Snap kits for kids?

[Phil Patterson]

perhaps contrary to popular opinion, i dont think kids are turned off by cars or models of cars per se these days, i think they are turned off by a certain *era* of cars. that era of course is where many of us draw our main inspiration from.

This is something I've been aware of, but I never understood. When I was young, I enjoyed the new cars, but liked the old cars too. Nothing was cooler than a muscle or pony car packing horsepower under the hood and 4 speed on the floor. But I'd never have turned my nose up at a Deuce coupe, Hemi 300 with fins, Fuelie Corvette or Tri-Five Chevy or anything else older.

I even liked the restoration shows looking at the oldies with spoked wheels that started with a crank and had wooden coils that buzzed when they ran!

I like some newer vehicles too, but I still enjoyed the vintage machines as well.

They're all cars, aren't they?

[bandit.93]

this is true. my first model i built was a fast and the furious toyota supra about 2 or 3 years ago(im only 14) and loved the hobby ever since ( although the supra didnt turn out very good ). none of my friends like to make model cars which i think is pretty fun. i think the problem is that they(and im not just talking about my friends i mean all of us teenagers and kids alike) are impacent and want everything now. they cant stand sitting down for a few hours and working on a model car. they have to have something to entertain them. im not sure but thats just what i think

[Jairus]

Fathers are the key!

We have discussed this before and the consensus was that most of us were introduced to the hobby by our Dads! Period Dot!

Without the male parental influence most hobbies, what ever they are, will fade and wilt. It is that simple in my gray and addled mind.

What will push the hobby into a renaissance?

Who the heck knows but the Great Almighty... but what I do know is that we have a good and solid.....AND moralistic expense of time!

If you get the chance to spread it around to any younger generation then fine but enjoy what you have right now and do not worry too much about the future because most of it will happen without YOUR influence. Because we all know that we have enough ###### on our shelves at this point to build until we are are too weak to twist the cap off a paint bottle... or remember where the heck we last left the stupid xacto knife! Right?

###### right!

[Nick F40]

Cody and Jarius, I agree with you both!

[FloridaBoy]

I have a friend and fellow club member who attends model car contests and events and brings his son. He also brings Snap Tite Kits to keep his son occupied during lulls in the action. Recently, Jeff brought Tyler the '64 Plymouth Polar Lights snap kit, so while Tyler was gone, I started fiddling with the kit, and discovered that despite good reviews, snap kits are not easy nor are they builder friendly, as I have used snap kits for body panels and made some mantle models with them.

Plastic is an acquired taste to work with, and it seems to me, that practice in the use of pre assembly mockup and gluing are skills that need to be learned. There has not been one kit in the last 40 years that built perfect right out of the box. Plastic kits inherently do not fit well and the best reason is some hurried engineering, and finish that is applied to plastics make the fit more difficult.

It is a parent's duty to build at least one or two kits with their prospective modelers to get their feet wet. One local hobby shop promotes "Make and Take" Saturdays and I have been there helping kids who show up without parents, but it is comical that we all struggle with the kits provided, even if they are planes, boats, and or cars.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[Jairus]

Ok, now my only question is: Who deleted Nick's first post?

[Harry P.]

I'm gonna guess....Nick???

[Nick F40]

yes, you called? I figured it would be best.