Father recently had a stroke, wants to start modeling again.

[jscottnd85]

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.

[groo12]

Sory to hear about your dad.

I don't have any advice on models for you, but I can recommend a book you might like to read. It is called "The brain that changes itself" by Norman Doidge.

It examines cases where people have had differing sorts of brain damage and how via differing exercises their brain has learnt to use different parts of itself to bypass the damaged section. Fascinating read and what you are doing with your dad it just the sort of thing to help him.

I have only just started it myself, so the explanation probably isn't the best.

[High octane]

How about having your dad try to build a few snap kits? I wish you and your dad good luck!

[Aaronw]

I'm rather fond of the AMT Model T kits, Revell 1929 Ratrod (Model A truck) and Lindberg 1934 Ford truck. They all offer multiple options allowing different versions of stock or custom vehicles. Most car bodies are very hard to get a good paint job by hand but these are broken into small enough bits to allow fairly easy hand brushing if airbrush / spray paint is out of the question.

They also allow for a ton of individual customization like building a wood stake body or similar if he wants more of a challenge and look good in mint show room condition or beat up and weathered like they have been sitting in a field for 40 years.

These kits offer a lot more than a snap kit without being terribly difficult. By keeping it simple an average beginner could probably knock one out in a few hours, but there is enough detail that one could easily turn that into a longer project.

The two Model T kits actually include enough parts to build two complete models, a stock Model T and a custom hot rod style T. The other two kits include a ton of extra parts, but can't quite build two complete models.

http://www.modelroundup.com/product-p/amt-fslash-r2-626.htm

http://www.modelroundup.com/product-p/amt-fslash-r2-670.htm

http://www.modelroundup.com/product-p/rmx-2085.htm

http://www.modelroundup.com/product-p/lind-72157.htm

For an extra hand you might look into one of these

http://www.micromark...-Hand,6736.html

There are many variations with more or less arms, a built in magnifying glass etc.

Edited November 22, 2011 by Aaronw

[disabled modeler]

I am very sorry to hear about your dads situation....you will have our thoughts and prayers for him and his recovery. Best thing to do is keep him active doing things he seems to like. I was in a very bad car accident and even though I have always built models they are great therapy. Start him off on more simple kits and work your way up...there are many tools,etc. that could help him build I make some of the ones i use--painting stand from a wood block and metal coat hanger,etc. You just need to figure out what he has problems doing on his own and find the answer to them together. Plastic clamps,tooth picks,emery boards,long tweezers,etc. will help him build. Hope this helps some? Just don't give up...together you can figure out it all.

[jscottnd85]

Thank you guys for the information, I appreciate all of it. I will look through all the suggested kits and try to keep him and myself up beat. I could kick myself for not having thought of this as a therapy for him sooner. Its great to hear some of your encountes with simular situations, I plan to pass it on to my mother I know she will find peace in hearing it.

[LoneWolf15]

While your at it , check into MicroMark's catalog , they have quite a few tools which I think would benefit your dad greatly . Best wishes for his continued recovery !

[Nova-ss]

I my self have trouble and problems dew to injuries to my body and head.I've had minor stokes.I have some use of three fingers on both hands.modeling has helped me keep going in life....of course my sweetie helps me alot to.don't give up and find the things that are hard to do for him and help him find ways around the trouble spots.I have a friend that builds and he was no function of his hand on one side and he still builds and has found ways around the trouble spots.find kits that are of interest to him.snaps are a good place to start.I'm sorry this has happened to him and your family,faith and positive energy along with and setting short goals to acheve,he will get better help him feel like more normal and less broken.I hope this all helps you all.Thanks,Chris

[ewaskew]

I'm sorry to here this has happened the snap kit's are a good start,but he need's to use tooothpicks for the glue q tip's will just mess

thing's up on a good build.And he needs to be as relaxed as he can tring to do anything to get back on track

See if he want's to try some of the bigger kit's 1/16 or 1/12 they have the same part's as the small kit's but are easier to work with.

You and your family are in our prayer's

Please keep us posted on his progress.

And show some of his work also regardless of how it come's out it can be positive to someone else.

And may help him improve on his recovery.

[Jantrix]

The larger scale kits are a great idea. Also as you Dad is building he's gonna be working on the one handed issue at the same time. So if he's as sharp as you say, he's gonna be coming up with ways to beat the problems as he goes, that you or I wouldn't have thought of. So talk to him a lot, he's gonna figure it out.

Send our best wishes to your Dad and tell him we're all pulling for him.