One of the first & funnest ways for a kid to learn about T's

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: One of the first & funnest ways for a kid to learn about T's
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 08:09 am:

When I was a kid back in the early 1960's (I was born in '53), one of our favorite past-times for my friends and me, was building and painting detailed plastic models of cars, ships, airplanes, rockets, spaceships (ie., Friendship 7, Gemini, Apollo), super heroes, funny cars (ie, George Barris, Darryl Starbird), etc. Just about anything you liked was available in a detailed plastic model that could be purchased at the corner five and dime for about $1.50, depending on the size, scale and detail. I'm not talking about the cheap plastic snap together models you find today. I'm talking about the ones with hundreds of parts requiring model glue to weld the plastic parts together, put out by Revell, Monogram, Aurora, AMT, Entex, IMC, etc.

Building models really taught the kids back then how to follow directions on a set of plans, in the correct order and see a project all the way through to completion and since most of us had to work for what we wanted, it gave us a goal of owning a model, working for the money to buy it and the satisfaction of buying it and completing it and the pride of having the completed model sitting on your shelf that you could show to you friends. During my child hood I built many many models. Three of my favorites was the 1. The Visible V-8, which, with motor driven crankshaft, moving pistons and flashing spark plugs, taught me how a motor worked. 2. the Munster's "Munster Koach" dragster created by George Barris. I think he used about three Model T's to build it and 3. The Big T. a '23 T bucket by Darryl Starbird.

Back then, in the early 60's, during the muscle car era, we all loved cars and though we were too young to own the real thing, we could still own a perfect replica in the form of a Model. Model building was also one way we learned about cars and the different components and the names of the parts was to buy the model of the car of our dreams and while putting it together, memorize the names of the parts of the engine and components so that when we talked cars with our friends we would sound as if we knew what we were talking about.

I have seen a lot of 60's and 70's vintage Model T models for sale on ebay that would be perfect for a boy with an interest in Model T's to learn about them. Entex has a great model of a 1913 Model T van that is very detailed and would help a young enthusiast learn about Model T's and have fun doing it. He would also have a beautiful replica sitting on his shelf that he built himself and hold in his hands and study, to remind him of his heart's desire.

I kind of feel sorry for the kids these days who never grew up building models. Many have no idea how to read instructions, or how to assemble something from beginning to end and a though conquering a video game may give one a temporary sense of accomplishment, there is no physical reminder of that accomplishment like there is with a completed model.

So, if you have a son (or daughter) who shows an interested in Model T's, Get him a vintage model of one and help him build it. It will help him (and you) in more ways than you can imagine. Jim Patrick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 09:39 am:

Jim

There with you! Modeling is such a good skill to begin with kids. Everything you wrote was happy memories, I used to save lunch money to go down to WhiteWay Pharmacy and buy the latest AMT model kit, $1.50 each if I recall right? Learning hand and eye coordination and assembly, gluing, painting....all things that gave me a head up on real size cars!

My now 8-year grandson models with Lego's, and I mean models, not just those simple ones, he makes up spaceships and creatures from scratch. Really amazing to me. He has skills beyond instruction following, which he did early on.

Heck, I still like to model up T's today. Made this one from 1/24 scale plastic model on '27 touring to mimic what the real one was to be


Plastic model


Real McCoy!

So grandson learned at early age about building things..remember Lincoln Logs?





And now has advanced to using tools and know-how applied to Model T projects!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dana A. Crosby in Glendale, Az on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 09:51 am:

Dad bought me my first model when I was 5. It was a balsa model of a Globe Swift by Comet. Cost was 10 cents. 60 years later, I'm still building model airplanes and cars. I figure by the time I'm 175 yrs old, I may have completed the ones I bought over the years. Yes I'm a "model hoarder" and I can't really see any reason to stop. The full scale cars compete for my spare time!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 10:06 am:

Great Dan. Sound like you have your Grandson off to a great start. Speaking of modeling and hand eye coordination, it sure took a lot of patience, care and experience to keep from messing up those clear plastic windshields. I said my first cuss word when I accidentally smeared some glue on a windshield. I'm glad I had my door closed or Mom would have washed out my mouth with soap. LOL! Here is Darryl Starbird's the "Big T". A great vintage 60's, large 1/16 scale model over 18" long, that was the most desired model for kids of the 60's. Any kid who had this model had arrived. Jim Patrick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 10:34 am:

Jim -- You’re just a young pup.
Any reference to your being an old codger is wrong.
You're just a codger :-) :-)
BTW - I've got 8 years on you!

Like many of you I did models (airplanes, cars, & ships - I loved the aircraft carrier Enterprise) but graduated to the real thing at 11 when my dad got the 1919 T I now drive.
At 13 I got a real boat - 10 ft racing boat with a 25 hp outboard.
At 15 I got a 41 Ford Opera coupe and by the time I was 16 it was ready for the road with a "slightly modified" flathead.
At 17 I was illegally driving a NASCAR Modified until I got caught.
After that I couldn't own a Ford, Chevy or Pontiac so I got a Buick and went drag racing.
(Don't ever tell me I can't do something!)

A high school guidance councilor said that I did not have the ability to take college courses so I did, went to college, and now am considered to be an international expert for solder reflow.:-)

Later in life I went sports car racing with an Alfa Romeo and Datsun.

Life would have been simpler and dull if I had played the piano instead of constructed models. :-)

Written after-
The word codger intrigued me so I looked it up -
It is derived from coffin dodger and is used affectionately to refer to an eccentric but amusing old man-- :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 10:38 am:

When I was young, I built every old car model that was available, most from Revell. I think I had about 30 of them, in fact I think what got me started was a 1907 Maxwell pull toy that squeaked!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Halpin on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 11:11 am:

Me too. I don't know where I fit in this crowd, I was born in 1945. I had the model airplanes hanging from the ceiling in my room and cars all over the shelves. These days, 'almost' all the planes are gone and all the cars are pre built but have a display case full of them. Mostly 50s-60's era NASCAR and Drag Race race cars.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Gruber- Spanaway, Wash. on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 11:29 am:

I built models of cars boats and airplanes as far back as I can remember...born in '41.
Later graduated to the real thing.
Still have a mess of old cars, a few airplanes, but no boats now.
Had some boats but they're too expensive.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Harrison,Norco Ca on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 12:22 pm:

I was a model addict as a kid,mostly cars starting with vintage cars,but also boats and planes.Built both plastic and wood.Born in '44 and now enjoy real cars (vintage and sports cars) and boats,no planes though.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rik Van on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 12:53 pm:

Lindberg used to put out a line of models called the"jean machines" several of which were model T's built in the style of early 5o's hot rods I'm a bit younger than you guys but I managed to get my hands on some re-releases or old stock in the 80's when i was a kid. Man I wish I'd kept them! Loads of fun!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Miller, Mostly in Dearborn on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 01:34 pm:

Yeah Yeah, Say all you want youse guys. I'm not listening to any of you when I come back in my next life.

"Teach the kid to build models, teach the kid to work on cars, teach the kid how to drive."

This is precisely how I ended up with a twenty something engineer son who has four antique cars and two daily drivers and who lives at home with me. I guess you can make that one daily driver after I spent last night helping him replace a heater line so he could give his girlfriend his car.

Someday I may regain some of this space so I have room to work on my cars. In the mean time, I look at the chrome shelves he filled with model cars and Hess trucks and I trip over his parts while working on my cars.

My late father placed a curse on me and my brother before he passed away. He said "I hope you both have sons like you someday." This was just prior to him building the second garage on his property. Teach the kids to collect postage stamps instead.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carl Sorenson-Lake Arrowhead,CA on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 02:11 pm:

Jim,,,,and the others...You really brought back some "Good Ol' Days" for me....Born in 1948 I built models of everything....Sanded,primed,filled, and airbrushed show-winners......those skills just spilled over to the real thing at age 13 when I brought home my first bunch of rusty "T" parts......Thats how we learned...Carl


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 02:18 pm:

I remember those prize winners that people like you built, Carl. The store that had them on display had to keep them behind a glass partition so us kids wouldn't drool all over them. They went through two bottles of Windex a day to clean the grimy finger and nose smudges off the glass. LOL!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Schedler, Sacramento on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 02:28 pm:

Jim, I had 1 year toward my military retirement when you were born...I entered the Air Force (almost still the Army Air Corps) in 1952 at age 20. I got the T that I still have when I was 12 or 13, someplace around 1944,45. That about makes me an old, old codger.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 03:01 pm:

I'm like you Tom. My youngest is now out of the house, but two of his boats and all of his small air cooled engines (B&S, Lauson, Wisconsin, etc) are still at my house taking up my space. He did help us make a little room in the garage the other day by taking my old roll around tool box to his place.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - 07:40 pm:

I still have the Big T I built in the 1960's. I mowed a lot of lawns to buy it. Seems like it was $30, and I charged $5 to mow a lawn.

Also have many of my Hubley Model A's from back then. My dad gave me my first Hubley, a 1930 Model A phaeton at age 5.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 03:15 am:

Jim,
How ya doin'? Going crazy yet?
I have about a year on you. When I was a kid, I discovered where the local "glue sniffers" hung out. I would go by about once a week to scrounge a fresh tube of glue for my modelling. Hey, glue was almost a dime in the hobby store! That was a lot for a kid in '64! (I still to this day use electrical tape to stop leaks in tubes of various sorts. Also helps preserve rubber valve stems on inner tubes.)
Get well soon!
Wayne Sheldon


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Halpin on Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 04:30 am:

Tom, I'm cursed (and blessed) like you. My son in law is a gear head with a display case full of model cars, like me. He was also the scourge of town because of his street racing habits, like me. We can't work on my cars without my 5 year old grandson in the way saying "what can I do daddy, what can I do daddy" until we put a wrench in his hands. Right now, my son in law thinks it's cute, he hasn't grasped the concept of what a holy road terror this kid is going to be in about 11 years, just like we were. I've got to get him into Model T's as soon as I can and away from that 'Hot Rod' Rambler of mine that will leave 2 rubber strips about a hundred feet long on the road, for the sake of all of us. One of the reasons why the Model T is at their house and the Rambler is at mine, so the grandson can't see the kind of antics his 'crazy' grandpa pulls with it. ;) ;)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dane Hawley Near Melbourne Australia on Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 06:42 am:

Like many here, I built models as a youngster, some were bought kits, using money earned from various odd-jobs, but because we lived a long way from any shops, I made quite a few from available materials like cigar-box wood with shirt-box celluloid for windows.

For a few years until I retired, I ran a hobby shop selling, among other things, plastic kits. Helping youngsters get into the hobby and then seeing the results has been very gratifying. One youngster who started off with plastic aircraft, progressed to radio-control ones, and now he is an aeronautical engineer, another lad is now a pilot. I could go on and on!

Model building is skill-building, and it is a shame it has declined.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Ashton Rosenkrans on Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 09:40 am:

I've been building models since I can remember (I'm now 58), mostly 1/72 aircraft and have a sizable collection of unbuilts I will get to one day. Airfix, Revell, Monogram, Heller, etc - lots of fond memories, and a few show winners. Did some balsa flying models also. I was disturbed last year when I went looking for some black dope to paint a carb and the local hobby shop only had ready to fly RC, no tools, wood, dope, or glue. Alas, I fear a time has passed...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 09:41 am:

Royce, I have an original Monogram model brochure, with prices, that came with my old "Big T" which says that the original price of the "Big T" in 1961 was $10.98 ($11.08 with tax), but that was a lot in 1960, as the real value of the dollar, compared to the dollar today, was $7.67, which would make the actual cost $85.06. A fortune for a 8 year old kid who's Dad paid him .25 an hour for yardwork in 1961, so something as expensive as this was usually received on Christmas morning . Jim Patrick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Ashton Rosenkrans on Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 06:16 pm:

Take a look at the price of models today! A 1/72 kit from Hasegawa of a single engine fighter can be $25.00. Now the quality of the moldings is exquisite, but I remember the old Airfix kits at $1.50. I looked at a Lancaster the other day that was $80.00.


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration