"...in the 60s there were four model shops within walking distance from my house......I would catch the bus there most Saturdays and go and buy a kit to see me through the next week....And now, model shops are few and far between.....To anyone with a grandchild who has the slightest interest in modelmaking then encourage them for all they are worth........"

Yes. That was why I set up the EeZeBilt and Marinecraft sites - to enable this generation of kids to have the same experience that we had, of creating something that really worked on your own, with minimal adult help...

I had thought that it would be quite easy for modelling grandparents to download the shapes, cut them out from balsa sheet, and present grandchildren with a small simple kit for Christmas. Making one of these simple kits is how many of us started, but kits like these are hard to find commercially nowadays.

Unfortunately, few people seem to have done this. In most cases the sites seem to be a nostalgia-trip for adults. Which is a shame, because the original designer of the EeZeBilts, Ernie Webster, was a teacher, and put a lot of design lessons into his kits. Building a series of EeZeBilts (though they have a similar base design) will give quite a lot of experience in different constructional tweaks, and improve confidence in handling materials.

We are coming up to Christmas. Perhaps now is a good time to remind people of this resource and the aim behind it?

As a wee boy living in Leith in the 60s there were four model shops within walking distance from my house and even the newsagent shop just down the road sold Airfix kits (the ones in the poly bags),must admit my favourite was central wood crafts in Duke Street run by two elderly sisters which sold everything ,they had drawers full of decals ,remember my brother buying American Frankenstein and Dracula kits .
Cheers Marky

Reading these posts and all the comments about attracting new blood to the hobby, I can't help harking back to the years of WW2. I doubt if there was a town without a model shop. Kits of scale model aircraft were everywhere, most kids bought them or were given them and made them up. I was lucky, there were two shops in central Cardiff and I would catch the bus there most Saturdays and go and buy a kit to see me through the next week. Bedrooms would be adorned with aircraft of all nations hung from the ceiling. I remember seeing a kit of a Russian Stormovik fighter bomber for the first time, I had to buy it.
Flying, or more usually crashing model aircraft abounded too, at least mine always did. There were kits of boats too but they weren't as popular in those days. I suppose I built aircraft and ships fairly evenly. Dinky toys made beautiful die cast ships from liners to submarines. I remember being given a die cast aircraft carrier complete with three aircraft. Would love to have it now and all the Dinkies I acquired.
And now, model shops are few and far between, few kids are interested in models. Unless it has a screen and squeaks it is an irrelevance to the average child. To anyone with a grandchild who has the slightest interest in modelmaking then encourage them for all they are worth. It is so important.

Nerys

Hi Doug, thank you for your sympathy, it's all down to walking the dog in the fog. But on the mend now.
The grandson doesn't have a phone, and I believe the school does not allow phones.
But as soon as they have something they want to put into wood I will be able to photograph it.
As for your generous offer of rc setup I know that they already have 27mhz and 2.4ghz systems donated by me and another child's parent.
I am sure that it won't be long before I can get pictures of the progress.
Cheers Colin.

Doug the Masai do actually have cellphones - one of a SA cellphone company's biggest customers is Kenya - they provide the towers etc and even in Mozambique you can buy a sim card at any old isolated store and connect quickly.
Not sure the Mongols don't either.............. They ride motor bikes a lot nowadays instead of horses & camels too...........

Colin - hope you are better soon and getting back to the project - we really need to recruit new members into our hobby. (better half calls it my obsession......)
Was thinking its funny/strange that so many more bits are now available for model boaters plus a plethora of kits and RTR's - more and cheaper items in electronics than years ago and yet there are fewer and fewer of us.............

Doug I think Dodgy meant for Colin to look at the site so as to give a bit of guidance when needed - not for the kids to gawk at..............
Besides most of us now use the net to research things we want to know about, inspiration and the practical way of doing it.........
Its one of the things we do on this site - an exchange of ideas..........
The kids would use the net for projects for history, geography etc so why should they change their methods when building boats.......

Interesting that my own son who is in IT - who has been very much locked to screens for many years - now he has his own son is very much into practical things - and uses computers purely for work & communication.

Were you referring by any chance to D.U.S.T.E.D Doug, - (Down Under Smoke Technology and Electrical Distribution Co)😀?
JB

Hi Colin,
Sorry to hear you've been crook mate 🤔 (as our hyperactive smoking members from dahn souff might say😉) GWS and that's an order Commander 😎

But very glad to hear that your heart-warming project is progressing.👍
I assume that your grandson also possesses a Dumbphone (everyone on the planet except the Mongols and the Masai seem to have one🙄 I've even seen docus of Inuits using them!) so maybe he could take a few pics of the designs - maybe you can show him how - if he hasn't already shown YOU😁😮?
BTW If necessary, and if you wish, I could donate a a simple RC set for such a deserving project.
PM or mail me if any interest to discuss.
All the very best to you and Caroline.
Cheers, Doug 😎
PS When Caroline's got a minute or two to spare can she come over to fix up a couple of nasty scratches starboard side of my personal drivable undercarriage?
Blasted tight underground car parks!☹️😠

I think you've missed the point Dodgy,
Whole objective of Colin and his grandson's excellent initiative is to get the kids thinking and creating their own designs, and to get them away from staring into screens for a while.
Being 'mind poisoned' by designs shown on the internet defeats both objectives.
Doug

Look at the Marinecraft web site. Same hull, with 6 different superstructure...

Sorry for the lack of updates on this subject but I have been ill with a chest infection so haven't been able to get back to the school yet.
My son is coming to visit tomorrow and will hopefully bring me the latest news.
Apparently the class have now decided on the superstructure above deck level and they want to be able to change the whole topside allowing them to have 2 models for 1 Hull.
I hope to have more details tomorrow, cheers Colin.

Hi Colin,
I completely understand it is all about the safety of the children.
Interesting about the design differences between the boys and girls.

Martin555.

Hi there Martin, I had a meeting with the headmistress yesterday, and I have to wait till the board of governors make a decision, until then I can't name the school or the children, but am allowed to repot on the progress.
Week 1, first sketches hung in the classroom and surprisingly they all have a similar profile. Boys seem to want police type boats, girls preferred things like coastguard and rescue boats.
Week 2(next week) they will be trying to make card superstructures and trying for fit and look. There will be 4 groups, so 4 potentiall models, as the whole top, deck up will be lift off.
I have made the under deck supports, and 4 blank decks in 3mm ply for them to use.
Further updates next weekend.
Cheers Colin.

Wish you were around in my school days Colin, would have loved to get into the hobby years earlier than I did, all my school chums, were into football, but not me.😐

Cheers Pete

I will have to ask the schools permission, but as long as they don't mind I will do my best.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Colin,
Don't forget to take your camera, i am looking forward to seeing the results too.

Martin555.

Thank you guys and gals for all your praise.
I'm only doing it because I want to share what bit of modelling knowledge I have amassed over my 65 years of modelling, I started with my grandad when I was 5 years old.
It seems that the first model that you make should be out of your own head, that way you can change things as you go.
That way you enjoy what you make, and are more likely to carry on making.
It's fortunate that my grandson is at a forward thinking school who already have a lego club, also a meccanno club. Both of them are well attended and enjoyed.
Much better than those stupid electronic games machines.
Tomorrow I will find out how well they are getting on with their designs.
Cheers Colin.

That's really good to get young people involved although it does take some enthusiastic adults to get these things going. I think that both the young and seasoned modellers are both willing, but creating the catalyst is the challenge, but when it happens its great. Well done Colin.

Excellent stuff Colin

What a fantastic thing to be doing Colin.
I hope that it could turn out to be a regular thing in that school and maybe it might speed to other schools as it is not just design work it will teach them new skills.
Well done.

Martin555.

Great idea Colin - this hobby needs recruits badly. What a nice way of doing it.

What a sensible teacher in what must be an exceptional school. Actually prepared to do something that is not in the national curriculum. Perhaps it should be. Well done to Colin and grandson for starting it.

Nerys

What a super idea. Perhaps new members in a few years time.
Nice thing for you to be doing too Colin.😀