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[John W E]

Whilst looking through some 'old' magazines this afternooon - of the 1964 vintage - I was looking to see how many kit manufacturers were around then.    In the Model Maker I could only could 4 (Graupner was one of them; Aerokits was another, KeilKraft and Veron were the others) and there werent many kits (as in models) to choose from and definitely a poor selection of fittings.  So those who have been bashing the kit manufacturers of today for poor quality - and instructions etc., - should really count themselves very lucky that they have these new manufacturers to choose from.   Instead of bashing them on an open forum - maybe a letter or an email to them in confidence rathern than airing grievances would be better.

Another pointer, in 1964 the average takehome pay for a journeyman was £22 pounds a week.

A big Taplin twin diesel engine was £22/0s/1d   the Sea Queen from Aerokits was £5/16s/8d - big chunk of the wage then. 

I wonder how many of today's kit bashers were around modelling in the 1960s?

The last thing which springs to mind is when you see some of these lovely put-together kits at shows - and you speak to the actual builder of the kit - and you mention that its a kit - you can guarantee the first thing they say is 'Ah but I have altered it from this that and the other - been modified etc., and made to look like this and I often wonder to myself when I walk away - why purchase a kit in the first place when they have altered it so much,.

aye

john

[Capt Podge]

I left school in 1969 and my first job paid a measly £5.00 

Yes, I was modelling in the early 60's - but only of the AIRFIX type

Building from kits was a route into the hobby though - and sometimes kit bashers make alterations to "personalise" a kit, I suppose, so that theirs finishes up slightly "different" to others.

Regards,

Ray.

[Colin Bishop]

John is quite right, for all the criticisms we may make, kit builders have never had it so good in trems of choice and value. Something to keep in perspective perhaps.

Colin

[JB]

Well, this paperlad started on five bob a week although with 'extras' I did make up to 30/- sometimes...1966 and MB mag was 2/6- Aerokits  Sea Commander cost me just under £4 and the diesel engine was £2/10/- secondhand, kit bashing sounds appropriate..can't say I 'built' it but it did sail ok...freerunning too, radio control? how much?

I'm about to start the Revell Corvette, at long last, I'm not worried if the kit parts are not perfect, bought the book today and I'm wondering which ship to model now...?  USS Tenacity looks good or maybe HMS Burdock which is a little striking in yellow and blue!!! dunno yet and I can't answer your last question 

JB.



 

[justboatonic]

I'd always been into models as a kid but I didnt get into RC until around 1977 when I started out with gliders. Everything was balsa made back then. plastic vac forming of glider fuz's was in its infancy.

The Futaba Medalion 2 channel tx and rx had just come out which set me back about 50 quid IIRC.

Now, you get buy a foam P51 D Mustang with 57 inch wingspan RTF and the like with retracting gear, flapsm brushless motor, esc, lipo and servos ready to fly for about £225. The choice now is unbelievable.

[DickyD]

I built an Aerokit Sea Commander and a Keilcraft Freya 36. in the late 60s early 70s

I altered the Freya 36 and am thinking about doing it up.

Freya 36

[Capt Podge]

That's a bonny little boat you've got there Dicky, a few guard rails, some cleats and a couple of lifebelts should enhance her somewhat.

Regards,

Ray.

[DickyD]

Thanks Ray.

[grump52b]

just been looking at your gear and boats for sale do you still have the mtb i am in west yorks but coming over to chorley on sat the 9th to see grandson would be interrested if we could arrange to meet it would be about 6 o clock ish my mobile is ********* if you prefer thanks andy (grump52b)


It's not a good idea to put your telephone number on open forum.

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[Philipsparker]

The last thing which springs to mind is when you see some of these lovely put-together kits at shows - and you speak to the actual builder of the kit - and you mention that its a kit - you can guarantee the first thing they say is 'Ah but I have altered it from this that and the other - been modified etc., and made to look like this and I often wonder to myself when I walk away - why purchase a kit in the first place when they have altered it so much,.

Because you use the kit to do the difficult bits such as the hull and main supersture and then make other modifications to suit yourself. Plus people have thier own favorite way of doing things and sometimes prefer that to the way the kitmaker says they should do them. I bet very few model OR real fishing boats are exactly as they left the factory for example.

Or maybe they just didn't read the instructions. 

Phil

[rickles23]

Hi,
Back in the dim dark years of my youth there used to be a series of kits made by PBM (?).

The one I made was a paddlewheeler.

Regards

[tony52]

Hi,
Back in the dim dark years of my youth there used to be a series of kits made by PBM (?).

The one I made was a paddlewheeler.

Regards

Is this the one?

[philk]

Hi,
Back in the dim dark years of my youth there used to be a series of kits made by PBM (?).

The one I made was a paddlewheeler.

Regards

i made there leander frigate back in the late 70's


phil

[rickles23]

Hi,
Yes that was the one, pity they don't make them any more!
Regards

[tony52]

Hi,
Yes that was the one, pity they don't make them any more!
Regards

I have put it on the list of future jobs to scratchbuild one, from the plans in archive. The advice I received from a previous owner, is to build the model approx 1/2" deeper and add ballast to improve stability.

A 'spin off' from the PBM kit is offered by W Hobby/Forest Classics - P S Lady. Smaller in size and advertised as a static model. Again I have the plan in archive and hope someday to build.

http://www.forest-classics.co.uk/paddle_steamer.htm

Regards,
Tony.