So what does one learn from building model cars? There was a time . . .

[Greg Myers]

. . . when the instructions were educational. Not today. Just what are all those parts ? Just pictures and numbers.

Edited May 28, 2015 by Greg Myers

[Greg Myers]

Original instructions from the same kit.

[cobraman]

Ya, I liked when the part names were called out. That was how I learned what some parts were called in my early building days.

[Renegade]

I miss the old days too. A lot of my knowledge of car parts came from building kits in the 60's

[Greg Myers]

How about some dialog ? This is from the original Monogram Sizzler ( not the new release Slingster http://manuals.hobbico.com/rmx/85-4997.pdf ).

But back then, Reading was fundamental.

Edited May 28, 2015 by Greg Myers

[peekay]

Another example of the downside of globalisation.

[Howard Cohen]

In order to have the names of the parts, the instructions would have to be in several languages...caused mostly by people who speak other languages

In the U.S., most of your packaging is English and Spanish. In Canada it is English and French. In Europe it is English, French, German, Spanish and Italian. In the Orient, it is various Asian languages. Maybe the kit manufacturers could add the names to their websites and we could print off the names in our favourite language

[Ramfins59]

Aside from learning the names and proper locations of all of the parts on a model, one learns (or at least should learn) patience, good hand/eye coordination, following instructions in the (more or less) proper sequence, and at the end, hopefully a sense of accomplishment, appreciation, and pride for a job well done.

[mikemodeler]

Aside from learning the names and proper locations of all of the parts on a model, one learns (or at least should learn) patience, good hand/eye coordination, following instructions in the (more or less) proper sequence, and at the end, hopefully a sense of accomplishment, appreciation, and pride for a job well done.

Exactly my sentiments Rich!

[wayne swayze]

Aside from learning the names and proper locations of all of the parts on a model, one learns (or at least should learn) patience, good hand/eye coordination, following instructions in the (more or less) proper sequence, and at the end, hopefully a sense of accomplishment, appreciation, and pride for a job well done.

What HE said!!

[bbowser]

I too learned about the mysterious inner workings of the automobile through building models in the '60s. I also learned about world history by building WWI and WWII airplanes. Boy did i go through a lot of tube glue!

[slusher]

Aside from learning the names and proper locations of all of the parts on a model, one learns (or at least should learn) patience, good hand/eye coordination, following instructions in the (more or less) proper sequence, and at the end, hopefully a sense of accomplishment, appreciation, and pride for a job well done.

I have to say i did learn patience over the years.

[unclescott58]

Revell instructions still give the names of the parts. You need to look at the page(s) with the parts list. Talk about not reading.

Scott

Edited May 29, 2015 by unclescott58

[pharoah]

I never cared much for the early Monogram instructions with the photos of the assembly. They were kind of hard for me to see. I liked the drawings a lot better. Yes,parts name are handy.

[MGL]

I go through and label the parts on the kits my kids build. Now if only I can get one of them to finish a kit.

[High octane]

I learned a lot of names of parts associated with real cars when I was a kid. Model car building definitely fueled my fire for 1:1 cars. I do sometimes believe that the person drawing up the instructions NEVER built the kit.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Yup...knowing a lot of the part names was definitely important in helping me avoid being a complete newb-tard when I started reading the real car mags. And having put a lot of kits together, I had a pretty good idea at least where the major components went, and kinda what they did.

I sorta doubt there's an app for that.

Edited May 29, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[Greg Myers]

Revell instructions still give the names of the parts. You need to look at the page(s) with the parts list. Talk about not reading.

Scott

Yea nothing like putting stuff on a different page. Just a big chart, I'll read that.

[FordRodnKustom]

customizing!

[chunkypeanutbutter]

I learned most of my car stuff from kits. When I'm building, I usually know what each thing is, but having to go, "WTH is that?" and flip four pages back to the parts name chart is annoying. The older Revell kits (2000s) that I used to build had the names and paint colors spelled out in good old English right there.

[landman]

In order to have the names of the parts, the instructions would have to be in several languages...caused mostly by people who speak other languages

In the U.S., most of your packaging is English and Spanish. In Canada it is English and French. In Europe it is English, French, German, Spanish and Italian. In the Orient, it is various Asian languages. Maybe the kit manufacturers could add the names to their websites and we could print off the names in our favourite language

Now THAT is a good idea, rather than having a 64 page book with three pages in each language.

[disabled modeler]

I learned a lot about what parts were what on real cars from them as a kid back in the day....learned more and started to work on the 1 to 1s at 13 or 14 years old created a life long passion for automobiles and scale ones for me. I really dig the old instructions and boxes....brings back great memories for me.

[Shelby 427 1965]

Man, I grew up in the wrong time of modelling. I've built one kit that briefly described what each part was and thought it was brilliant.

Never had it since. It definitely taught me a lot.

[Spex84]

Most of my car knowledge is still 'cosmetic', as in, I know what parts are and where they go, but I'd be hard pressed to diagnose a sick engine or do much mechanical work without extensive viewing of online how-tos and instructional videos.

But what I DO know...came from building model kits as a kid, and then reading a lot of magazines.

I love those old instructions with the big blocks of instructional text, photos combined with illustrations, and a can-do gee-whiz attitude.

I really enjoyed the double-dragster reissue when it was released, because at that point I hadn't experienced original 60s kit instructions, and the reproduced instructions in that kit are a lot of fun.

From a visual communication standpoint, if the instructions work perfectly without text of any kind, that means they're effective and universal, which is generally accepted to be a good thing.

They sure are antiseptic and boring, though.

[FordRodnKustom]

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