Model airplanes for 10-year-olds.

[badamsios]

Hello y'all!

I have an 8-year-old grandson that is a sheer Genius. He can name every capital in every state, he knows the names of all most every country in the world, and he can even name all of the planet in order. He even told me that Pluto may or may not be a planet depending on who you ask. He is also extremely coordinated.

We flew him and his family from Michigan to here in California to see Jeff Dunham.

He is now fascinated with airplanes. I want to get him a model for Christmas. I am sure he could handle one for a 10 or even 12 year old.

I would prefer a World War I biplane. Barring that, a World War II fighter would be fine. Barring that, I'll settle for a modern military aircraft.

I am now open to suggestions.

TIA

 

[Pantherman]

Hello y'all!

I have an 8-year-old grandson that is a sheer Genius. He can name every capital in every state, he knows the names of all most every country in the world, and he can even name all of the planet in order. He even told me that Pluto may or may not be a planet depending on who you ask. He is also extremely coordinated.

We flew him and his family from Michigan to here in California to see Jeff Dunham.

He is now fascinated with airplanes. I want to get him a model for Christmas. I am sure he could handle one for a 10 or even 12 year old.

I would prefer a World War I biplane. Barring that, a World War II fighter would be fine. Barring that, I'll settle for a modern military aircraft.

I am now open to suggestions.

TIA

Hi and welcome to the forum. I would suggest a Tamiya model as they are usually a very good fit with clear instructions. I would also suggest Tamiya cement as an easy to use glue.

Great place for information here so any questions just let us know and we can help.
Pantherman

 

[Pantherman]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I would suggest a Tamiya model as they are usually a very good fit with clear instructions. I would also suggest Tamiya cement as an easy to use glue.

Great place for information here so any questions just let us know and we can help.
Pantherman

View attachment 107378

 

[Jim62]

I agree with Pantherman's suggestion. I can still remember the first model I was ever involved in building. I was 8 or 9 at the time and I sat at the kitchen table with my Dad mostly watching him put it together and follow the instructions. He let me do a few things but that was all it took. We didn't even paint it. It was a P-47 and was molded in green plastic, probably olive drab but to me at that age it was just green. There was no painting involved, just plastic and glue. It's a very fond memory. I'd recommend you build it with him, he'll never forget it.

 

[Bear43]

Airfix starter sets are also a good path. Those come with some basic paints, glue and a paint brush and the kits themselves tend to be easy kits that assemble nicely.

 

[badamsios]

View attachment 107380

Cool, thanks a lot!

 

[Pantherman]

Cool, thanks a lot!

They have lot's of ww1 aircraft as well on amazon, just make sure you type kit so it includes the paint and glue. Pantherman

 

[badamsios]

Airfix starter sets are also a good path. Those come with some basic paints, glue and a paint brush and the kits themselves tend to be easy kits that assemble nicely.

Thanks, I knew I would like it here. Forums. Always place to go to get answers. I don't ask Google anymore I just asked for forums.

 

[badamsios]

They have lot's of ww1 aircraft as well on amazon, just make sure you type kit so it includes the paint and glue. Pantherman

View attachment 107390

 

[badamsios]

Yeah, that's where I looked first, but there are very little details and none of them say how many pieces.

 

[BTrekker]

Yeah, that's where I looked first, but there are very little details and none of them say how many pieces.

Look in the description for the Skill Level - a 1 is a great starter, a 2 for when he becomes a little more experienced
This is a Level 1 kit - notice the bottom-right corner it says '8+'...that's the age range.
Airfix Supermarine Spitfire MK Vc 1:72 Small Starter Gift Set

 

[badamsios]

I agree with Pantherman's suggestion. I can still remember the first model I was ever involved in building. I was 8 or 9 at the time and I sat at the kitchen table with my Dad mostly watching him put it together and follow the instructions. He let me do a few things but that was all it took. We didn't even paint it. It was a P-47 and was molded in green plastic, probably olive drab but to me at that age it was just green. There was no painting involved, just plastic and glue. It's a very fond memory. I'd recommend you build it with him, he'll never forget it.

Man, I would love to be there to help him, but he lives in Michigan and I am here in California. I guess his dad's going to have to help him.

I agree with Pantherman's suggestion. I can still remember the first model I was ever involved in building. I was 8 or 9 at the time and I sat at the kitchen table with my Dad mostly watching him put it together and follow the instructions. He let me do a few things but that was all it took. We didn't even paint it. It was a P-47 and was molded in green plastic, probably olive drab but to me at that age it was just green. There was no painting involved, just plastic and glue. It's a very fond memory. I'd recommend you build it with him, he'll never forget it.

 

[badamsios]

Yep. The visible V8 was the first Model my dad bought for me that I got to watch him build. Probably around 7:00 or 8 years old. Talk about being hooked! At least I was able to quit smoking.

 

[urumomo]

You were smoking at 7 years old ?
Savage .

 

[the Baron]

The old Monogram kits of their first generation are good, too-the Avenger, the Dauntless, the Wildcat, the Hellcat. They're relatively simple, but can look good and can be fun for a kid to build. You can find them in their post-merger Revell boxings, or find second-hand boxings originally issued by Monogram.

 

[athabascamaverick]

If you like a WWI Bi-Plane, Eduard makes a bunch of them in 1/48th Scale - both simple to build and rather complicated. You can generally find a large selection on e-Bay.

 

[TimM63]

Hello y'all!

I have an 8-year-old grandson that is a sheer Genius. He can name every capital in every state, he knows the names of all most every country in the world, and he can even name all of the planet in order. He even told me that Pluto may or may not be a planet depending on who you ask. He is also extremely coordinated.

We flew him and his family from Michigan to here in California to see Jeff Dunham.

He is now fascinated with airplanes. I want to get him a model for Christmas. I am sure he could handle one for a 10 or even 12 year old.

I would prefer a World War I biplane. Barring that, a World War II fighter would be fine. Barring that, I'll settle for a modern military aircraft.

I am now open to suggestions.

TIA

Welcome. I would recommend a larger scale for the youngster. Something like this.
Also I agree that Tamiya extra thin cement is the best option for glue. Testors is hard to work with IMO.

 

[Pantherman]

Welcome. I would recommend a larger scale for the youngster. Something like this.
Also I agree that Tamiya extra thin cement is the best option for glue. Testors is hard to work with IMO.

View attachment 107402

I am currently building this kit and it would be great for a first build. It's fairly basic and fairly large part's. It comes in red plastic so you don't need to paint it. Pantherman

 

[BTrekker]

Also I agree that Tamiya extra thin cement is the best option for glue.

Or what I use - Plastruct Bondene.

 

[badamsios]

You were smoking at 7 years old ?
Savage .

Okay that's funny right there boy. But I was smoking hot I'll tell you that.