Quality kits for 6/7 year olds

[seanyb505]

Looking for suggestions on decent kits aimed at younger builders. My daughters and I have done a couple pre painted no glue Maisto 1/24 models, though I would like to see what she can do with something a little more complicated. 

My wife got us a hotwheels snap together Viper, which was absolutely horrible. I probably wouldn't be as enthusiastic with a similarly cruddy kit. 

Ideally I'd like something simple that would allow them to practice painting and assembly, but still appears that adults engineered it.

One daughter likes corvettes, the younger one is open for influence lol. 

Thanks!

[stitchdup]

the polar lights snap kit beetles look good built and there is a harley quinn version with extras. the revell snap kits tend to look good built too and some have a plate type engine that can look decent just with detail paint. the monogram 53 vette might be a decent glue kit, not too many parts and i recall decent instructions. 

[mcs1056]

I have one Revell Star Wars Imperial Patrol Speeder kit (#85-1676), which has two snap-fit models to build. Though they're snap kits, glue can still be used whenever you'd want them to get that practice. They also need no paint, but you could let them do whatever you want there, too.

I also have a Polar Lights "Green Hornet - Black Beauty" 1:32 scale kit (#POL994M/12). Though the box indicates Skill 2, it also says it's "perfect for beginners."

I don't know how good either kit really is. If you want them, I'll send for free (I'll cover the shipping). Just PM your info. 

 

[meechum68]

Aoshima also has some good kits as well.  

[FoMoCo66]

I know the revell snap 57 chevy is a good one, the black one on the box art even has decals and stickers so they can practice using decals.

Also the revell 33 ford, it is pretty simple but it also has some pretty intricate parts to help practice building with them. 

One more thing, if you want to get them into simpler glue kits, try any Amt kits that were originally annual or promo kits. They will have the 1 pice chassis for simplicity but also let you learn more skills when it comes to the interior and engine which will be simple but require the gluing skills. I mean thats what most guys on here started with and look how their doing.

[Shark]

Try Mike's Decals. He has several snap kits reduced to move. Great guy to deal with. You might just call him and ask what he has left.

[Beans]

Those Airfix quickbuild kits might be an option.  They go together like legos but you end up with a decent looking model.  I haven't built one myself but will likely try one just for fun.

[Carmak]

Back around 2004 Polar Lights (now owned by Round2) released a series of kits that had pre-painted bodies with some of the other parts molded in colors that worked with the painted body color.  These kits were more "press together" than snap. They could be pressed or glued together. They were adult grade kits and could be detailed to present very well.

The image below is a pre-painted body 64 GTO I built almost 20 years ago. I painted everything else. I also built the 65 Coronet in the same time period. The only issues I had was the rear suspension sat too high on the 64 GTO (I altered it) and the hood fit tight on the 65 Coronet.

The kits in this series that I remember are:

64 GTO (HT & convertible)

65 Coronet (HT & convertible)

2005 Ford GT

2004 GTO

These kits came in multiple colors.

Most of these kits have been re-issued as no-pre-painted.

Round2 just announced the 65 Coronet will be re-issued soon.

These kits typical sell for 35-45 on E-bay and less at swap meets.

I hope this is what you are looking for.

[casassa]

Those Airfix kits would  be appropriate for a young builder. If they've played with Legos they shouldn't have any trouble building these cars. The  most difficult step is getting the sticker where they belong. Most of the Revell snap kits are good - 57 Chevy, 34 Ford, PT Cruiser, new Beetle, etc.

JIM

[Zoom Zoom]

Having worked with quite a number of kids of varying ages at our club's "Make & Take" events at our ACME show and through events at the Savoy Automobile Museum, I'd strongly suggest for the 6-7 year old range to use the Airfix kits. They look good finished, go together like Legos, have relatively easy instructions to follow. We've done enough of these events to know what works and what doesn't. 

All the other suggestions I've seen will end up frustrating most kids age 12 and below. Tiny parts, getting them to fit, etc. Kids that are teenagers can better handle traditional snap kits, and often don't require adults to help them. A lot of them are like adults, just sitting quietly working on the model at their own pace.

As a general guideline, for those under the age of 10, definitely try to use Airfix kits. The next step up the ladder, for ages 10-12, Revell's simpler "Build & Play" kits are fine. For ages 13-up Revell's regular snap kits, any of the snap-kit Polar Lights kits as well as Aoshima's newer 1/32 snap kits are good. 

All kids are unique, so you'll see some have better attention spans than others in all age ranges. Some kids just don't have it in them, no attention span at all, others are like "I've got this, don't need any help".  YMMV. The ones whose parents are involved in the process (interacting with them while helping the kids) seem to have better success. 

Atlantis is/was the only company offering bagged make & take kits, the problem is/was they were extremely janky 1/32 scale vintage drag kits that while simple in nature were a nightmare to deal with. We ended up painting a bunch of the bodies and pre-doing some sub-assemblies because those kits will frustrate adult builders as well. 

Revell & Round2 don't seem to be at all interested in providing make & take kits any longer.