forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

Modelers Lounge => The Nostalgia Board => Topic started by: Dave W on October 15, 2019, 06:52:30 PM

Title: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Dave W on October 15, 2019, 06:52:30 PM
What model kit got your started on WW1 modelling? For many of us the brand name may be Hawk, Aurora, Merit, Airfix or Revell.

For me it was the Hawk Nieuport 17 from the late 1950s.

(https://i.postimg.cc/FFptg1Wg/HAWK-17.jpg)

It was in the so-called "quarter scale" and boasted 22 parts!

(https://i.postimg.cc/mrCJcr19/WP-000108.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wvkrVbVT/WP-000112.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/gjkTBqSy/WP-000116.jpg)

The kit has been reissued countless times and can still be found at swap meets and online sales.

The example illustrated is from one of the many re-pops. The original plastic was a screaming yellow colour! A Hawk Nieuport 17 would make a wonderful nostalgia build project now.

What was your first model kit?

Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Robin on October 15, 2019, 09:54:24 PM
Most likely the Airfix Roland C.II. Must have been around 1968.
I liked...and still do...the streamlined shape of the Roland and I remember I loved the pilot and observer figures.
Thick coat and a scarf....cool! 8)

Robin
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Gisbod on October 16, 2019, 04:19:59 AM
Mine were the Revell 1/72 kits from the early 70’s

I think a D.VII was the first but I did find the top wing a bit tricky!

Guy
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: petrov27 on October 16, 2019, 07:07:56 AM
Far as I can recall, mine were a pair of Revell 1/72s - Fokker DrI and Spad 13 when I was in middle school. Had to do a book report on WW1 combat and we had to supplement it by crafting something related - mine was a diorama of the two planes built, stuck on dowels into a plank. Pretty sure I had MvR shooting down poor Eddie Rickenbacker....
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Jeff K on October 16, 2019, 01:13:00 PM
the ones i remember are an Aurora Nieuport 17, several Revell 1/72, including an Albi, an Airfix Biff, and the Revell 1/28 SPAD.

they were all disasters except the Albi and the Biff.

i honestly don't remember which one was first but i'd guess the Nieup, because of the horrific job done brushing on silver dope.

Albi turned out best, but the Biff was my favorite.
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: AndRoby67 on October 17, 2019, 07:31:07 AM
Mine was an 1/72 SE.5a from the ESCI box "Red Baron flying circus", six kits packed toghether.
Poor copy of the Revell one, but the "fever" for the WWI aviation started. I was near to 30 years old, now I'm 52 and I'm still under this "illness".
Bye!
Roberto
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Jeff K on October 17, 2019, 12:48:49 PM
AndRoby67, i thought i had recovered from the illness, but it flared up again after 40 years...
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: sobrien on October 17, 2019, 08:54:26 PM
I believe mine was the Airfix 1/72 Dr. 1. Sky blue all over with olive drab streaking.
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: RLWP on October 17, 2019, 09:51:42 PM
Most likely the Airfix Roland C.II. Must have been around 1968.

I'm struggling to remember, I do remember building one of these as part of a 'Dogfight Double', it's certainly one of my first WWI models

I can also remember my first model of an actual aeroplane (well, sort of) which was an Airfix DR.I  painted up as Cole Palen's Rhinebeck machine. I found it in an old copy of National Geographic some time in the 1970's

Not that I knew it was Cole's, I was just taken with the scheme. It was probably thirty years later I realised what I had done

Richard
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: lcarroll on October 18, 2019, 05:59:12 AM
    My first WW.I Model kit was, IIRC, the Aurora "Famous Fighters" Nieuport II of 1956. I built a number of that Series, my favorite being the Fokker D.VII. Shortly thereafter I discovered the Airfix "bagged" Kits and the tiny scale and low price meant things just simply couldn't be better! I was a slow builder even back then however the term is relative; I could turn out one of those Kits in several evenings or on a weekend and would scold my buddies for doing so in only one session!
   Those were indeed "THE" days! Research consisted of a thorough study of the box art, rigging came by way of my Mother's sewing box, paint was determined by what might be on the shelf at the Variety Store, and a diorama was when you had more then one model suspended on a thumb tack and string from your bedroom ceiling! The art of model building was in it's infancy and desire was the mother of invention. In my crowd of model builders someone discovered that pot scouring powders such as Ajax or Bon Ami could be used to produce a flat finish on gloss paints and realism achieved new heights as a result! Although I built subjects from all eras I started to pursue WW.I subjects exclusively about 30 years ago; we've come such a long way!
Cheers,
Lance
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: skeeterbuck on October 18, 2019, 08:41:05 PM
My first WW1 kit was the Aurora Albatros D-III in the rectangular "Famous Fighters" box sometime in the early 1960's would be my best guess.

 IIRC my older brother had originally purchased the kit then decided he didn't want to fool with it and so gave it to me to build. The box art was the original version showing the plane coming almost straight at you with both MG's blazing away. How could a picture like that my stir a young builders heart! No painting, just straight into building so it ended up being overall dark green with engine, prop, MG's, wheels etc. in black because that was the colors the plastic was molded in. Also no rigging as it wasn't indicated in the instructions, so it wasn't done. Decal application was also a snap as the locations were etched into the plastic. I sure by the next day it was ready to make its maiden flight via being held in my sweeping right hand accompanied by a vocal "rat-tat-tat" sound for MG fire.

I want on to build the complete Aurora WW1 line with the exception of the Gotha and DH-10 Bombers. The shops that carried models never had those two in stock. Only years later did I find out that they were out of production during that time.

I also remember building all the Revell 1/72 WW1 kits. I didn't like their smaller size but I remember their detail and decals seemed much better than the Aurora kits.

Chuck
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: IanB on October 19, 2019, 02:01:20 AM
Not sure which came first, but it was Airfix. Either Albatros, Roland or RE8.

Ian
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: oldalbie on October 19, 2019, 05:52:30 AM
I bought the Aurora Albatros DIII (V) and Fokker DVII at the old 5 & 10 in E. Palo Alto, CA on the way home from 6th grade.  The lurid box art was what also lured me in and began a life-long hobby and fascination.  I bought as many of the Aurora planes as I could, and my dad helped string wire from one corner of my bedroom to the other.  It was a pretty un-historical dogfight for certain.
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: pepperman42 on October 22, 2019, 01:29:48 AM
My dad and I built the 1/72 Se5a and I watched him build the 1/28 Dr1

Steve
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: dr 1 ace on October 22, 2019, 04:49:53 AM
Either the Aurora Dr-I or the D VII. .

Ed
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: RAGIII on October 23, 2019, 07:57:13 AM
I think Mine was a Lindberg Jenny or SE5a. Built it in a matter of hours and watched the wings slope sideways as it rode in the back window of a 1950s' car  8)
After it was Aurora , Revelle, and Airfix.
RAGIII
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: kensar on October 23, 2019, 11:09:34 AM
I believe my first one was a Hawk SPAD XIII in 1/48 scale.  It was molded in a dark green, but that's all I remember about it.  I was 11 or 12 years old at the time.  I got it as a Christmas gift at school.
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: eclarson on November 15, 2019, 06:42:43 AM
For me it was a 1/48 DML Fokker Dr.1 given to me by a friend who thought I needed to give modeling WWI aircraft a try. 
Little did he know what he'd start!   :)

(https://i.imgur.com/pofhadl.jpg)

Eric
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Jimmy on December 21, 2019, 09:11:54 AM
The first WW1 model I remember working on was an Aurora Eindecker.  I remember working on it at my grandparents coffee table in the 60s.  The funny thing is that I remember working on it, but I don't have any recollection of ever finishing it.  Sounds sorta like the way I build models today.  Bad habits start early.
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Toldbod on December 24, 2019, 08:30:27 AM
My first WW I build was the Eduard Albatros DV dual combo 1:72.

The build model can be seen here:
https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=4008.msg68638#msg68638
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Rip Van Winkle on December 26, 2019, 02:07:05 AM
My first build was in 1967, the Revell Sopwith Camel. I was building WW2 aircraft before this but became bored so I started with WW1 and never looked back.
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: andonio64 on January 30, 2020, 08:01:34 PM
Well my first WW1 plane was in 2011, not a long time a go...
But my very first ever built kit in 1972 was a MACCHI MC72 by Artiplast, a very basic kit
(http://www.andonio.it/model/macchi_mc72/box.jpg)

Here are the instructions (http://www.andonio.it/model/macchi_mc72/macchi%20MC72.pdf)

Antonio
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Vickers on January 30, 2020, 09:59:42 PM
I wish I could remember clearly- the late '60s were long ago. I believe it was either Revell's 1/28 "white box" SPAD S.XIII or Aurora's Fokker D.VII, but somewhere among those were the Revell 1/72nd three-pack with the Morane Saulnier Type N, Turkish Fokker E.III, and Naval Sopwith Camel (the same kit that I scored at Jeff's Rareplane Detective during our Vegas visit).
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Brad Cancian on February 16, 2020, 08:03:31 AM
Great thread :) I don't remember my first WW1 model specifically, but i'd hazard a guess and say it was probably a 1/72 Revell Fokker Dr1 (the one in red plastic with the mis-placed undercarriage on the box top) after seeing the Blue Max movie as a kid in the early 90s.

(https://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/s-l1600%2014_zps0htvy2jm.jpg)

I did find some old photographs of some of my builds as a teenager in the mid 90s - nothing special but still makes me smile...

(https://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/DVII_zpsakhl2wfm.jpg)
(https://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/S7_zpsim1u5rxr.jpg)
(https://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/DH2_zpshdn1pxs5.jpg)
(https://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/Dragons_zpslypo1hgh.jpg)
(https://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/N17_zpsmeu9tccy.jpg)
(https://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/DV01_zpstuc8ou8h.jpg)
(https://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b387/bradcancian/DV2_zpszv7frv3y.jpg)

Cheers

BC
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: ermeio on June 27, 2020, 06:47:20 PM
 Imstarted right from WWI, like many old guys in Italy...
it was the green-plastic Revell 17 that was released as a give-away attached to Storia Dell'Aviazione, an encyclopedia of the aviation sold in weekly installments with a small revell or airfix kit each three weeks...
my parents did not have enough money to continue and the nieuport went broken in my dad's hands when he tried to build it so I had to wait  some other three years and the second edition of the Storia dell'Aviazione, but in the meantime Airfix was flooding every kind of grocery with their pocket money kits, so the seed was there
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Vickers on June 27, 2020, 09:46:10 PM
Yes! It was the Aurora 1/4 scale Nieuport 11.
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: gbrivio on June 27, 2020, 11:03:03 PM
If I remember well it was a 1/72 Camel (probably the Revell kit) and the early '70s. They came without leaflet nor boxes with a weekly aviation history encyclopedia.
When I will be able to retrieve some pictures, I will post something.
On one side I miss putting together all the pieces and paint brush with industrial enamel, the only tool was a pair of scissors!  ;D ;D ;D
Ciao
Giuseppe
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: smperry on June 28, 2020, 12:50:28 AM
Aurora Fokker Dr.I, birthday present at age 8, (60 yrs ago). Maroon plastic, no paint but plenty of fingerprints in glue.
sp
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Jeff K on June 28, 2020, 11:57:38 PM
i don't remember which actually came first, but the earliest one that was important enough to remember was the Revell 1/72 Albatros D.III, built as Voss' ship. no rigging. 

The most memorable WWI models from my childhood, however, were Guillows' Camel, built by my dad with some little help from me in Roy Brown's markings, and a really beautiful Guillow's Rumpler, built by my uncle.
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: petrov27 on June 29, 2020, 12:48:34 AM
While at the time I could not afford it nor convince my parents to purchase for me, I think the K&B N28 box art was extremely key in getting me into WW1 models. That image really stuck with me - I went to the hobby shop weekly and spent a lot of time staring at that box and imagining how great the kit would look built up till sadly one day it was gone from the shelf. On top of that the N28 has remained one of my favorite a/c of all time.....

(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~wwAAOSwYVhZdlTD/s-l1600.jpg)
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: 2996 Victor on October 15, 2021, 10:51:27 PM
I think my first WW1 aeroplane was a Revell 1/72 Sopwith Camel, rather like this one:

(https://i.postimg.cc/MKgQtnc6/IMG-20211015-134007548.jpg)

This is actually a recent purchase that arrived today, which is going into my nostalgia stash :) I also had the Revel Sopwith Triplane and SE5a, and the Airfix RE8. There may have been others, but I can't remember!

Cheers,
Mark (https://postimg.cc/jLQ2SdQm)
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: PrzemoL on October 25, 2021, 08:04:14 PM
I am quite new to WW1 model kits. I started in 2007 having got the Christmas gift in 2006 - Roden Curtiss H.16

(https://i.ibb.co/2ngKypt/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg)
Now I would do many things differently than 15 years ago but it taught me many things, especially not to fear rigging :-)
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Rob Hart on October 26, 2021, 05:41:30 AM
My first WW1 model was also built from the 1/48 Hawk Nieuport 17. I can recall showing it to my Grandfather and he explained to me how the gun sychronizer worked.
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: torbiorn on October 26, 2021, 06:32:03 AM
I built two as a kid: Airfix Camel and SPAD, these boxings:

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airfix-01075-sopwith-2f1-camel-1918--134186

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airfix-01081-spad-svii-1917--134188


No idea which came first, but I still remember the frustration of attaching the Spad’s upper wing and resignation at failing, so the Camel was probably the first. I didn’t buy any more biplanes even though I prefered them.
Title: Re: Remember your first WW1 model kit?
Post by: Tim Mixon on September 29, 2022, 10:28:35 PM
I believe my first WWI era build was the Aurora JN-4.  It hung from my ceiling for many years.