Good starter glue kit for my 11 year old grandson

[drodg]

My grandson is 11 and he has built a few snap kits from Revell and he wants an easier starter glue kit. We have worked on a few kits together and I think he is ready. What would you suggest?

[Don Sikora II]

Maybe something from Revell that Monogram originally made in the 1970s would be a good place to start. The 1978 Firebird (1/24 scale 3in1, not the Smokey and the Bandit 1/25 kit) or the GMC pickup with snow plow are a couple examples.

[mikemodeler]

Before we suggest a kit, what does he like to build? Some of the older AMT kits build up easy and can be found cheaply and there are many options.

Let us know, we can help if we have a better idea of what he likes!

[drodg]

Pretty much anything cars. I am building the new Revell Hemi Cuda and he is helping with that.

[Erik Smith]

Yeah, the 1/24 Monogram kits like the GTX or '69 GTO - low parts count, good fit, look great when built.

[Greg Cullinan]

The monogram 64 1/2 Mustang convertible kit is a nice basic glue kit. Prob less than 59 total pieces. I was to say the AMT Buick 225 is a good one too.

[drodg]

Thanks everyone and I will continue to take your suggestions.

[ToyLvr]

The monogram 64 1/2 Mustang convertible kit is a nice basic glue kit. Prob less than 59 total pieces. I was to say the AMT Buick 225 is a good one too.

Round 2 (MPC/AMT/Lindberg) has been reissuing a lot of the old "screw chassis" kits (like the Buick 225 that Greg mentioned). The simplified chassis, low parts count, lack of "operating features", etc., make these kits much easier to build, yet most of them look great.

Start him off with something reasonably simple, yet classic, like the AMT 1/25 '57 Chevy Bel Air. Everyone needs a '57 Chevy on their shelf...

[Joe Handley]

I have to agree with what's been said so far, plus would like to add the new AMT Showroom Series cars and even the Revell 90's full detail snap kits (Caprice/Impala, 4th gen Firebird/Camaro, 1st gen Viper RT/10 and GTS) would also be good choices too.

[Guest]

Pretty much anything cars. I am building the new Revell Hemi Cuda and he is helping with that.

If he wants a Cuda, the older Revellogram 71 Cuda is easy.

[Guest]

Just about any of the older Monogram kits are good starter kits IMO. They're simple and assemble easily. That was what attracted me to them when I was a young builder. Even as a veteran builder now, I'll still grab one out of the stash and build it better the "second time around." The old AMT axle kits and newer Showroom Replicas are also good starter kits.

[drodg]

Thanks for the suggestions

[Art Anderson]

Maybe something from Revell that Monogram originally made in the 1970s would be a good place to start. The 1978 Firebird (1/24 scale 3in1, not the Smokey and the Bandit 1/25 kit) or the GMC pickup with snow plow are a couple examples.

Agreed! When I operated The Modelmaker Hobby Shop back in the 80's, I got this question almost daily. My reply? I steered requests for good starter glue-together model car kits to the Monogram section, and then pointed out models which I knew were straight-forward in their assembly.

If I might add one more suggestion: Let your grandson have a hand in picking out the model--chances are that if he zero's in on one that really grabs his attention, he'll have a lot more reason to follow through to completing it! Gotta encourage upcoming model builders, of course.

Art

[Harry P.]

My grandson is 11 and he has built a few snap kits from Revell and he wants an easier starter glue kit. We have worked on a few kits together and I think he is ready. What would you suggest?

Depends on what he likes, but my guess is most kids would like any of the Monogram Tom Daniel designed kits. They were basically marketed to children, so assembly is very easy... plus lots of bling to catch a kid's eye.

[Craig Irwin]

Just avoid the old Revell "everything opens" kits and all should go well.

[drodg]

I have five grandsons and I had three of them with me Saturday. I told them that one of them needs to pick up my love of building model cars. Art I really appreciate your input on having him pick out the model. He loves everything from Mopar muscle cars to Ferrari's and I want him to do most of the building with my assistance. His father has never built any type of model as far as I know so I need to be the guiding hand.

[johnbuzzed]

I would go with one of Round 2's reissues of a '60's AMT kit, with the solid axles and chassis screws. Pretty solid, easy to build, not many small parts to fiddle with and they can roll when finished (that's what I did when I was 11 ).

[ZTony8]

I'll suggest a different line.If his interests go there,try an import car kit from Tamiya.They go together very well,especially the ones with fewer parts like the older 1/24th scale sedans or sports cars.The most time consuming effort for these is the painting.

[slusher]

An AMT 65 GTO or an AMT 66 T-bird

[drodg]

Carl are you talking the hardtop reissue or the convertible?

[Craig Irwin]

Carl are you talking the hardtop reissue or the convertible?

They are one and the same.

[drodg]

Ok. Thanks everyone

[ERIK88]

monogram 85 chevy camaro is a good kit

[AzTom]

Because painting is such an issue with beginners, and many adults, I would suggest the prepainted AMT kits from a few years ago. They are nicely detailed kits but every part is painted as well as even a professional can do. If he can glue and read instructions, he can build an awesome kit.

My 10 yo Grandson won awards with three of them and two were published.

[ScaleDale]

I taught elementary school and believe me when I tell you never sell an 11 year old short. They have the dexterity to assemble anything provided that they have the interest in doing so, which seems to be the case. Why not let him help finish the current kit and then pick the next. Buy two and build them in parallel. Might learn a thing or two from the little whipper snapper!

Any Two in One. Toss a coin to see who gets which version.

Dale

Edited December 10, 2013 by ScaleDale