List your childhood model collection
Back in the early '70's, me and my mate Nigel had just about every one of the 1/144th scale Airfix Airliners going. We painted them in 'real' airline c/s by hand - remember this was in the days before endless decals became available, even if they were, they were beyond our means.
Both of us used to have an airport built in our bedrooms with buildings, taxiways, the works. I'll always remember the day he had just finished an El Al 747, it took him ages to paint it. I took it on a flight to my house. We used to ride our bikes and hold the plane at the same time. I think you're already guessing where this is going....you are right.
I was cruising down the hill on the final approach to my house and this poxy cat shot out from nowhere causing me to have a fatal stall in flight. I hit the deck (still holding Nige's pride and joy in one hand) only for the bike to trap the fingers of the other hand causing me to release the model. I watched in slow motion as the bike flipped over my head and landed straight on the 747, smashing it into many pieces.
After I was patched up, the next day the accident and investigations department (Nige, he had taken on a new role) inspected the scene. Amongst the blood and skin fibres on the ground, he retreived an exhaust cone from No4 engine, and an undercarriage door. All of the bits were taken to his hangar (his homework desk next to his airport) and they were meticulously put together in a bid to determine the cause of the accident.
He came to the conclusion that it was pilot error, bloody typical! After a thorough investigation, I was banned from 'flying' (well, with his models anyway) for 2 weeks.
Both of us used to have an airport built in our bedrooms with buildings, taxiways, the works. I'll always remember the day he had just finished an El Al 747, it took him ages to paint it. I took it on a flight to my house. We used to ride our bikes and hold the plane at the same time. I think you're already guessing where this is going....you are right.
I was cruising down the hill on the final approach to my house and this poxy cat shot out from nowhere causing me to have a fatal stall in flight. I hit the deck (still holding Nige's pride and joy in one hand) only for the bike to trap the fingers of the other hand causing me to release the model. I watched in slow motion as the bike flipped over my head and landed straight on the 747, smashing it into many pieces.
After I was patched up, the next day the accident and investigations department (Nige, he had taken on a new role) inspected the scene. Amongst the blood and skin fibres on the ground, he retreived an exhaust cone from No4 engine, and an undercarriage door. All of the bits were taken to his hangar (his homework desk next to his airport) and they were meticulously put together in a bid to determine the cause of the accident.
He came to the conclusion that it was pilot error, bloody typical! After a thorough investigation, I was banned from 'flying' (well, with his models anyway) for 2 weeks.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Asia's Fine City
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Reminds me of how the pride of my fleet, HMS Victory was destroyed.
A birthday present from my much older brother on break from University, in which he also built and painted it (some gift eh), Victory sat on my bedroom chest of drawers in full rig and bunting with afore listed multiple aircraft flypasts suspended from the ceiling.
After the usual ruff and tumble & plastic "sword fencing practice" with big bro, the chase through the house probably the result of me wacking him with a plastic Saracen sword (I think I was 8 yo at the time but could have been older
) run up the stairs with him trying to return the wacking with a frisbee - running into my bedroom, big bro launches frisbee, I duck famously and Victory gets the full broadside - far more damage sustained than ever the Frogs could have delivered at Trafalgar. Masts, cannon, rigging everywhere, major hull damage causing severe list to stbd.
Totally wrecked - provided parts for future creative projects but alas Victory with its copper painted hull was no more.
A birthday present from my much older brother on break from University, in which he also built and painted it (some gift eh), Victory sat on my bedroom chest of drawers in full rig and bunting with afore listed multiple aircraft flypasts suspended from the ceiling.
After the usual ruff and tumble & plastic "sword fencing practice" with big bro, the chase through the house probably the result of me wacking him with a plastic Saracen sword (I think I was 8 yo at the time but could have been older
) run up the stairs with him trying to return the wacking with a frisbee - running into my bedroom, big bro launches frisbee, I duck famously and Victory gets the full broadside - far more damage sustained than ever the Frogs could have delivered at Trafalgar. Masts, cannon, rigging everywhere, major hull damage causing severe list to stbd.Totally wrecked - provided parts for future creative projects but alas Victory with its copper painted hull was no more.
"Atomic Cannon"
Bugger, it must have been a Revel 'coz I ain't never heard of Renwal !!
As you say, stuff is disappearing out of the noggin !
When I was REALLY young a mate had a Frog 'plane, all shiny, real aluminium, could it have been a Mustang (P-51) ???...help?
I've still got the tug that my dad built for me out of Model Maker plans, the ones that were included, not ordered.
Bugger, it must have been a Revel 'coz I ain't never heard of Renwal !!
As you say, stuff is disappearing out of the noggin !
When I was REALLY young a mate had a Frog 'plane, all shiny, real aluminium, could it have been a Mustang (P-51) ???...help?
I've still got the tug that my dad built for me out of Model Maker plans, the ones that were included, not ordered.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wirral
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah this brings back memories of when I was a kid sleeping under Aifix models haphazardly dangling off the ceiling with a drawing pin and thread. Great till they fell off in the early hours of the morning.
I always seemed to have several of the same model (Harriers and Spitfires mostly I seem to remember) in my mind it was better to have an entire squadron.
That, and it took thousands of attempts to get those bloody decals on!
I always seemed to have several of the same model (Harriers and Spitfires mostly I seem to remember) in my mind it was better to have an entire squadron.
That, and it took thousands of attempts to get those bloody decals on!
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Devon
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This great thread only reminds me of all the models I 'bungled' over the years in a feverish attempt to build them quickly.
Like the time an Uncle bought me ... eight years old at the time... a BAC 1-11, but he didn't include the paint.
So I rummaged around in my Dad's shed and ended up painting it gold.
Looked good until the paint started rubbing off...
Like the time an Uncle bought me ... eight years old at the time... a BAC 1-11, but he didn't include the paint.
So I rummaged around in my Dad's shed and ended up painting it gold.
Looked good until the paint started rubbing off...
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South of Penge
Age: 74
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I was REALLY young a mate had a Frog 'plane, all shiny, real aluminium, could it have been a Mustang (P-51) ???...help?
Could this have been the ready to fly rubber powered thing called IIRC "The Mark V fighter" or somesuch. It had a geared prop and one wound it up in its box with a crank I think.
Again - far too expensive for a prole like me to aspire to.
Try Beags.
Could this have been the ready to fly rubber powered thing called IIRC "The Mark V fighter" or somesuch. It had a geared prop and one wound it up in its box with a crank I think.
Again - far too expensive for a prole like me to aspire to.
Try Beags.
For me it was a passion for Dinky aeroplanes. I went to jumble sales with my pocket money and ended up with 30 or 40 of them. I remember the Ensign (two off), the Ju-90 (two off), the Singapore, the Mercury/Maia combination, Amiot 360, Battle, DC-3 etc etc.
My mates and I also discovered a fantastic junk shop that had the old black recognition models left over from the war. They were made of bakelite or wood and I had quite a few including the C-46 Commando and the B-26 Invader. I also remember having a Japanese Betty, Helen and Mavis flying boat.
My mates and I also discovered a fantastic junk shop that had the old black recognition models left over from the war. They were made of bakelite or wood and I had quite a few including the C-46 Commando and the B-26 Invader. I also remember having a Japanese Betty, Helen and Mavis flying boat.
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Croydon (but really from Barnsley)
Age: 64
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What a load of old saddoes!
I used to be into making kits when I was a lad, Airfix ruled supreme of course, but I also had some Revell kits and one or two Tamiya. Mostly aeroplanes, but some ships, and cars, and tanks as well.
At one point I took it quite seriously too - had a craft knife to cut the pieces off the sprues, and used a liquid glue you brushed onto the edges rather than the polystyrene cement in a tube. The worst were the figures where all the belts and straps had to be cut out of a sheet of thin plastic and put on. That was fiddly as anything.
I have some old slides where to use up a film I shot pictures of some of my collection. I might dig them out, scan them in and post them..
I guess that makes me an old saddo too!
I used to be into making kits when I was a lad, Airfix ruled supreme of course, but I also had some Revell kits and one or two Tamiya. Mostly aeroplanes, but some ships, and cars, and tanks as well.
At one point I took it quite seriously too - had a craft knife to cut the pieces off the sprues, and used a liquid glue you brushed onto the edges rather than the polystyrene cement in a tube. The worst were the figures where all the belts and straps had to be cut out of a sheet of thin plastic and put on. That was fiddly as anything.
I have some old slides where to use up a film I shot pictures of some of my collection. I might dig them out, scan them in and post them..
I guess that makes me an old saddo too!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany
Age: 74
Posts: 883
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I guess that makes me an old saddo too!
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: North Wiltshire, UK
Age: 78
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It was indeed the Mark V Fighter - I have one on the desk as I type this, The box is awful tatty, and the airframe ia a trifle "distressed" but I popped a loop of 3/16" into it and actually dared to fly it one the one calm evening this summer - it flew, not epecially well, but it took off from an 8' x 4' hardboard aerodrome and landed about thirty yards away.
Flies, Rises Off Ground = FROG - and it did......
Flies, Rises Off Ground = FROG - and it did......
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South of Penge
Age: 74
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Diesel A . Long forgot that meaning of "FROG."
Any chance of you posting a piccie of the beast?
Now we wait for those guys who flew all those Cox -with starter spring -powered plastic control-liners.
"Stuka (with dropping bomb )" etc.
I expect Beags had the set.
Any chance of you posting a piccie of the beast?
Now we wait for those guys who flew all those Cox -with starter spring -powered plastic control-liners.
"Stuka (with dropping bomb )" etc.
I expect Beags had the set.
Redders, are you personal friends with Father Christmas, or what?
I did indeed have a Cox C/L model (and only one) - in fact it was a Christmas present. It was a PT-19 with Babe-Bee .049 glowplug engine. Complete with spring starter.
Its maiden flight wasn't too successful and, like many little lads of that period, the design flaw of the PT-19 resulted in my .049 suffering a badly bent needle valve. Fortunately my father, being a chartered engineer, was able to fix that and also to design a modification to avoid it happening again - a slot cut out of the fuselage - and the PT-19 was soon flying again. Including inside a hangar at Merryfield.
Cox reed valve engines were nothing like as powerful as the Tee Dee .049 I later owned. In fact as an admirer of L M Cox engineering, I now have a collection of 'BNIB' Tee Dees with only 2 to go for the full set. I have the ..010, .020, .049, .051, .05R/C, .09, .10R/C and Special .15 Mk 2. So just the Tee Dee .15 and Special .15 still to find.
How very true!
I did indeed have a Cox C/L model (and only one) - in fact it was a Christmas present. It was a PT-19 with Babe-Bee .049 glowplug engine. Complete with spring starter.
Its maiden flight wasn't too successful and, like many little lads of that period, the design flaw of the PT-19 resulted in my .049 suffering a badly bent needle valve. Fortunately my father, being a chartered engineer, was able to fix that and also to design a modification to avoid it happening again - a slot cut out of the fuselage - and the PT-19 was soon flying again. Including inside a hangar at Merryfield.
Cox reed valve engines were nothing like as powerful as the Tee Dee .049 I later owned. In fact as an admirer of L M Cox engineering, I now have a collection of 'BNIB' Tee Dees with only 2 to go for the full set. I have the ..010, .020, .049, .051, .05R/C, .09, .10R/C and Special .15 Mk 2. So just the Tee Dee .15 and Special .15 still to find.
At least we all had childhoods that involved being somewhat creative, and maybe educational.
Perhaps we could launch a class action against Cox, for damaged fingers and various cuts associated with bloody blue and yellow plastic PT-19.
A few more Airfix models from childhood,
DH Beaver,
Beagle B206,
Wildcat,
Corsair,
Hercules.
A few more Airfix models from childhood,
DH Beaver,
Beagle B206,
Wildcat,
Corsair,
Hercules.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Asia's Fine City
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HHmmm - I discovered all about electrical cable sizing and voltage/amp loading trying to start a glow plug engine as a kid. Having unscrewed the cylinder head and connecting a battery I couldn't see a glow. Therefore a bigger battery was required.
Took out my Dad's car battery and wired up the leads. All of a sudden the plastic coating on the wire leads went up in smoke....poof.
That lesson taught me a lot when it came to designing and rewiring the AC/DC circuits on my yacht some thirty years later.
.......I still have plans to build a pulse jet engine...now that would be fun - at a distance.
Took out my Dad's car battery and wired up the leads. All of a sudden the plastic coating on the wire leads went up in smoke....poof.
That lesson taught me a lot when it came to designing and rewiring the AC/DC circuits on my yacht some thirty years later.
.......I still have plans to build a pulse jet engine...now that would be fun - at a distance.
Yes, the effect on glowplugs was often interesting!
In those days you had a choice between v. expensive 1.5v dry batteries and 2v wet accumulators. Cox used 1.5v plugs, so would often burn out if a 2v source was used without 'dropper cables'.... Many hours spent poking pins into Cox plugs trying to coax them back to life!
Record Super Nitrex fuel with 30% nitro (if you could find it) gave a little more performance to the Babe Bee - and considerably more to the Tee Dee .049. The PT-19 had rather pointless variable downthrust adjusted by moving the engine against the elastic bands which held it in. I tried retrofitting my Tee Dee to the PT-19 with a radial tank mount; the firewall I made wasn't up to the job and the whole thing came apart in flight!
A very good point! I reckon we all learned a lot of useful skills during our aeromodelling days!
In those days you had a choice between v. expensive 1.5v dry batteries and 2v wet accumulators. Cox used 1.5v plugs, so would often burn out if a 2v source was used without 'dropper cables'.... Many hours spent poking pins into Cox plugs trying to coax them back to life!
Record Super Nitrex fuel with 30% nitro (if you could find it) gave a little more performance to the Babe Bee - and considerably more to the Tee Dee .049. The PT-19 had rather pointless variable downthrust adjusted by moving the engine against the elastic bands which held it in. I tried retrofitting my Tee Dee to the PT-19 with a radial tank mount; the firewall I made wasn't up to the job and the whole thing came apart in flight!
That lesson taught me a lot.....
Last edited by BEagle; 6th Aug 2008 at 09:09.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Asia's Fine City
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Still does ....... I built the spruce wing ribs for a two place rag and tube a/c a couple of years ago in between jobs. Aero modelling on a somewhat larger scale but with still the same sense of accomplishment. All stems from making airfix kits.
Ah the joys (and smells) of nitro methane.......
Ah the joys (and smells) of nitro methane.......
Last edited by kluge; 6th Aug 2008 at 07:34.
Plastic models etc
Folks it's been great reading this threda as, till then, I thought I was the only 55ish bloke on the planet with a loft full of unmade kits. Like most of you, they've been bought with the idea that, I'll build them when I retire. Sad to say, the eyesight is going now (maybe what they told us as teenagers was actually true!)
I think I've several hundred boxes up there. I tell the wife that this is my recycling effort, as theye are actually insulating the house.....
I do build them from time to time. At my current rate of progress I'll need to live about 400 years to finish them all off.
Just in case anyone gives ou earache about this hobby, try this - I read it in a moel magazine a year or so ago. Think about all the people in the country with dogs. These people take Rover for a walk a couple of times a day and happily pick up hand fulls of dog poo - and you think I'm weird making model kits??
I think I've several hundred boxes up there. I tell the wife that this is my recycling effort, as theye are actually insulating the house.....
I do build them from time to time. At my current rate of progress I'll need to live about 400 years to finish them all off.
Just in case anyone gives ou earache about this hobby, try this - I read it in a moel magazine a year or so ago. Think about all the people in the country with dogs. These people take Rover for a walk a couple of times a day and happily pick up hand fulls of dog poo - and you think I'm weird making model kits??