The sorry state of the younger generation?

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

I received this email. Maybe we could help him out. Any ideas?

 

"Subject: Is this hobby slowly disappearing?

 

Hello friends,

 

First, sorry for the somewhat rude subject.

 

But I'm getting really worried lately: I'm from Brazil, and I'm noticing

many hobby stores closing their doors, and the few remaining ones are

carrying almost only cars and planes. My only option for quality kits and

tools is the internet, and it's getting too expensive for me to buy this way.

 

Also, I see very few kids interested in the hobby, and most of them don't

like ships, they like cars and planes. It's years since the last time I saw

a kid in a store with a ship kit on his hands.

 

Please, I would like to hear from you guys all over the world, your

opinions about this: Is this thing happening only here? Or is it a general

tendency? Are computers, videogames, TV, premature sexuality stealing the

interest of the kids? Do they think static plastic models are too boring to

build, and boring to play with, because they don't make sounds or move on

their own? Any suggestion on how to change this situation?

 

I know how nice and educative is this hobby, and I don't want to see a

whole generation (and perhaps the following ones) to miss all this.

 

Thanks!

 

Eduardo"

[Michael Eastes]

Unfortunately true,it would seem. I can't remember the last time I saw a kid in ahobby shop around here. Usually it's just old guys like me.

[Jason]

Don't want to rain on y'alls little rant-fest, but this is hogwash.

 

I work a part-time, second job at a local hobby store (yes Jacques, I'm back there, again, and no, I couldn't fight or resist the urge to get my discount again... ), and I see a good portion of youngsters come through there on a regular basis. Usually their dad is with them and he built models as a kid, or currently builds them. Quite a few, most actually, are looking at some sort of military model, be it a warship, airplane or armored vehicle. Also, to be completely honest, our cars are generally bought by older guys. There is a following of late teen/early twenties car guys, but generally I see thirty-forty somethings in the car aisle, more often then not looking for a car they had as a teen.

 

Most of our regular customers are older men, but they are also getting their youngins into the hobby. I think as long as there is a son to pass the hobby onto, the hobby will continue to live on. I know I for one was introduced to the hobby by my stepfather, when, as a boy, we started building CARS together (needless to say, I don't build cars any more, unless you count the BA-6 armored car I just bought).

 

I don't think the hobby is dying, it has gotten smaller then I remember it, but it's not dying.

[Manic Moran]

It seems to me that the average scale-model buyer is in his mid to late twenties when he kicks off. Not quite sure why, but that's just the impression I get. Yes, models are getting more expensive. Yes, us younger lads have a little less time to model. (I'm going to airbrush a few airplanes today since I happen to have a day off work). According to the lads at FineScale Modeller, they say a lot of the die-cast, pre-made models are attracting people into the model shops in the first place, and from there, they may decide to branch out.

 

NTM

[EW]

Well,

My opinon is that there's a real threat to the hobby. We have discussed this within IPMS/Sweden and our "conclusions" is that the youngsters prefer other things that gives a "rush" faster, like PC-games, than building a kit. Those who join us, are adults about 30+. Some of them started to build again after their own kids have grown up and so on. My personal opinion is that the life-styles we have today, don't exactly promote children and parents to sit down together. We are to busy to socialise. It's a great shame, because the quality of the kits today makes them really "user friendly" in comparison to those we started out with in the 60's.

 

If the hobby gets even "smaller", then it's a fair guess that more companies will go bankrupt and then the downward curve will escalate even more, with possible lack of support from the established modelers community world wide.

 

Regards,

EW

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Originally posted by Ensign wanker:

We have discussed this within IPMS/Sweden and our "conclusions" is that the youngsters prefer other things that gives a "rush" faster, like PC-games, than building a kit.

 

Sadly, true. Kids nowadays prefer 'instant action' rather than going through the 'hard way.' They prefer eating instant, microwave meals, games that you just open and slap into a playstation or something like that and then play, etc. etc. They want it easy, gift wrapped, and ready to go. I am worried that it'll translate into grown ups who can't hack it in the real world just because the pressure is 'too much.'

[EW]

Originally posted by Gennady I. Beregovoy:

Sadly, true.  Kids nowadays prefer 'instant action' rather than going through the 'hard way.'  They prefer eating instant, microwave meals, games that you just open and slap into a playstation or something like that and then play, etc. etc.  They want it easy, gift wrapped, and ready to go.  I am worried that it'll translate into grown ups who can't hack it in the real world just because the pressure is 'too much.'

 

 

Gennady,

I think' there's no solution to this problem at all. As you say most people today are so used to the easy solutions, and that goes for adults as well IMO. As I see it, it's the development of our cultures i.e if it ain't "fast and easy", don't bother.

I'm affected by this myself. If I really have to stress down, I must go to the gym or running to vent my frustrations. Detailing a cockpit is a no option then.

 

However I think the prepainted models can be a good starter for the kids and rookie adults, given the stress factor. My point is that once you learnt to "sit down" and discover the satisfaction of creating your own "art" there's a tendency that you do it again. And yes I fully agree with you, that the youngsters need to learn how to be patient and focus oriented, but sadly enough there's little space in our cultures, for that kind of "attitude". Another problem for recruiting juniors, is the "dork factor". We got a talented teenager, who hasn't told his pals that he's into gluing, becuase he fears that they would ridicule him. How the heck, do you overcome that?

 

OT, When I was in Brasil in 88, being the dork I am, I checked out some hobby shops in Rio. I didn't see any platic at all. So I know the boys in Brasil has a tough time to get decent kits.

 

Regards,

EW

[Bish]

Jason, who needs a son. I have two daughters, one 9 the other 12. They have both started building models.

[Jason]

My statement was a generalization Bish. I've seen younger girls looking at, and purchasing models in my store also. Usually cars, but models none the less. I know it's not JUST boys who build, but your daughters are the exception, and not the rule, (generally speaking that is).

 

Heck, if I have girls, I'm intent on teaching them how to play hockey!

[RETAC21]

Hey, I have about 12 models unbuilt in my basement, until the day (in the future, far in the future) that my wife allows me enough time to build them...

[Jason]

TWELVE??!! That's all??!! That's it, a mere twelve??!!

 

I have upwards of 500 unbuilt kits as of now (I have them all listed on an Excel spraedsheet). You name it (military equipment, aircraft, armored vehicles, ships, figures, anything and everything military) I've probably got it. My girlfriend thinks I have an illness (hey, I don't complain about all of her shoes, reminds me of that Marcos chic in the Phillipines, Emelda?). I tell her I'm building up my collection for when I retire (in about 30-35 years, HOPEFULLY).

 

Of course, at the rate I'm going, by then I'll have, oh, about 10,000 kits. Chances are good I'll never be able to build them all, but I'm going to give it one hell of a shot!

[Michael Eastes]

Originally posted by RETAC21:

Hey, I have about 12 models unbuilt in my basement...

 

Lightweight.

[Jacques]

Just to reassert my dominance...

 

...I have about 1500+ kits yet to build. yup. See the link for proof:

http://members.tripod.com/saammodels/Pictu...lroom/index.htm

 

Remeber kids, this is not an illness, just fanaticism.

 

I don't see things being so bad, by the way. Anyone remeber the plastic kit choices of the mid-80's? We are living in a Golden age, gents. I think you are just seeing the market oversaturating and thinning itself down. Consider that many Europeans and the entire Japanese culture has an affection for all things miniature. I think that things will be just fine, but may just not be american made is all.

 

And both my daughters are very interested in building models with their father...makes you want to weep doesn't it? If we get teenage girls into the hobby, what a great magnet to get the BOYS back into it!

[Jason]

Re:Jacques

 

Showoff....

 

 

[Edited by Jason (19 Oct 2001).]

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Jason, Jacques: care to 'donate' some of your unfinished kits? You might have a spare GMM 1/350 Yamato/Musashi photoetched set that you can 'donate'?

 

And both my daughters are very interested in building models with their father...makes you want to weep doesn't it? If we get teenage girls into the hobby, what a great magnet to get the BOYS back into it! 

 

Now THAT is a great idea! Hey, Eduardo...!

[Jagdpz04]

I'm 19, and love models. I built my first model in 3rd grade.

 

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by Jagdpz04

[Guest alvin e. hubert]

I think that the hobby has come a very long way,considering what we had in the past..The only reason,that I see that might cause a problem with the hobby is rising prices..this places a lot of kits out of reach to a lot of kids..Armor kits are in some cases good ones that is ,are as high as the plane and cars..thats why I try to stack up on good kits of tanks when I catch them at a good price..Best regards..Alvin

[Wayne]

I bow to your superior models! I have only 25 unfinished models.

 

About the time I got realy good at scratchbuilding and superdetailing I lost interest.

 

Now I am starting on 1:1 scale mideavel armor. (chainmalle)

 

Wayne V

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Originally posted by Wayne:

Now I am starting on 1:1 scale mideavel armor. (chainmalle)

 

Serious? Where/how do you get/make that?

[Wayne]

Well Gennady you take 1KM of iron wire, wrap it around a 9mm dowel, cut off 1 and 1/6 of a turn, beat it flat with a hammer, punch a hole in it through both ends of the wire, weave it into 4 other rings, and insert+flatten a tiny rivet. Repeat 20,000 times for a hauberk.

 

Simplicity itself

 

Wayne V

[Wolf Werther]

Originally posted by Wayne:

Well Gennady you take 1KM of iron wire, wrap it around a 9mm dowel, cut off 1 and 1/6 of a turn, beat it flat with a hammer, punch a hole in it through both ends of the wire, weave it into 4 other rings, and insert+flatten a tiny rivet.  Repeat 20,000 times for a hauberk.

 

hm, I guess you will have to ask your girlfriend or wife for the more taylor-like aspects of such a work. Looking at this picture from a commercial dealer I assume the shoulder-arm-back-front connection can cause some trouble.

 

 

regards,

 

Wolf Werther

[Guest Master Blaster]

Originally posted by Wayne:

Well Gennady you take 1KM of iron wire, wrap it around a 9mm dowel, cut off 1 and 1/6 of a turn, beat it flat with a hammer, punch a hole in it through both ends of the wire, weave it into 4 other rings, and insert+flatten a tiny rivet.  Repeat 20,000 times for a hauberk.

 

Simplicity itself

 

Wayne V

You can also take a long spring(the type used on old wooden screen doors works great), and clip a twist off and then mesh it for a real good approxamation of ring mail.

[Guest Luke Yaxley]

I only just saw this topic but let me say this.

I worked at toyworld's hobby world department here a few years back when I was out of work (and toyworld doesn't count as real work ) and the majority of guys who came in were aged between about 10-25, and we were the major supplier of model kits in the state. There were many kids below 10 as well, many kids about seven or eight liked to buy the 1:144 kits because they could afford them with their pocket money. the older guys mostly did tanks and ships, true, but the number of people 10-25 buying armour kits was pretty darned large. While this is only one case, I find it hard to believe that modl building is dying.

[Guest Major Trutnev]

Insufficient motivation in Komsomol. Children should be enthusiastic about the defense of the Motherland and identification of enemies,and model construction can be of value.