Comments on: Fantastic Plastic

By: Mike in Hawaii

Mike in Hawaii — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:41:35 +0000

Being an airline brat, I was always immersed in planes. My very first model was a Grumman F9F Panther, with a string attached to one wing tank and clay counterbalance in the other. That was back in ’64. I moved on up, building my own, but for some reason stuck with the P-40 and F4C (made about 3 each). Stopped for some reason in highschool (being in band and building models would be far too geeky, even for then). Now, I have a Monogram T-33 trainer, ready to have the colors of the Oregon ANG, which I first saw at the original OMZI by the Oregon Zoo.

By: Perry Rotzell

Perry Rotzell — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:03:49 +0000

I was bitten by the modeling bug around 1967. Built many, many models of plastic planes, ships, spacecraft, armor and autos. From 1988-97, I was fortunate enough to work in a hobby shop part-time! During the 90′s-2000′s I owned a couple of airbrushes, a paint booth and all the fanciest tools. These days I can’t seem to find the time or patience. One day I’ll certainly build again!

By: Maj Layne Smith

Maj Layne Smith — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:44:05 +0000

I’m checking every other day to catch your articles – hope all is well!!

BTW….I MISS S. FL!!!!!!

By: John Sotham

John Sotham — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 01:36:09 +0000

Dude! Great to see your name!

By: Maj Layne Smith

Maj Layne Smith — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:04:25 +0000

Great story — brings back so many memories! I had 15 or so hanging from my ceiling as a boy.

Great reading your articles again, Sir!

By: Peter van Lune

Peter van Lune — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:55:41 +0000

Great to read your story and happy to find it at this website. Once plastic kits were common for all young boys, obtainable everywhere. I built many of them (most Airfix…) in the 1960/70′s with fond memories. Although Airfix is the name that stands out when one thinks of plastic kits, the earliest ones were made by FROG, a range called “Penguin”, available between 1936 and 1949. Although sold largely in the UK itself, they were exported to even the U.S.A. as early as 1939 and as far away as Australia. To honour them I am writing a book about its history, packed with fond memories of plastic kit building in the 1930/40′s.

By: Ted Goetz

Ted Goetz — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:46:43 +0000

My modeling years were long before plastic. Before WWII kits were either flying models or solid. The flyers were constructed much like the real thing with ribs,longerons etc.covered in tissue that was carefully doped and powered with a large rubber band. The solids came with a roughly carved fuselage,wings and tail. All to be carefully shaped,sanded and painted. I can still picture the prewar USN biplanes with their yellow and blue color schemes. Testors is the only name I can remember. They made glue and paint as well. .

By: JC Leo

JC Leo — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 02:26:30 +0000

It came as a shock (altho I knew their popularity has dimmed considerably) to see the best modeler’s store in Indianapolis close after being in business since 1950. I knew it was coming, still…… My grandsons & thier friends could care less about anything “non-electronic, without sound”. But I CHERRISH the thousands of hours spent at our hobby & can still see clearly the 16sq.ft. diarama I made for my P-61 Black Widow, it’s service personell/toolage/engine spares/command car/Jeep/Dodge “Duce & a Half”/bomb train/prop hanger a-frame & much more, all in it’s sand & coral revetment on a 4′x4′ piece of a Pacific island. …. i gotta find another hobby shop !!!!

By: Bruce Maresh

Bruce Maresh — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 01:56:06 +0000

As a young lad I used to make model airplanes and ships, spending hours and days in play and fantasy. In fact I now have a model of a Boeing 747-8 that I now work on and assemble in Everett Washington. I am a Tool Maker at the Boeing Company.
Thanks
Bruce Maresh

By: Antonio Rangel

Antonio Rangel — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 05:36:19 +0000

You really put me on a “time machine” and sent me back to my childhood days and my many model aircraft, i absolutely share each and every one of your words describing this love for airplanes an model building im mexican and been all my life infected with the aviation virus…..excelent article.