Redartz: Back in our collective youth, we had many ways to occupy our free time. Reading, watching television, listening to music, engaging in outside activities, and so on. One activity that engaged both the mind and the hands was model building.
As with comics, it was a friend who introduced me to the pleasures of modelling (and no, I don't mean posing for artists and photographers, although I did do some of that as an art teacher; but that's another story). This friend had a box full of leftover parts from numerous car models he had built, and invited me over to 'codge together' a couple of imaginative vehicles. We put together two pretty hodgepodge, clunky 'objects', not much to look at but it sparked my interest.
Soon I was picking up model kits from the local store; seeking out cool looking kits such as Monogram (Mattel's model division) was producing at the time. My first 'solo attempt' was Monogram's "Cherry Bomb"; a sharp red speedster with an odd little trailer. I loved the 'lift open' top.
Shortly thereafter I tackled another Monogram kit with cool gimmickry: the "Ice-T". Even had ice blocks in the back. And speaking of the "Ice-T", it represents another aspect of models that intrigued me. Soon after that model was released, Mattel's "Hot Wheels" car line released a redline version of the Ice-T. Obviously I had to pick that up. That was but one of many vehicles that became available as both a model kit and a Hot Wheel. I added the "Paddy Wagon" and the "S'Cool Bus", displaying the model and the Hot Wheel side-by-side on my shelf.
Oh, and the "S'Cool Bus" was amazing. The model kit had acetate windows printed with cartoon kids doing all manner of goofy things; upon finding the Hot Wheels version I was disappointed to discover that it had no such feature. Ah well.
Over the next few years I assembled numerous more models. My parents often gifted me with kits; a battleship and plane from Revell (another big model maker), more cars, and then a new twist arose. About the time I started into comics, Aurora released the "Comic Scenes" series. Aurora had long been a big producer of great kits depicting movie monsters, superheros, tv shows, and so on. Well, upon finding that Spider-Man kit, it was imperative that it be added to my model shelf.
Sadly, this is where it turns dark. Not long after that my interest in comics totally eclipsed the models, and so they all met a deadly fate. A couple friends and I lined them all up in the backyard one day and shot them all to pieces with bb guns. It was fun at the time, yes. But years later, with those vintage models bringing sky high prices- I wasn't laughing anymore.
But, the tale has a happier ending. A few years ago, at a flea market, I came across one of those Aurora Spider-Man kits. It was unassembled, and even still contained the instruction sheet/comic illustrated by Jazzy John Romita! The price was 30 dollars, which I gladly paid. Took it home, and over the next week assembled and painted it. I think my adult version turned out better than my youthful one.
So here's a few more kits you may remember, from several of the manufacturers discussed above. Any of these sit upon your shelves? Share your thoughts and memories of model building. Oh, and pass the Testor's cement, please...
