As a kid I absolutely LOVED model kits. Didn’t matter if it was cars, characters or Star Wars ships, each one was so much fun to me. Not that I was terribly good at them but I really enjoyed putting them together. I was good at putting them together, but it was the details where I got lost. Painting was never my forte and the wet and slide decals always seemed problematic. But I didn’t care, I still had a ball with them. And I really enjoyed it when my dad would step into help on the ones he knew I really wanted done just right.
One that comes to mind the most is the big honkin’ General Lee that came out around ’81. It was a massive model kit and just close enough to scale to my 8 inch Mego Bo and Luke Duke. He worked on that thing for almost two weeks getting every part and piece just right and of course the decals of the now infamous Confederate Flag applied just right. Man, I love those memories.
Recently I got into watching episodes of Monsterama hosted by Elvira Mistress of the Dark and came across one that featured the monster kits from once upon a time ago.
That got me the itch back but I haven’t pulled the trigger just yet on picking up a new kit. Frankly because; 1. I know my detail work will still be lacking. 2. I’m really crazy busy with work stuff and 3. Dad’s not here to fix it. But then again maybe he is.
Those memories I mentioned truly mean a lot to me and now with my daughter turning into quite the crafty little girl (in the skill area not the powers of persuasion, but then again she is getting good in that realm too) I think it would be neat to let her take a crack at these. I just wish the price tag was the same as it was then.
I noticed a few years back that the prices of model kits had went up significantly from when I was a kid. I’m not talking about inflation, I mean overall. These buggers aren’t cheap, even for the exact same styles and kits, be it snap together or basic glue together kits. The digging I did at the time blamed the higher cost for petroleum and in turn the plastics used. Stupid OPEC, sucking the fun out of everything, right? And that’s when I get really happy to see sales, like the one going on at Entertainment Earth now through July 21st (2015, if you show up way late).
Browsing through the selection the temptation is growing to go for it again. I’m realy digging the ’66 Batman kit….
The Mars Attacks! Is pretty sweet too but I know there is NO WAY I could ever get the paint scheme right. Not a negative Nancy, just a realist. Seriously, look at that beautiful creature!
One that I did have when I was a kid that I really enjoyed was the Battlestar Galactica Vipers. Star Wars rip off or not that ship hands down kicks the X-Wing’s posterior.
The ones though that are really, really, really, pushing me to the “Add to Cart” button are the Munsters kits. The residents of 1313 Mockingbird Lane were so influential on me as a kid that for them I would like to take a really dedicated crack at them to do them justice. Probably take me the better part of a year for sure but man they are sweet.
Or I could just cheese out and go the Pre-Assembled route … but that really isn’t very much fun and no one would ever believe me if I tried to pass it off as my own creation. Not that I’d do that but, well… you know 😉
In all actuality though I will most likely go back to the basics. A simple car kit. Although not exactly “simple” The exhaust systems were always problematic for me. Getting the completed engine back in the chassis with the manifolds attached was always a real squeeze and one almost always popped off despite the Testors glue that stunk up a room like no other. Dad, where are ya when I need ya? Well perhaps your granddaughter can help me out a little. She’s developing your skills and sense of humor so I think there may be hope for me yet.
Now, Go Play!
Jim 07/15/15
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