Plastic kit models history

Credit to oldmodelkits for the use of their images.
www.oldmodelkits.com
This video is a brief history of plastic kit models and the current state of the industry.
A few notes:
Here is a big error as H0 isn't '1:96', it is indeed 1:87, hence all those cars and trucks made in this scale!
The Frog Lancaster shown is not a cellulose acetate Penguin era kit. I just used it as WW2 imagery.
Revell, AMT, Airfix and many othe rmodel companies started in the 1940s under different names making ither products. They rebranded or got into plastic kit models following WW2.
Novo wasn't a 'Russian' company (or at that time it would have been 'Soviet'), it was actually a British company. Novo was set up by DCM (Dunbee-Combex-Marx) that acquired the assets of Frog's parent company, Tri-ang, when it went into liquidation in 1972. Novo was entirely a British company - it just moulded in the Soviet Union!
Really the most popular scale for cars is 1:24, not 1:25. (OK, except for real purists - and there are some! - most treat them the same.)
06.19 The Military scales of 1:32 vs 1:35 is a minefield. Whereas 1:32 is a logical imperial engineering scale (as most model scales are), 1:35 isn't. 1:25 for cars (as against the engineering 1:24) can be explained.
The British 00 gauge is 1:76 BUT it runs on H0 gauge track.. Then '0 Gauge' is 1:43.5 in Britain; 1:45 in Continental Europe and 1:48 in the US! (The US scale to me is the most convenient as at least that ties in with many aircraft and car kits!!) .
I pictured a Flying Saucer in an Atlantis box - which was a Lindberg kit, not Aurora. There have been several 'New Aurora' companies - Polar Lights; Moebius; Pegasus Hobbies; X-Plus; even Monarch - and then Atlantis primarily as it got many Aurora tools when R-M's owners (Hobbico) when bust in 2018 and the new owners in Germany (Blitz) didn't what many older R-M, Renwal & Aurora moulds. Fortunately for all of us, Pete & Rick stepped in!
, I might have masid "8 million" -but meant "8 BILLION" people on Earth!
I saw that in 2018 Revell was sold by Hobbico to a German firm called Blitz. It is based near Munich. Blitz also bought Hobbico Germany. Blitz put the offices at Revell Germany in charge of both companies. They got it for a song, both companies together were valued at something like $18million, and was purchased for less than 1/4 of that, appox. $4million, a large chunk of that to purchase inventory at Revell USA. Looking at the numbers on paper, Revell Germany as a whole was bought for just under $1million, the tooling at Revell USA (worth approx. $3.5million) was on paper purchased for the tidy sum of $50000, licensing, trademarks and copyrights made up a bulk of the remaining costs of purchase.
Now just called "Revell", Revell Germany side of the business, kits are still produced in Poland, and the Revell USA side of the business kits are still produced in China, with the same usual cross pollination of ROG and RUSA kits winding up in each other's boxes for different markets.
Revell in the US was slow to get back off the ground, basically ended up being a warehouse with one employee where the RUSA and ROG kits would come into, and then sent back out to distributors. They have since expanded their footprint in the US, by bringing back Ed Sexton into the fold, and that is basically where we are at today.
Most of the Aurora and Renwal molds, as well as some of the older Revell and Monogram tools, have since be sold to Atlantis Models, whom are having a grand time reissuing them. Subsequently the line of Monogram Nascar kits (most of them) were sold to Salvino JR Models (through Atlantis), and are living on today.
Just thought it would be prudent to tell everyone that how the video ends, is not the end of the story.
Lastly, I hear things are shaking up at Revell but do not h ave the skinny.

[@dangannon9970]

I am 25, and recently got into modeling. It has helped me get sober and reclaim my life. I find it therapeutic.

[@dbaider9467]

There with you. Hope you are still on the straight and narrow.

[@dangannon9970]

@@dbaider9467 just celebrated two years last week! Completely forgot about this post, but was neat to visit and come back. I have such a huge collection of built models now! Keep on modeling and take it one day at a time, friend!

[@thetourettesgamer8851]

Well I’m 17 and have been making models for a few years now and I’m hooked. It’s such an amazing hobby and it’s a shame more people don’t do it

[@karencopp5130]

I’m 11 pending on 12 and have been doing it since 5 years of age it is a truly fantastic hobby

[@DH-co6dj]

im 14

[@maxsmodels]

agreed

[@csj9619]

It's awesome that there's still young people into modeling. All of you that commented here give me some hope that the human race may not be doomed. Keep doing your hobbies, be yourself and don't follow the crowd!

[@simaro2228]

I'm 16 and I build modelkits for over 7 years. I can still remember my first modelkit that i had build with my dad (Revell 1:72 Fokker Dr1). Sadly i don't have my first modelkit. I don't really build alot because I have to do homework, sport and I play games with my friends. So I only build like 3-4 kits a year and i have 20+ modelkits in my stach to build. For my painting i use an airbrush with vallejo model air paints. For decalling I use micro set, sol (dont forget clear coat) . For weathering I use florrymodels washes or tamiya washes, I also add some chipping. I will never stop building modelkits and I hope you guys are still enjoying your builds.

[@jamiesale9460]

I'm 72 and I re-entered the hobby after 50+ years. Lots has changed and I'm re-learning-learning. Great fun and satisfaction (and some frustration too.)

[@dansotelo228]

I'm 63. At a young age I was immersed in airplane model building till 1986 when I got married. I than picked up flying scale RC. Now financially very stable I started collecting a wish list of dream plastic models to build when I retired and called it my heart attack collection, so I can build them as I recovered from some heart attack or similar. My collection was incredible, as online became popular and I could now find just about anything ever made. The most expensive model I ever bought was a very rare, limited edition, Hasagawa F-86. The owner of a major hobby shop had one in his personal collection and every week-end I would call him to see if he would part with it. Finally one day I just started throwing numbers at him in $50 dollar increments. When I hit $500 dollars he said OK. This F-86 was my Jem of my collection and was going to be built to sheer perfection. Sadly I was renting a temperature controlled storage near Seattle, and the building where I was storing my model collection was burglarized, and my entire model collection, including all my high tech model building tools vanished along with a couple of German violins that were 200 yrs old. Of all the things I lost in my life, that really hurt... God I love scale model building and my Hero is this new Russian guy called Plasmo on KZbin. This guy is amazing.

[@maxsmodels]

Well that sucks. I hope you find the rats that stole your models. I have seen many of Plasmo's videos. He is impressive.

[@crazybrit-nasafan]

I can empathise with you buddy. My collection got taken, mostly old and quite rare stuff. I managed to get them all back fortunately but some were damaged.

[@dansotelo228]

@@maxsmodels Oh that Plasmo is out of this world, he makes it all look so easy, I'm freaking jealous. Ha ha ha ha

[@dansotelo228]

@@crazybrit-nasafan Hey, how bout that Plasmo? Wholly Guacamole he is simply amazing and makes everything look so easy.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

What a terrible thing to have happen to you. I'm so sorry about that. And it's so odd to think that a thief would have wanted to steal plastic model kits - the vast majority of people would have absolutely no concept that these kits would have any value.

[@happychildhood591]

Thank you for this great video. I was introduced to model building in the late 1950s by and older cousin. In addition to kits by Aurora, Revell, Monogram, Lindberg, and AMT, I also built kits from some of smaller brands such as Hawk, Renwal, and Pyro. Money to buy the kits, glue, and paints came from my allowance, collecting soda deposit bottles, and later, my paper route. Model building not only taught me the art of craftsmanship, but also fostered a love of history and cars. It also instilled in me a great sense of pride when my kit was painted and finished. At sixty-seven years old, I am still building models today and have a very large collection of 1950s-1970s kits unbuilt and mint in their boxes. I love this hobby!

[@mariusbaumgartner9644]

I still remember the excitement of going into the hobby shop in my early teens spending most my pocket money on kits while fellow class mates always talked about the latest game or console, to say I felt a bit out of place is an understatement. Looking back at it now I am so glad I stuck with it and am still modelling to this day age 20

[@raymondgower9862]

I'm 19 and live building model kits been building models since I was 15

[@brucemaclennan9879]

To lifelong model constructors like myself this is a very interesting video. I am an old geezer (in England) so I can recall the wood/balsa kits, which, as a 12 year old tested my patience to the limit. I was overjoyed when the first plastic kits appeared in hobby shops and can recall building my first one which was an F.86 Sabre by Frog, and my second was an Airfix Spitfire. In my teens I lived awhile in Hong Kong where I built several Revell models. Thank you for nudging my oldest memories and filling me with nostalgia!

[@maxsmodels]

Bruce Maclennan my pleasure

[@johnjephcote7636]

Yes...Airfix Mk1 Spitfire. Woolworths, Watford at two shillings (tenth of a pound), (plus glue).

[@MrTeabow1958]

In one of your videos you were discussing scales. (I hope it was this one). You mentioned that automobiles are made to 1/87 scale because that is close to HO scales trains which are 1/96. HO scale in the U.S. is 1/87 not 1/96. In the UK they have OO scale which is either 1/76 or 1/72. I enjoyed the programs you did on Lindberg and Varney. As you can probably tell I'm in Model Railroading myself. But I built my share of Airplanes, tanks, battleships and sailing ships in my youth. I'm 61 and have been enjoying model kit building since before my teenage days. I'm enjoying this series of videos. Thank you for producing them! Oh by the way I scale trains are 1/48, S scale is 1/64, HO is 1/87, TT SCALE was 1/100 ( basically defunct now) N scale is 1/160 and Z scale might be 1/220 ( I could be wrong about Z but I'm sure about everything else)!

[@maxsmodels]

@Steven Huo yes you do

[@jaguar6519]

Thanks again for a great video takes me back seeing those original boxes I am 55 yrs old still making em (UK)

[@jeffdelbarba215]

Thank you, Max for the great video. I'm 63 years old and I've been building models since I was 5. My first model was a Monogram M-48 Patton tank. 3 years ago I built the M-48 again for a model contest based on a Monogram models. I was able to find and build the 1959 model of the M-48. The year I was born. Thanks again for all your videos.

[@fidinboca]

Once modeler always modeler. I started to make models at 18, I continued until 43 and stopped for a few years (You know, new wife and new daughter) But since the beginning of last year (already 56 years old), I returned to the hobby with renewed love. I don't know ... It may be the smell of enamel and glue that enters through the nose and gets into the blood ... I don't know, and I don't worry too much about not knowing. Hugs from Brazil, my first model was an Airfix Me 110, in my homeland Argentina in the early 80's.

[@hertzair1186]

Highlight of my youth in the 60’s-70’s was building plastic model kits...Revell, Monogram,Aurora, Lindberg, Hawk, we’re almost weekly purchases with odd-job work money. Back then I couldn’t have dreamt of the variety of kits available now...

[@dennislambert2204]

Man, that brought back many memories of my childhood. I am 67 years old and still remember building plastic model kits as if were yesterday. Thanks for the memories!

[@rickdee67]

Is there any reason you can't do it today? I'm 53 I've been doing it since I was six often on my whole life. With the collection I have it's obvious I have no plan of stopping anytime soon in fact I need to live another 53 years just finished half of the kits I have. I love this hobby.

[@Marauder623]

I'm 25, i still build model kits. In my local store we have people as young as 13 come in to get into the hobby.

[@donvanduzen8944]

When us old timers lament about the death of scale modelling we mean military modelling. Sci fi and Gundam dominate now and keep young folks happy. Warhammer is huge too . So modelling is far from dead, its just that WW II just isn't the main subject anymore.

[@tonyromano6220]

Going strong on WW2, seem to be tons of kits out there. 63 here, getting way off into plastic, 1/35, 1/350 and 1/48! Land, sea and air!

[@MC-dk4gh]

Don Vanduzen I’m 12 and my favorite genre is ww2 military vehicles and I probably will never change

[@tonyromano6220]

MR. Raptor246 sweet!

[@ahmedalani1640]

@@MC-dk4gh Yeah im 13 and I have been modeling for about 8 months. Nothing crazy,just hobby lobby and revell kits. They are very cheap

[@dogman5680]

I’m 56 and used to build as a kid, a couple years ago I came across a picture of a Curtiss P-40 that was made of paper... couldn’t believe it! So I started building those from plans you print up at home and assemble into a 3D structure with a surprising amount of detail. Built a vacuum former for canopies, and started redrawing the plans using graphics programs which gives a lot of control over the final model. Right now I’m working on a 1/24 Pitts Special, (I don’t know of any plastic equivalent). I’m thinking about documenting the process here on KZbin and making the drawings available (free) if anyone is interested.

[@johngalt3568]

Dog Man: Do it. It would be an accomplishment for you, help others in their hobby pursuits and maybe get some young person started in a creative hobby. Better than gaming. I love the Pitts Specials. The 1/48 scale kits of them are expensive and hard to find. I hope yours turns out to your liking.

[@Captain-Nostromo]

Fiddlers Green have some nice free downloads so you can try the hobby 😎

[@dogman5680]

Captain Nostromo Yes fiddlers Green is an excellent place to start I think you get three free downloads if you sign up… Thai paper also have some freebies with a little more detail and they fit together very well. By the look of your avatar picture we may have more in common than modeling, I used to have a 61SG...still playing🎸

[@Captain-Nostromo]

@@dogman5680 yes I build models and collecting guitars, the one in the avatar is an 1974 Gibson SG Standard, you never grow too old to build models and playing guitars 😀

[@dogman5680]

Captain Nostromo Nice! Sold my ‘61 in 1980 for $300...oops! Here’s an old Video from a gig I did, when there was gigs. Huge Edgar Winter fan! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmbWgauvfs15nqc Cheers.

[@kpkndusa]

I'm going the other direction, I started building kits in the late 60's, now I do mostly if not all scratch building. This video did bring back good memories though, like the smell of hobby shops, testors paint and glue. thanks.

[@shawnkelley9942]

Thanks Max. Nice piece. Still building after fifty years

[@bobmaclaughlin596]

I'm 79, still building and enjoyed your short video. At present I have a 1:144th scale of the HMCS Snowberry, a Flower Class Corvette to do and then there's a few more in storage to do as well. I Hope I've got time left to get them done.

[@maxsmodels]

keep on building

[@rapscallion3506]

I am 70 years old and still buy/build ALL sorts of models.

[@maxsmodels]

good on'ya

[@maxsmodels]

rock on Rapscallion

[@michaelkupchik3974]

My plan when I retire

[@flhdrvr]

For my Dad's 85 bday I surprised him with a 1/48th scale of a C-54 cargo plane that he was a flight engineer when he served in Korea. He was part of the TCW 22 out of Japan. The kit was a French company. Couldn't find anything bigger than 1/72 scale (coast guard). Was able to get his nose art (burro) flight wing, and the 5th (?) AF tail art. All of the decals I made myself. Blew him away. Have to thank mom for digging out the old AF pics...

[@jimcurt99]

This brings back so many memories- my dad owned a hobby shop when I was in my teens- I LOVED the Revell 1/16 scale NHRA models- they where AWSOME- I still build now and then- I've got 100's of old kits in storage....

[@maxsmodels]

good on ya

[@ricardoaguirre6126]

If you're ever in El Paso Texas check out Hal's hobby shop.

[@orangelion03]

My dad and a friend owned a hobby shop in Buenos Aires in the early 60s. I "built" my first model kit when I was six, and Airfix Comet airliner. Not long after we came to the US in 1964, we got a tour of the Revell factory in Venice. My brother and I got a bunch of sprues (the first shots out of the mold on a production run), from their Custom Car Parts line, and I think I still have a few of those parts in my spares box(es) =)

[@kl0wnkiller912]

Like many kids I built models but around the time girls and real cars became an interest my model building days ended. Then during a year-long layoff in 2004 I found an old kit box in the attic and started building kits again only now I took my time instead of hurrying up so i could play with it. Now I build all sorts of kits and have several hundred stashed in various areas in my house, many of the kits shown in the video are in my collection (lol). I have kits and articles featured in several major modeling magazines and really enjoy the hobby. Max is definitely right though in saying that it is mostly a hobby for us older guys anymore. Some of the kits I have cost hundreds of dollars and even that cost was way overshadowed by the resin, photoetch and other 'add-ons' that I bought for the kit. One of these high dollar knits I have around $1600 in if you count all the add-ons! Personally, I think the future of modeling lies in the 3D printing world. Some day you will not buy a kit, you will just buy a one-time license with the designs and you will print the parts on your 3D printer, at least that is my belief. Resin kits are another medium that is making inroads on the plastic kit market. I have many resin kits, particularly Sci-Fi kits. Anyway, interesting video. Thanks for that.

[@Rena152]

Wow I'm just 19 and already feel like a boomer! This is a great video and this beautiful hobby is basically something that is passed on from father to son I hope this lives on the next generations, and you should have a look at gunpla since they're rather popular too!

[@supershifter4836]

Hello fellow young human

[@ricardoaguirre6126]

I'm 24 and I got a 1/48 German tiger tank for Christmas, to complement the Sherman I got the Christmas before that.

[@sylvainfalquet6350]

I'm about to be 19 and I've been modeling for 3 years now.

[@kl0wnkiller912]

Model building is a good skill for the real world for you youngsters (heh). It teaches patience, hand-to-eye coordination and how to do something from reading instructions. If you research your build it can teach you a lot about history. Model building is still a craft. You have to learn how to fill and sand seams, how to paint and sometimes how to improvise.

[@johnmance6031]

I’m 45 and I have been building most of my life, and I don’t intend on quitting. I enjoy it immensely. In my adult life I have found it to be a little costly. Because I like to collect kits as well as build them. And I also like to buy things like photo etch detail sets, and thing of that nature. I enjoyed this video very much. I would love to see another video that covers production, development, copyrighting, etc.

[@michaelgrey7854]

I'm in the same boat and with a significant other it can sometimes be difficult. Not many outsiders understand us :)

[@crazybrit-nasafan]

@@michaelgrey7854 There's an old saying that fits here "If you have to explain it, they wouldn't understand it" For me I find model making relaxing,, and an escape from reality. Same when working on 1/1 scale. I love getting my paws dirty on real aircraft.

[@mybluebelly]

@@michaelgrey7854 Any chance your "significant other" happens to be your stash?

[@bmw128racer]

Great historical review of a great hobby that I hope will last forever. :)

[@gregboyington4896]

Wow! That Chinese 1:32 scale battle of midway Dauntless looks amazing! I built a Monogram 1:48 that I was proud of because I opened the canopy, drilled out the dive brakes, and kit bashed 1:32 scale decals from a P-40 to get the large stars on the wings since the model only came with the Coral Sea red center decals. But that thing looks incredible! Awesome build!

[@svenhillring3275]

It's cool to see the over or under sized national markings on the early war SBDs. I have a picture somewhere that shows a Dauntless with a small star insignia on one wing and a large one on the other.

[@englishguy215]

I remember making some of these kits. Some of my favorite subjects came from Airfix, Heller, Tamiya and some real oddball kits I found on the shelf in the local hardware store. This bought back a lot of memories including a local model store who used to sometimes give me a kit to build for display in their window. Have not made any for several years now but a lot of pleasure was had in previous years.

[@dmflynn962]

Thanks again for another great video. With a little push and help from my mother, I started model kits when I was 5 (Renwal small fleet, and Revell Nautilus). When I was 8 a 12-year old friend got me started again with model planes, and after a few (Aurora Beechcraft, Revell Mariner, etc), he taught me about scale. Over time, I built mostly 1/600 ships, 1/72 aircraft, 1/48 tanks, and 1/87 trucks. I am working on an original Airfix 1/72 Me262 now. Whereas 1/600 is not one of the main scales for ships, I do kitbashing to make what I want (e.g, USS Atlanta from Aurora Bainbridge hull, St Paul guns). In 2018, I started making my own 3D prints of HO trucks and 1/600 ship parts (USS Helena CL50, USS Bristol DD453), plus the cabin of a 1/72 78-foot PT boat. Modeling is a rewarding hobby for me. Unlike digital play, there is a tangible, long lasting product for my effort. It involves creativity, patience, concentration, and problem solving (especially 3D printing!) My next 1/600 model will probably be the USS Lexington (CV3) with a modified Airfix HMS Hood hull, lots of sheet plastic, and some 3D printed parts.

[@nirvana30776]

I am scale modeller and like minded comrades knows how amazing this hobby is in every aspect 💯🙌🏻 Great video btw👏🏻

[@tossedsaladandscrambledegg8576]

Thanks for sharing this. Very interesting. I am 55 now and greatly enjoyed building as a kid. I have started to build again and add kits for my retirement stash. I don't know about the rest of the folks but I do enjoy cracking open a new kit. The familiar nostalgic rush from my younger years is a good thing. I hope folks keep building. What's old is new again. Except for the price of kits that is. : )

[@manthony1956]

The success of video gaming has always astounded me. As someone who went to work in the Silicon Valley in 1974, I remember the beginning of home computers and electronic games. I tell people it was just a distraction, because many of us worked up to 70 hour weeks with these start up companies. i remember one year giving everyone in the family "Pong," because the company was down the street, and I could get them wholesale. But it became a lifestyle for my children's generation. Unfortunately hobby shops, like speed shops and record stores are pretty much an anachronism.

[@RWildekrav66]

I'm going to be 65 this year and I still get a thrill about going into the " model shop " just holding the boxes gives me memories that will never be forgotten . My favorite was the F4UCorsair and the P 40 Warhawk. I could and would daydream about flying these planes into combat with any plans that I had just built. Thanks for you channel

[@shannonchurchill4556]

Kind of surprised that you didn’t touch on the massive market of aftermarket parts, from etched metal to resin upgrades and detail kits, metallic decals, carbon composite decals, the list goes on and on. It blew me away when I got back into it and started building 1/12 racing motorcycles 5 years ago how the landscape had changed for scale modeling.

[@donvanduzen8944]

That's a show on it's own. In fact the history of garage models for each genre would be hours long and include thousands of companies

[@delmusingle2338]

Building models from kits taught me very much about technology and construction while I was a kid in the 60s and seventies.

[@zukinibred1910]

I LOVE building plastic scale models and I’m sad to see them in a slight decline like this.

[@markbradley2367]

I'm 69 and have been modelling aircraft since 8 years old. Now I'm retired. I have a bit more time to build. To me, it is a gentle form of madness that keeps you sane😊

[@anthonykeel1058]

Thank you for a great video! I’m 38, haven’t built a kit since 2012 and that one took a few years to finish. That was a 1/72 Hasegawa FB-111A. Now being married, having a family, work and a house to maintain I find it hard to do any. One day will go into my stash I’ve kept and will build one. Maybe I can make a project with my son once he comes to a good age to do one together. Hopes and dreams.

[@kudukilla]

Built quite a few as a kid in the late 70’s and maybe early 80’s. Just got back into it a couple of months ago. Might be even more fun now in my early 50’s.

[@1014kerry]

Great vidio, so are your others! im 61 have been building for55 years! remember kits in Drug stores! always fun, got serious after a few years and built more detailed and finer workmanship! met pilots who flew the real things , what a great hobby! a way of life! I see your building the Lindberg He 111 hope you show it off when complete! it was a favorite of mine growing up , over a few years i built 13 of them to form a squadron! ,really liked all the working features on the kit! also their B-17 ,ju-88 ,Me-262, please do more!

[@Foksipanter]

I'm 31. Just came back to modelbuilding after 15 years . My new hobbyboss a6a intruder (1:48) is a kind of a challange to me. Good luck with your models guys and God bless U !!!

[@maxsmodels]

Welcome back and good luck

[@johnjephcote7636]

I got a shock when some years ago I found a model shop and not realising they were rare, innocently enquired after some metal (as one used to do) because I was scratchbuilding. The proprietor explained that I was lucky to find a shop selling kits let alone helping a guy like me. Of course I get everything online now...

[@chuckschillingvideos]

There were definitely some hobby/model shops run by crotchety old timers that did absolutely nothing to market themselves to new customers. Sounds like you ran into one.

[@hawkeye0927]

Man what a great song to round out your video!! And I’m not even a big Seger fan!! I’m a 56 year old kid still building plastic model kits with wreck less abandon. It’s been 48 years since my first kit, an Aurora Japanese zero. Since then with pauses here and there I’ve always come back to this past time. I guess I was lucky to have grown up when I did. Thanks for the vid.

[@maxsmodels]

thanks

[@adrianmark7409]

Im 55 got back into the hobby 4 years ago and how wonderful it still is, God forbid they should ever stop making models!

[@gsxerwhite]

KZbin is probably helping keep interest alive. I don’t build but I enjoy watching people on here who are really talented at it. My Dad tried to get me into building back in the 80’s, I was more into drawing though. But it’s fun to watch people who know all the tricks to the craft.

[@angelreading5098]

75 and still buildingI still carve wooden solids too,great hobby but getting expensive to buy kits,good presentation.

[@galexeqe]

Almost 50 now and I just started model building a couple of years ago, although I'm only a novice, I keep surprising myself with each build I remember as a kid how easy it was to go down to any toy store and pick up a kit, paints, glue etc but those days are long gone Now you have to buy them online or, if you're lucky enough to live near one, go to a store that specializes in the hobby So sad to how it is compared to how I remember it

[@davidduval8681]

56 and going strong! Love the accessories and new kits available today that we only dreamt of in the past.

[@Winterchylde]

An excellent (if necessarily brief) overview of plastic kit manufacture and building - I started at age 7 until I got bored of it in my teens but I got back into it four years ago at age 53... and I am loving it. Thank you!

[@JackFlemingFan1]

Excellent video and history of plastic model kits by you! Thank you for posting your video too!

[@mikearakelian6368]

Was building model s since age 7. Can remember saving up to buy .98 cent Revell ship models...paints were 3 for 2 cents...now little bottle of testors paint 2 bucks a piece!!! All those ship models brought me to inlisting in the Navy along with victory at Sea clips on TV in '68...things were easyer back then; what the hell happened??

[@nerdfatha]

Really cool video! It's very nice to see the evolution of the hobby. As a kid I started out with war planes and muscle cars, but as an adult I got into gaming models like 40k and, oddly enough, thanks to my daughter, I got into Gunpla. The model building spirit is quite alive in my house as I teach my kiddos the joy of putting together their own "toys".

[@AVIOCHAHINEMODELS]

Thank you Max ! Really interesting video that you have put together 👏🏻

[@SaturnCanuck]

Thanks max. I just saw this video and it's great. I'm a boomer (tail end) but I certainly remember saving my allowance and babysitting money to get the latest Airfix or Matchbox kit (1/72). Or maybe perusing through the Monogram catalogue to get a 1/48 scale. Those were great cause they usually had moving features. Then home and build it, paint the small interior (men) first, before a final paint job and then decals. Finally, on display. I miss those days and I'm sorry that kids today don't know the joy of making something yourself and showing off your work. In my 50s now and I have moved on to Lego -- no painting or glue -- but the concept is still there. Thanks and keep the memories alive.....

[@johnwelch4118]

There is a re reference in this video to 1:87 vehicle models being "close enough to 1:96 HO model railroad scale. Note: HO IS 1:87 scale!

[@warrenchambers4819]

Ok ok geez but I think we all know that rivet counter

[@kenshores9900]

Max: Really good history of the hobby. I believe the early wooden plane crowd was interested it either gliders or motor powered air planes. These were large but required even more patience and skill to build. Keeper coming. Very interesting.

[@paulgerald5808]

I built alot of these kits you have displayed in this video . Thank you . I remember most of these model companies .

[@maxsmodels]

good times

[@paulgerald5808]

@@maxsmodels It was and educational ,teaching you patience , creative skills and learning how detail and scale . Miss building these kits . Do not have the time nor do I have the space . Thank you .

[@JR-bj3uf]

I think that being immersed in the subject is key to enjoying the hobby. Building the cars, that you saw in magazines and having them parked on your shelf, having that F4 digging into a turn on it's display stand or wondering where that Sherman tank actually was as the crew forever studied the map. These things brought history and romantic moments to life. They were real and exciting.

[@UP-th2jk]

Wow!! That was throughly enjoyable and worth your effort and my time! Thank you maxsmodels

[@2ksnakenoodles]

"and the future was plastic" this man spoke of the world today

[@fothify]

Thank you for this, it's great and really brings back a lot of memories:)

[@LiberalsArePoop]

Car kits actually range from 1/8 on - Tamiya has had a longstanding successful run of 1/12 scale Formula 1 kits with a few non-F1 kits also produced by them in this scale.

[@archibaldchimpin]

LiberalsArePoop and a lot of kits in 1/20 scale

[@eliasmora715]

that was my thing wen i was a kid, in the 80s once in a while i got some kits, because even in the supermarket they had a big selection of them ( in mexico) but not anymore, then i live in shanghai from 2011 to 2017 and every time i had a chance to go to hong kong i went to this amazing shops...the hobby over there is still alive. ( i lost all my in box models collection in china..long story) :( but i will start again....

[@maxsmodels]

awesome

[@sgkingly8392]

I agree with your ending point about the hobby declining. I am 17 and recently got into modelmaking. I enjoy it much more than playing video games and pre built things

[@BigLisaFan]

Before plastic models, those folks were truly model builders. When plastic kits came out we became assemblers really. A really good look at the hobby and remember the Lindberg box scale models? Scaled to fit the box. A Spitfire was almost as big as a B-17! Kit quality has vastly improved as well. I miss the hobby shop. It was a place to hang out, talk tips and kits with the owner, other customers and make new friends. Helped out a lady one day and she told the owner I was a really good employee. He laughed and told her I was a customer not an employee but glad his shop could be of service. Lots of good memories even though the shops I dealt with have gone. Now it is mail order because there is no shops near me. Nice, but no people interaction any more and I have to place a large order to make it worth while. No more trips for a bottle of paint and coming home with a new kit or two.

[@maxsmodels]

I am going to disagree with you slightly but I do take your meaning. Before plastic models, builders were true artisans and when plastics took over the skill set changed but if you look at all the work that goes into a well made plastic kit they are still model builders but I get your meaning.

[@BigLisaFan]

@@maxsmodels Glad you understand my train of thought. While plastic took away shaping the wood and grain filling, it still takes skill to build a great model.

[@PlayWithYourThumb]

I have three main hobbies (modelling, fish keeping and playing bass) which sort of wax and wane depending on the season. Heading into winter here in the southern hemisphere (plus the current situation) means it's time to break out the paints. I think my first project will be to remake my vinyl Creature From the Black Lagoon which sort of "melted" in the last heat wave.....

[@ScaleModelKitReview]

Excellent video!

[@maxsmodels]

thanks

[@model-man7802]

I'm 55 and my first kit was Lindburgs Green Ju88 in a yellow box.Revelles 1967 USS Yorktown CV5 was next.Im still going too.

[@barryrudge1576]

I look at the models available now against those of the 1950's & 1960"s when in th UK you could buy a 1/72 scale model of a WW2 fighter i.e. Mustang P51D for two shillings (10p todays money) those models costs have increased way above what you would count as inflation but at the same time todays kits contain considerably more detail and parts hence the true cost. Enjoyed you video Max model and model making remains the same on both sides of the pond.

[@jimsmalleimb7709]

Your research is impeccable. Excellent job!

[@russellgosselin3325]

Thank you for making this video and sharing it. It's a beautiful history of a wonderful hobby. As of late I have been collecting the older kits. Not so much to build as to appreciate the model building of yesteryear. I have been building models for most of my life. I hope to be for as long as my eyes and hands allow. As I say on my channel, "model on!".

[@_Abjuranax_]

1/100 Scale Models are making a comeback as it correlates to 15mm Miniature Scales, such as the popular Battlefront Miniatures and their Flames of War Game.

[@asdf9890]

Almost 50, so didn't see the beginning, but most of the kits I built in the 80s were 70's or even 60s copywrite. I quit when I was around 12, and just started back up less than a year ago. I went back in fully and have had a blast with all the new tools, techniques, and the internet to find tips, references, and history (like here)!

[@EricIrl]

A bit more detail on the FROG - Novo relationship. By the 1970s, FROG was part of a toy conglomerate called Dunbee Combex Marx, which also owned Scalextrix, Triang and Hornby. The company ran into problems in the mid 1970s and went into liquidation. The various brands eventually found new owners and some still survive today, notably Hornby which, of course, owns Airfix. The FROG plastic model side of things proved harder to dispose of so eventually the UK Labour government of the day brokered a deal with the Soviet Union who agreed to buy most of the FROG moulds (they wouldn't take any moulds of World War 2 Axis aircraft). As part of the deal, the first few thousand off the new Soviet production run for each kit would be shipped back to the UK and packaged as "Novo" kits, using FROG based artwork and VERY poor decals. Eventually, the Novo runs came to an end and the only versions of these venerable FROG kits available were either through second hand sources or in very poorly packaged and moulded Soviet market examples of the kits. Quite a few of the old FROG moulds are still in use and "modern" versions of the kits are available through a number of brands such as A-Model, Maquette or Eastern Express. Even Revell has packaged up ex-FROG kits.

[@maxsmodels]

I did Novo and Frog and Airfix. It gets complicated.

[@rogerstill71]

Geez. At one time I had a little over 350 models, mostly Airfix aircraft.

[@kenhanson1819]

Great trip down memory lane, Max! Love the Bob Seger Mainstreet instrumental. Very appropriate. You could also go with "Like a Rock", which appropriately describes how my Gullow's stick and tissue models that I built as a kid, flew!

[@alfepalfe]

I just got into the hobby and I am 14, never going to let this hobby die. Also fun fact I kind of got into this hobby by accident when I was at a airforce museum and bought a model of a ajs 37 viggen not knowing what it was. I thought it would require little to no assembly and painting but I am glad I was wrong about that.

[@michaelgrey7854]

My First kit was a 1/72 Matchbox BF-109E got it in 1989 and been doing models ever since :)

[@johngalt3568]

I bought my first 1/48 Monogram P-51B for 47 cents at a Duckwalls store in Junction City KS in 1966. When I was done...I had a glue bomb.

[@maxsmodels]

awesome

[@hodaka1000]

I've been buying kits for my great nephews lately.

[@harryb8945]

Built my first model at 6, and still making them now at 20 with paint brushes, acrylic and water just how I like it and I can tell you with certainty the hobby isn't going anywhere. Although I'm surprised by the lack of mention of Airfix, growing up in the UK all we had was Airfix, revell and Tamiya.

[@Diabolik771]

Got a Revell U.S.S. Missouri kit complete from the thrift store out...contemplating the challenge.

[@thelj3279]

Great channel, many thanks for so many top rate uploads!! Absolutely adore Bob Seger!!!

[@michahund4879]

Great Video!

[@sillyone52062]

My first model was of a Curtiss Hawk 75, given to me at the age of six. By 1980, I had built over 200 models.

[@maxsmodels]

I built that kit too

[@animalyze7120]

Man that ending with Mainstreet song really hit me lol Born in 1971 and proud of it, we had had such fun outside as well as inside and these new media kids have no clue how much they suffer being glued to Social mediocrity and media. Still building to this day so much better than ripping down statues and defacing property.

[@maxsmodels]

agreed

[@gringolopez8116]

Built models with my father when I was between 6 and 10, as did my two brothers, when I got married I started again, 21, had two kids and had to give it away as they were intent on destroying the models I had built when they hit the terrible two's and upward, was a losing argument. Back into it as of about 6 years ago, now have 4 glass cabinets of about 40 models, 1/32 to 1/200 tanks, aircraft and ships and still building,. I am now 61. Good history of modelling breakdown, could see my own life in this episode.

[@maxsmodels]

I used to tear up my older brothers models when i was about 6. I wanted to see what was inside.. Go figure.

[@rcfoley]

I'm 62 and still building.

[@hodaka1000]

Same

[@kl0wnkiller912]

Just turned 60 and still going.

[@tonyromano6220]

rcfoley me too! Getting off into plastic models after many years of railroading.

[@tonyromano6220]

TSC TSC what kind of ships? RC?

[@tonyromano6220]

TSC TSC look at model expo’s ships. 1/12 long boat maybe to your liking.

[@xray111xxx]

Wow great video. I am that generation growing up here in the model age. But I never caught onto it. Frustrating and never could have the focus or attention to it. My only proud kit was an AMT Mack truck. I took an eternity to build. My brother an ardent builder, and way better than me, even liked it. But my focus quickly shifted to photography and audio electronics. Still that way today. I watch others here way better at the art than me. My brother hasn't built a kit in a long time. Sending this link to him. Being the AV and computer maven of the family these days, it was fun to see your video, had I the patience and courage to go into the Air Force as I was supposed too, than maybe model building would have come of it's own, but we live in reality. Still a cool look at the history without getting too deep. Thanks for the fine video!

[@maxsmodels]

Follow your passion. Thanks, Max

[@svenhillring3275]

I started out butchering model kits when I was 7 or 8 in the early 70s. By 1987 I had a substantial collection that got lost/destroyed in a move. I started rebuilding immediately with the 1/48 scale Tamiya "Rufe" and then the 1/48 scale Monogram 1/48 scale Ju-87D Stuka. I still have them (plus a crap ton more) 36 years later. That doesn't include unbuilt kits.

[@stevesherman5592]

Thanks for your efforts, and you are right, I built my share of kits as a kid, and still build as often as my health, ( I suffered a stroke) allows. The cost of kits has gotten crazy, thanks again, great job, really enjoy your channel!

[@rogerw3818]

The current state of the hobby is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that the quality of the products have never been better, a curse in that it is ever shrinking in participants. This is best represented in the fact that companies like Tamiya and Wingnut Wings are offering exceptionally detailed aeroplanes in 1:32 scale, so that the older builders can better deal with the builds and are the only ones who can really afford the rather large purchase prices. Manufacturers know their customer demographic well and are catering to them. I have moved to the 1:24(25) scale autos and 1:12 motorcycles because deteriorating eyesight and less steady hands make the smaller scales too difficult.

[@MegaHowtoMan]

Wow. Excellent video. Great Audio Great transitions and great history. I will break out my Beechcraft Bonanza model I've had for 20 years waiting to build. The Gato class Submarine you made of the lost USS trigger still sits on my father's bookcase. It is it is very special to him. And yes it is 4 ft long.

[@maxsmodels]

Thanks. Glad to know. I have another one of those Gato class models on the shelf giving forlorn looks of loneliness and begging for attention.

[@asolon]

Great history video for those of us in the early stages of entering the hobby! I, an avid F1 and motorsport fan, was gifted a Tamiya Ferrari F1-2000 and Tamiya Martini Porsche 935 for my 38th birthday a month ago. Used my Amazon gift cards on an airbrush, compressor, etc, and found an awesome local shop that’s super stocked and supportive-Burbank House of Hobbies-to get most of my tools and paints. I didn’t want to begin on those and risk messing them up. So I bought an AMT 78 VW Mk1 GTI, and Scale Production BBS RS wheels and Recaro seats. I have a Tamiya Porsche 959 as my next, then the race cars. I’m so excited, yet disappointed I hadn’t discovered this world sooner!

[@bodek]

as a 17 year old "kid" i have been making models of various quality for around 3 or 4 years now. I am lucky enough to have some decent equipment (airbrush, plenty of paints and even a stash of a few interesting aircraft). One of the main drawbacks is that the nearest hobby shop to me is a roughly 20 minute drive (longer if i go by bus) and the cost of everything. nevertheless i enjoy it

[@PanzermansBunker]

Your History of the Hobby was informative and entertaining. Cool. Bill

[@billhuber2964]

I been building plastic models since I was 9. Still building . I'll be 66 in September.

[@kulturamoto3302]

There is one you forgot, Bandai's Gundam scale models

[@Rena152]

Anon Kat oh yes those are amazing, not just because of the characters, but how well engineered they are! Always a pleasure to build them and paint isn't required at all!

[@alexmaiz3903]

and Macross

[@jocax188723]

Bandai's Gundam Plastic Model (Gunpla) kits are continue to explode in popularity in Asia. There's no kid who doesn't have half a dozen sitting on a shelf at home.

[@mybluebelly]

Gundam sucks.

[@aaronseet2738]

Yea I was surprised he mentioned Bandai without considering Gundam. It's an industry of its own.

[@YourRealBestFriend]

Loved the video, really insightful. I did have a brief frowniemoment at 'modern Humvee'. Yes its in service and all, but there are plenty of MRAP kits out there.

[@thomaswhite8822]

Excellent job!