Just spent an evening teaching two boys how to build plastic models

[Todd Holaday]

They are brothers, one adopted one not, and their personalities are very different.  One quiet and artistic, the other ADD.  We had a great time.  I'm not posting to be boastful, just to share a very positive experience.  They had each picked out a model (Spitfire and Missouri battleship) and they can't wait to come back and work more on them.  I heard about a club exhibition in Indy at the end of March and it got me motivated to try to get some kids to enter with me.  I think I enjoyed the evening as much or more than they did.   The one artistic boy took to the airbrush right away, the other needed help.  I would encourage any of you to try the same.  We need more young people involved in the hobby (at least in my part of the world).

[uncletony]

Nice! Now to teach them about rigging

[Todd Holaday]

Thank goodness for my Optivisor.  The evening started off a little scary.  Had to show them how to hold an exacto knife.  Close call.

[Des]

Great work Todd, it is great to hear that some young ones are getting into the hobby, you could always get them to register on the forum as well, I'm sure they would love to talk to other modelers and a place to show off their work.

Des.

[IvotB]

Well, I am trying to get my son hooked on modelling as well. But I have a tough competetion with Nintendo DS, Wii and computer games in general.

But he already got his hands on a Hurricane, Spitfire and so on and he likes it. He just doesn't start himself and I have to be careful not to comment too much on his doing something I wouldn't do. Just learning and I remember I made thesame mistake.

Now I have him making a Guillows P40 from balsawood. He is going to finish it I am sure, but he has to get used to the fact that after some stage you need to let it dry first before you can proceed.

But I agree: lets all try to get more kids into modelling.

regards,
Ivo

[Chris Johnson]

Well, I am trying to get my son hooked on modelling as well. But I have a tough competition with Nintendo DS, Wii and computer games in general.

It's a steep mountain to climb. I was never successful in instilling an interest for modelling with my son. Good luck!

Cheers,

Chris

[Todd Holaday]

I can relate, my son also wasn't interested.  He's grown and out of the house now.  Hoping for some grandkids one day that are interested (but not for a few years). 

[uncletony]

I can realte my son also wasn't interested.

Heh, me too. One of the great lessons of being a parent for me was learning that your children aren't little clones, with the same predispositions, etc, ready to be molded by you into what you always wanted to be...  Now it turns out I have a nephew with the same exact obsessions I had, all of which is completely bewildering to his parents...

[lcarroll]

I can realte my son also wasn't interested.

Heh, me too. One of the great lessons of being a parent for me was learning that your children aren't little clones, with the same predispositions, etc, ready to be molded by you into what you always wanted to be...  Now it turns out I have a nephew with the same exact obsessions I had, all of which is completely bewildering to his parents...

     I was unsuccesful with three Sons, although one, now in his early 40s, "dabbles" in WWI subjects. On the other hand I have a Nephew who, like yours, is a modelling fanatic. Like me, he started before he was 10 and now, at 28, has features on Hyperscale. I agree, any opportunity to encourage the younger generation to take up a hobby, especially ours, should be pursued with vigour. Nice to hear, Todd, and keep up the great work. These youngsters need any and all opportunity to learn and enjoy, given the challenges they face these days.
Cheers,
Lance

[IvotB]

Well, I haven't given it up yet. But if you look at the previous generation you might be right here. My father was ok with modelling until I was about 18. Especially plastic modelling wasn't his thing. His main problem with most hobbies was the question was if it was useful or not. He was extremely skilled at several kinds of handycraft, but it was only used whenever anything needed to be fixed.

I'll wait and see and give some careful help to my son. My wife is equally trying to encourage my daughters into some hobbies as well, but is just as unsuccesful. It somehow doesn't stick.

regards,
Ivo