KitMaker: 1,744 posts
Armorama: 1,359 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 03:39 AM UTC
As the saying goes....Ignorance is bliss! I started modeling in the early 70s, as a child, and was awestruck by the "huge" (at the time) selection of armor that Tamiya and Monogram had.I didn't know any better and I was just thankful that someone could supply models to satisfy my "GEEKY" obsession. I didn't consider them as "The bad old days"...back then. If a new model was announced every 6 months I was happy.
Now we as modellers are spoiled. It seems instead of years or months...it's only days between new product announcements.
If you wait long enough...the kit you are waiting for will be released.
I do,however,believe that some of the concerns voiced by modellers on this site and others on the internet have had some influence on what manufacturers have released. I think our voices have been heard. Just look at all of the Allied kits released recently.
There are 10 times as many manufacturers available now and all are after my dollar. I LOVE IT!
As I've said in other threads... Competition is healthy!
Looking back...maybe the 60s, 70s and 80s were the dark ages of our hobby...but we didn't know any better.
We do live in the golden age of modelling and I'm excited to see what the future brings for this hobby. My only complaint is that i don't have enough money to buy all of the new kits that I want!
I might just have to get a vendor license and open my own hobby shop!
Jeff
ALBOWIE
Joined: February 28, 2006
KitMaker: 1,605 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 04:17 AM UTC
I was brought up on Airfix 76th in the 60's with my father bringing home all the proffessionally made display kits from Woolworths every month (UK Modellers of that vintage will remeber the Airfix stand at the local Woolies with that months beauties displayed to encourage you to part with your pocket money. They go played with and I started making the kits of whatever took my fancy. When I came to Australia I continued on the Airfix stuff but also built Revell, Aurora and Frog. I discovered Tamiya 35th in the early 70's which was a bit of a golden age of regular new releases (not on todays scale but pretty impressive). I also dicovered the Beautiful Monogram Armour range with the Shep Paine Dios very cheap from a clearance store. It was during summer holidays and I was bought a large amount of them to keep me busy. I started wargaming soon after and abandoned 32/35th (what did I care then - close enough and Airfix had the figures in 32nd)
Wargaming saw me building Fujimi, Hasegawa, Nitto, Matchbox, Airfix etc in huge qty but the end product was the aim not the modelling.
I joined the Army in the Late 70's and occassionally dabbled in AIrcraft of varying scales (I could finally afford the Airfix 24th scale Mustang and Hurricane.
In the mid 80's I got back into 35th Armour but I consider this the Bad period of maybe 1-2 releases a year if you were lucky. I became a bit of a hoarder of 35th and 72nd Aircraft at this stage but continued to build. The Dark period sort of ended in the early 90's with the arrival of DML and I haven't looked back other than the Army or (Now) Work intervening.
I cannot remember a better period of new releases (let alone the qty). More importantly I can't remeber a period where US/Allied subjects were in such abundance.
Cheers
Al
Wargaming saw me building Fujimi, Hasegawa, Nitto, Matchbox, Airfix etc in huge qty but the end product was the aim not the modelling.
I joined the Army in the Late 70's and occassionally dabbled in AIrcraft of varying scales (I could finally afford the Airfix 24th scale Mustang and Hurricane.
In the mid 80's I got back into 35th Armour but I consider this the Bad period of maybe 1-2 releases a year if you were lucky. I became a bit of a hoarder of 35th and 72nd Aircraft at this stage but continued to build. The Dark period sort of ended in the early 90's with the arrival of DML and I haven't looked back other than the Army or (Now) Work intervening.
I cannot remember a better period of new releases (let alone the qty). More importantly I can't remeber a period where US/Allied subjects were in such abundance.
Cheers
Al
Drader
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 3,791 posts
Armorama: 2,798 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 02:35 PM UTC
I spent some time in the bottom of the wardrobe a week or two back looking through old copies of Military Modelling (for reviews of the Heller WW2 French models) and the array of stuff available in the 70s is quite impressive even now (IMHO of course)
And I still have a motorised M10A1 on the shelf.... I also found an article on converting the M10 into an Achilles which showed an earlier version of the Tamiya model, with terrible wheels designed for motorisation and not to look like the original at all.
David
And I still have a motorised M10A1 on the shelf.... I also found an article on converting the M10 into an Achilles which showed an earlier version of the Tamiya model, with terrible wheels designed for motorisation and not to look like the original at all.
David
jimbrae
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 03:07 PM UTC
Quoted Text
the array of stuff available in the 70s is quite impressive even now
No, that's how I remeber it as well - what was curious were the amount of different (and bizarre) scales available. Nice to see the memory isn't playing tricks...
jazza
Joined: August 03, 2005
KitMaker: 2,709 posts
Armorama: 1,818 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 03:19 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Who else ,besides me, used to play with the motorized Tamiya kits?
Since we are all confessing and sharing some love....guity here too.
I distinctly remember one occasion in the 80s where i had my elder brother assemble it for me and i ran out to an open space all eager to play it. Turned it on, saw the beauty speed off and plunge right into a drain. It kept going and got deeper and deeper and then out of sight. Gutted to the core and obviously....never forgotten.
It was one of the motorised buggy by Tamiya and it was brand new.
Drader
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 3,791 posts
Armorama: 2,798 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 04:57 PM UTC
Scale was an issue even back in the mid 70s - MM's review of the Airfix 1/32nd Crusader started off with a 'why not 1/35th?' comment.
David
David
drabslab
Joined: September 28, 2004
KitMaker: 2,186 posts
Armorama: 190 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 05:14 PM UTC
Being a recent re-starter, after many years of absence, I specially noticed that the overall quality of the kits had seriously improved.
This, unfortunately not because there were so many dazzling new kits available, but more because many lower quality kits had been pushed out of the market.
At the same time I was astonished about the diversity (and price) of the aftermarket products.
Me personally, I am quite happy with this evolution but if I would be a 15 year old kid again (that'll be the day) I might not be so keen to start in this hobby. Are the current kits too expensive, too complicated, to long to build for complete beginners?
An experienced modeller is spoild these todays, when he/she can afford it.
This, unfortunately not because there were so many dazzling new kits available, but more because many lower quality kits had been pushed out of the market.
At the same time I was astonished about the diversity (and price) of the aftermarket products.
Me personally, I am quite happy with this evolution but if I would be a 15 year old kid again (that'll be the day) I might not be so keen to start in this hobby. Are the current kits too expensive, too complicated, to long to build for complete beginners?
An experienced modeller is spoild these todays, when he/she can afford it.
nolifoto
Joined: September 19, 2006
KitMaker: 146 posts
Armorama: 136 posts
Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 06:44 AM UTC
I'm happy to read your posting. I too came from the old days of modelling when Revell, Monogram, Adams and Renwal reign supreme. I remember how fascinated I was when Renwal came out with their Patton Tank whose crew pop out when you lower the cannon! that was high tech then. There was also the atomic cannon of Adams and their Honest John and the Cute little Ontos of Renwal! But that was then. The quality of models now is fantastic compared to yesterday's. This is why I am still excited now as when I was a beginning modeller. The amount of details of today's models are beyond compare and yet we ask for more! As they say, "Give a finger and they ask for the hand, give the hand and they ask for the arm".
kevinb120
Joined: May 09, 2006
KitMaker: 1,349 posts
Armorama: 1,267 posts
Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 09:32 AM UTC
Quoted Text
O dear! O dear! before this gets too violent, I enjoyed modelling back in the '50's/'60's and I enjoy it immensley now!! Of course at a totally different level! I can actually afford to buy tools, mags, etc now! Plastic is cool!!
capnjock
I started in the 80's myself, but now that I am older and can afford just about anything I want or need(at least for modeling), its made it much more interesting. After spending a long time in R/C aircraft in the interim, plastic seems cheap by comparison. I don't need $1500 just for the servos to get a plane in the air...
Since where I live has become very difficult to find a place to fly anymore, I got into plastic modeling again. The new generation of styrene super kits and massive amounts of etch and aftermarket available, not to mention the sheer number of kits out there, makes it much more interesting this 'time' around.
05Sultan
#037
Joined: December 19, 2004
KitMaker: 2,870 posts
Armorama: 1,458 posts
Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 09:50 AM UTC
Yeah,me too. Airfix 1/72 aircraft,1/700 ships.Aurora 1/48 armor-2panthers,centurion,Patton.Never did get the Japanese tank I wanted.Then I ran into Revell and Monogram 1/32 armor 
.Allways a problem finding paints and brushes.Monogram 1/48 and 1/32 aircraft came and went.Cars,trucks,wackos and monsters.Knights!GEEEEEZZZ!! those freaks were the worst!
OK,all of above are nice subjects but are of trash quality compared to today's stuff on the shelf. I see the prices these old kits go for today and just say to myself,"Wasn't THAT hot of a kit for what I payed for then!"
But as they say,'Treasure and trash' I guess.
Best advent in modeling since I picked up a blade as a wee youth has got to be Superglue.
cheers!
.Allways a problem finding paints and brushes.Monogram 1/48 and 1/32 aircraft came and went.Cars,trucks,wackos and monsters.Knights!GEEEEEZZZ!! those freaks were the worst!OK,all of above are nice subjects but are of trash quality compared to today's stuff on the shelf. I see the prices these old kits go for today and just say to myself,"Wasn't THAT hot of a kit for what I payed for then!"
But as they say,'Treasure and trash' I guess.
Best advent in modeling since I picked up a blade as a wee youth has got to be Superglue.
cheers!
kevinb120
Joined: May 09, 2006
KitMaker: 1,349 posts
Armorama: 1,267 posts
Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 10:15 AM UTC
Yea thats another thing. I used CA all the time for balsa R/C aircraft, but never used it on styrene untill recently when I started up again. Witht the speed of CA, and the much better quality of mouldings and general engineering, it definately makes it easier to stay focused and move much more quickly building-even if the average parts count has trippled-as you don't have to 'fix' or scratch build nearly as much to get nice details anymore or wait hours for a joint to dry. With a couple sanding sticks, some CA and a sharp blade you can really rock-and-roll through most modern kits.
MiG-17
Joined: September 01, 2006
KitMaker: 123 posts
Armorama: 107 posts
Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 01:16 PM UTC
I started modeling about 1957,I was 7 years old. My first kits were the Aurora aircraft in 1/50th scale. The kits had about 12 parts,and cost about 69 cents! I can remember in the late 50,s early 60,s if a kit had "Made in Japan"printed on the box,then it sat on the store shelf. The same went for any kit of a Russian anything,aircraft,AFV whatever, "no sale"! These were the Cold War days! How times have changed!!!Rob- MiG-17
Grumpyoldman
ConsigliereJoined: October 17, 2003
KitMaker: 15,338 posts
Armorama: 7,297 posts
Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 05:18 PM UTC
I remember the LHS selling the original issue of the 1/48th scale Lancaster for $7.00 because it came with Japanese only instructions!
10 cent bottles of paint and tube glue. My first IPMS Convention in New York City! That was a trip, guys turned their rooms into hobby shops, one guy had his RV parked outside as a rolling hobby shop, and the old trunk sales, seems everyone that had a car had a trunk sale going on. :-)
10 cent bottles of paint and tube glue. My first IPMS Convention in New York City! That was a trip, guys turned their rooms into hobby shops, one guy had his RV parked outside as a rolling hobby shop, and the old trunk sales, seems everyone that had a car had a trunk sale going on. :-)
Twentecable
Joined: September 13, 2003
KitMaker: 339 posts
Armorama: 31 posts
Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 05:28 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Yes Jim,
I am with you. The kits weren't so accurate but cheap enough for a kid's The problem for the youth today seems to be the high prices for the kits and many are scared off by the high level around.
Harald
I don't believe that. There are enough decent priced kits in he shops.. and why not start 1/72? These kits cost 5€. glue, a brush 2 pots of paint 10€ total.
Most kids get this (and more) each week from their parents.
I just think kids are not interested in the hobby. It is not cool, interesting or anything else... Make it cool exciting and you will get lots of youth members.
arpikaszabo
Joined: February 13, 2006
KitMaker: 674 posts
Armorama: 637 posts
Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 06:19 PM UTC
Hello everyboby
I am part of the new generation. I started modelling about five years ago. It seems to me that the young are scared of all those tiny parts and dont know actually the feeling of creating a piece of art. As I experienced, its always less demanding to play computer games or to go pubbing. Unfortunately our hobby is not promoted as it should be. The other part blame it on the money. But if I start counting, a project which brings me 500 hours of entertainment and costs me 200 dollars is not expensive. [60 cents per hours].
I am part of the new generation. I started modelling about five years ago. It seems to me that the young are scared of all those tiny parts and dont know actually the feeling of creating a piece of art. As I experienced, its always less demanding to play computer games or to go pubbing. Unfortunately our hobby is not promoted as it should be. The other part blame it on the money. But if I start counting, a project which brings me 500 hours of entertainment and costs me 200 dollars is not expensive. [60 cents per hours].
redraider
Joined: September 29, 2006
KitMaker: 311 posts
Armorama: 305 posts
Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 09:02 PM UTC
I built my first model in 1968 it was a 1/72 P-36 it cost 75 cents, however I only got 25 cents a week allowance so it took 3 weeks to get the money to buy it . Kids/parents don't mind to drop $50.00 on a computer game so money is not the problem. When I built the P-36 I did not do it alone my Dad was there too. Televisions and Computers don't need parents to hang aroung and spend time with the kids. Lets face it gaming and television is a nice clean hobby. To most parents/mothers modeling is dangerous; superglue is dangerous, paint smells funny, and most kids think X-acto knives are weapons. Modeling takes to much effort to do and be safe. In our super safe and clean world a kid needs rubber gloves, goggles, face mask, and hell maybe even an hard hat to build a model not to mention a properly ventelated room. The days of a boy building a model on the kitchen table while Mom makes dinner are a rare and endangered event. Any model produced today can be built and played with. The model industry has not changed that much with the exception of many more choices. What has changed is peoples perceptions about modeling. Parents think it's dangerous and messy and kids think it's strange. Modeling will only be passed to the next generation by Dad's, Uncles, and modeling friends who remember how they started in the hobby and encourage the kids to start the same way.
Redraider
Redraider
Charlie-66
#186
Joined: May 24, 2006
KitMaker: 771 posts
Armorama: 750 posts
Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 09:28 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I built my first model in 1968 it was a 1/72 P-36 it cost 75 cents, however I only got 25 cents a week allowance so it took 3 weeks to get the money to buy it . Kids/parents don't mind to drop $50.00 on a computer game so money is not the problem. When I built the P-36 I did not do it alone my Dad was there too. Televisions and Computers don't need parents to hang aroung and spend time with the kids. Lets face it gaming and television is a nice clean hobby. To most parents/mothers modeling is dangerous; superglue is dangerous, paint smells funny, and most kids think X-acto knives are weapons. Modeling takes to much effort to do and be safe. In our super safe and clean world a kid needs rubber gloves, goggles, face mask, and hell maybe even an hard hat to build a model not to mention a properly ventelated room. The days of a boy building a model on the kitchen table while Mom makes dinner are a rare and endangered event. Any model produced today can be built and played with. The model industry has not changed that much with the exception of many more choices. What has changed is peoples perceptions about modeling. Parents think it's dangerous and messy and kids think it's strange. Modeling will only be passed to the next generation by Dad's, Uncles, and modeling friends who remember how they started in the hobby and encourage the kids to start the same way.
Redraider
I vaguely remember my first model from 1966. It was an airplane (lord forgive me). What I remember vividly is that my older brother bought 3 of the same kit. He, my younger brother and I built them together step-by-step. The model itself is long forgotten, but the time spent with my brothers will never be. Despite the cost, I have been buying two of most of the new DML armor offerings, and building them with my 16 year old brother-in-law. My older 70's and 80's vintage kits go to my 10 year old so he can have fun and learn the basics. Let's face it. At the rate my kit stash is growing I need some help or I'll never build even most of them in my life time. As far as I'm concerned this is a fantastic time to be an old fart who can afford to buy the really great offerings that are available.
m4sherman
Joined: January 18, 2006
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,808 posts
Posted: Monday, October 30, 2006 - 02:42 AM UTC
My start was also in the 1960's. More like wanting, than buying (no allowance). I scraped a few pennies and bought the only models available at the grocery store, cars. When my dad started a train lay out, we went to a real hobby store, and I fell in love with the tanks, all Monogram. By 1982, between college and work I found some time to build a few, now Tamiya and Italeri.
In 1982 I went to my first armor model club meeting, and met the most important group of modelers that there was in Arizona. They had articles in the magazines at the time. They were scratch builders, making conversions, creating varients replacing and correcting details. These mentors challenged me to do similar work, and several are now close friends.
Even with all the fantastic new models coming out today, the basic foundation is still needed, modeling skill. Having a mentor is a bonus, and I have tried over the years to help others when I could. So, while enjoying the new kits, and the talents of the "young" guys, this old goat can still fondly remember the "good old days", and has the exacto scars to help!
In 1982 I went to my first armor model club meeting, and met the most important group of modelers that there was in Arizona. They had articles in the magazines at the time. They were scratch builders, making conversions, creating varients replacing and correcting details. These mentors challenged me to do similar work, and several are now close friends.
Even with all the fantastic new models coming out today, the basic foundation is still needed, modeling skill. Having a mentor is a bonus, and I have tried over the years to help others when I could. So, while enjoying the new kits, and the talents of the "young" guys, this old goat can still fondly remember the "good old days", and has the exacto scars to help!
AikinutNY
Joined: October 21, 2003
KitMaker: 683 posts
Armorama: 630 posts
Posted: Monday, October 30, 2006 - 08:03 AM UTC
Why in my days the only thing you could model was rocks and they was some darn accurate rocks , because we used rocks to make them!
When I started in the 60's with Aurora's 1/48 scale Panthers and such I was amazed at the accuracy of the Tamiya stuff in that awful 1/35 scale. Now Dragon is doing the premium kits that just buggle my mind, what little is left.
When I started in the 60's with Aurora's 1/48 scale Panthers and such I was amazed at the accuracy of the Tamiya stuff in that awful 1/35 scale. Now Dragon is doing the premium kits that just buggle my mind, what little is left.
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