Army_Air_Force Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 (edited) From a very early age my daughter has been very arty and quite precise in her colouring in and painting. As she was approaching her 4th birthday, I suggested we buy a model to build together. The choice came do to a Pink PR Spitfire or a Red Arrow Hawk. At the model shop, the final choice was made, the Revell 2000 season Red Arrow Hawk. Here's my rather excited daughter just after getting back from the shop in late October. I knew attention span would be an issue, but teaching patience from a young age is a worth while exercise, so I knew each session would be no more than 30 minutes to an hour. I would also have to restrain myself about being too picky regarding filling and sanding etc, and small parts would be best missed out all together. So the build would include the main airframe parts, but built gear up, and will probably hang from her bedroom ceiling with some cotton wool smoke out the back when done. Unlike myself when I was young, I got her to start by painting cockpit parts, the fuselage interior, and as the kit didn't include one, I found a pilot to paint. The tins of paint were stuck to the table with Blu-Tack to avoid spills, and after showing her to dip then wipe the excess paint off on the rim, she got on without too much assistance. Edited December 21, 2013 by Army_Air_Force Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 I miss those days...My teenage daughters want nothing to do with the basement hobby area. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 She loves making stuff, so this was a good opportunity to give mummy an hour to herself! The concentration is easy to see, and I was quite proud of her care and precision with the small brush. I washed the brush, opened and stirred the next tin, and off she went. After the first session, she was quite happy that the parts needed to be put aside to dry. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 The following day was bad weather, so we stayed in and did a little more, amongst other things. After explaining very carefully about knives, and that she was only allowed to touch them when I said it was ok, we started cutting. I let her start cutting out parts with the scalpel, with her hand at the bottom and me holding it further up, applying a little extra pressure when needed. Once cut free, I then showed her how to trim the raggy sprue feed from the part. Like the paint, the liquid glue was Blu-tacked to the table, and then she began to apply the glue where I said, and place the cockpit parts together ( with a little positioning help from me ). After a brief pause for drying time, the cockpit was glued in. I held it in place and she painted the glue in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 After another drying break, She put the fuselage together and held it while I put some tape around. After that, she painted the glue along the fuselage joints and that was another building session over. She was very proud of her achievement so far. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vince Maddux Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 That's a great start for her, I hope she is having a blast. My daughter likes to build also but her thing is cars, go figure... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 There was a pause of about three weeks until I decided she was in the right frame of mind to continue. So it was late November before we moved on to the wings. She did more of the cutting with less assistance needed, and soon the wings were made, gear doors attached and intakes fitted. The wings attached with a little jigging assistance from me, but the gluing all her again. Another couple of weeks passed until December 11th when the ventral fins, and smoke tank were added. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 A few more days after that, we painted the airframe red. She started quite well, but lost interest after painting the wings and tail. I think I picked the wrong day! She told me to finish the fuselage painting. A couple of days after, I gave it a couple of coats of future to give a nice gloss coat for the decals, as she was excited about putting the 'sticker' on! So today, with it chucking down with rain outside, out came the Hawk again. I cut out each decal, and let her dunk it in the bowl of water. Once it was ready, I started by positioning the first white arrow on the bottom, and getting her to pull the backing paper out slowly. I used a small brush to push it into position. This was repeated for the other arrow. For the other larger decals, i got her to hold the decal in place while I pulled the backing paper out, and then held her hand which held the brush, to position the decal correctly. So after we'd done the strips and roundels, and with only tiny decals left, she told me to put the others on. She's got a bit of a cold and didn't sleep well last night, so was beginning to fade with tiredness. I finished up and later in the afternoon, gave it another spray with Future to seal everything in. All that is left to do now is the canopy, then stick a dowel up the tail pipe and cover that in cotton wool, then it will be ready for the ceiling! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GLMFAA1 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Very nice story, maybe Mattel should make a 'build a Barbie' Have a Merry Christmas greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JB2013 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Congratulations to your daughter dude! It looks great! :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Awesome! Her job on the cockpit is better than most of mine! :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David_Storymodels Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 (edited) Stephen You have very talented and beautiful daughter. Mine is in the same age, We've already build one of Zvezda Planes (easy snap kits - no glue needed). It was a big fun. Edited December 21, 2013 by David_Storymodels Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 Thanks! She's got a rather proud dad today! It's great to see them being so creative, and getting a buzz out of it. I used to be a college technician in the 3D workshop of the art department. The number of kids that came into the workshop without a clue was depressing. The only way they could make stuff was to press a button on a computer and have that do the work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sharkmouth Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Excellent work by the little one! I have a 9 year old and he likes having aircraft hung from his bedroom ceiling so lately I have let him build a few. Patience is something that needs to be learned as well as following directions. Regards, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foxmulder_ms Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Lovely! :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 She wins on just being cute.....great start; I hope she hangs on to her modeling bug long enough to raid dad's stash one day. Don't tell her, but she has me beat just on the assembly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nonrivetcounter Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Great job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
volzj Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Truly awesome. She looks so happy with her effort, and with good reason. I remember when my two boys were that age and built their first. They are in their late teens now and I still have both of their first builds tucked away in the attic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
parche Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Totally awesome. Congrats. My wife won't let the kids anywhere near my model stuff so count yourself lucky. Cheers, Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ace Combat Zero Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Wow Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlCZ Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Yup, she is good, when can build this kit - with painting in only 4years...Girls are often best modellers as guys... They have more patience and sense for detail... Maybe you little girl is next best woman modeler :) This Hawk looks realy good. (I like this aircraft, when i was 7years old i have a chinese pencil case with photos of Red Arrows... It is in 1987, Cold war was still reallity and i live on other side of barricade in communistic Czechoslovakia...Hmm, i mus complete a 1/32 Revell Hawk :)) Nice holidays ! (And i hope a Santa bring your daughter another colourful plane... a bright yellow Sea King or Cormorant helicopter from R.A.F. SAR is nice and huge :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 We finally got around to finishing the Hawk today. A wooden dowel up the back end, and some cotton wool smoke which also had to be painted red. Tomorrow it will be hanging in her bedroom. I'm a very proud dad! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 That is beyond awesome dude ! I nominate you 'ARC Daddy Of The Quarter' ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phasephantomphixer Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Super start and great that you figured the best times to proceed so she will keep interest. My 5 yr. old boy although showing necessary skill, is still not yet ready-too fidgety! But I have a snap F-4 kit waiting. My 3 yr. old will want to be involved as well I am sure. I plan to go at it like you, picking the best time. My Father had to dredge through "our" build when I was 6-7 yrs. old making the 300+ part AMT Peterbilt 359 "California Hauler" back in the early 70's. It turned out nice and I sure learned patience! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sharkmouth Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Both of you should be rightly proud! Regards, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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