Hi everyone, this obviously is my first post and with that I hope it wont be my last. Growing up my father introduced me and showed me the finer points of putting together many models in many genre's. Everything from model cars, air planes, rockets, boats, rc cars, trains etc. you name it he probably assembled one at some point. He grew a bit away from the models as I got older and we both started to drag race the cars we had loved as models. He owned a couple of camaros and a malibu. After suffering a major hemmoraghic stroke my father has been left with little to no use in his left arm. He is mostly wheel chair bound, but we are working every day to regain his ability to walk. He is there mentally completely and is as sharp as a tack.
With this being said he has found a new love for models again, I don't know why I had not thought of it earlier. The Occupational therapist had decided to give my father an exercise to work on. He was to assemble an 8 part rubber band model air plane. Trivial at best for most of us, but extremely complicated when you only have the use of one hand. He assembled it in a little under 2 hours, but refused to stop until he had. He then looked at it for a while and in my fathers true fashion asked for sand paper, the rough edges simply would not do on one of his models. She wasnt sure what to get him so he asked her to get an emery board and he begain to file down the rough edges on the wings.
My mother called me to tell me how much he enjoyed it, finally finding something to challenge him mentally again that he enjoyed. If it wasnt something mechanical or with his hands, dad didnt care for it. He was asking if I could pick him up a rocket, or maybe a model car. I sat down and thought for a bit, trying to come up with ways to make it a bit easier for him to do more complex models. I have so far sent an order out for a small hobby vice that suctions to smooth surfaces to act as his left hand to hold things. I also have ordered a magnifying glass and will be getting him some crush foam to push parts into should they need glueing. My thought is the vice can hold one part, he can place the other part in the crush foam and then apply any glue that is needed with a que tip, he can then pull it out of the crush foam and place it in the desired spot.
With all this being said, I turn to you guys now.. If anyone knows of some more basic or simple models to start out with or has any idea's I would be greatful to hear them.
My family thanks you all.
