Academy / Airfix 1/1000 RMS Titanic
Discussion
My lad (4 1/2) has recently become really interested in ships, and in particular the story of the Titanic after I showed him the amazing paintings in the Dr. Bob Ballard book about the discovery of the wreck- he loved that the submersibles they used look just like the ones on the kids tv show Octonauts :-)
He’s been doing loads of Lego so I thought I’d see how he got on with a simple model kit. Got hold of the little academy kit which is self coloured so no painting and is meant to be friction fit, although we have been using a bit of poly cement to stop bits falling off.
Finn has been really enjoying it- he’s been learning how to safely use a scalpel to get the bits off the frames and is surprisingly accurate with the glue! Have to pick our times as his little sister wants to get involved and the only place we have is the dining table as I don’t want to stink out bedrooms with glue fumes just before bedtime :-)
Good progress so far- we’re just doing 30 mins at a time so he doesn’t get frustrated with glue not drying. We did the funnels and stand last night so just the masts and some little details to finish off. Really lovely little kit!
He’s been doing loads of Lego so I thought I’d see how he got on with a simple model kit. Got hold of the little academy kit which is self coloured so no painting and is meant to be friction fit, although we have been using a bit of poly cement to stop bits falling off.
Finn has been really enjoying it- he’s been learning how to safely use a scalpel to get the bits off the frames and is surprisingly accurate with the glue! Have to pick our times as his little sister wants to get involved and the only place we have is the dining table as I don’t want to stink out bedrooms with glue fumes just before bedtime :-)
Good progress so far- we’re just doing 30 mins at a time so he doesn’t get frustrated with glue not drying. We did the funnels and stand last night so just the masts and some little details to finish off. Really lovely little kit!
Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 31st October 08:06
Cheers all
Something about the Titanic seemed to really capture his imagination, he's been explaining to everyone about how it sunk and broke in half etc. so I wanted to capitalise on that.
I've been very careful to let him choose if he wants to do it rather than pressure him into sitting there and it seems to be going well. He's already pointed out about the lack of rigging (after noticing the festoon lights above the funnels on youtube videos) so will be on the lookout for some suitable black rigging thread at Telford. He loves looking round model railway exhibitions so he's been nagging me to build him a railway. something for next year maybe
Something about the Titanic seemed to really capture his imagination, he's been explaining to everyone about how it sunk and broke in half etc. so I wanted to capitalise on that.
I've been very careful to let him choose if he wants to do it rather than pressure him into sitting there and it seems to be going well. He's already pointed out about the lack of rigging (after noticing the festoon lights above the funnels on youtube videos) so will be on the lookout for some suitable black rigging thread at Telford. He loves looking round model railway exhibitions so he's been nagging me to build him a railway. something for next year maybe
Yes he's actually got side cutters in his hand in the 2nd photo not a scalpel- he knows he has to only press into the cutting mat, not press too hard and to never touch the pointy bit 
No issues so far, I've been sat next to him the whole time and the tools are put out of reach once we're finished.
No issues so far, I've been sat next to him the whole time and the tools are put out of reach once we're finished.They're great kits especially the 1/400 one but just don't have time for big modelling projects- hopefully when the kids are older I'll be able to set up a permanent modelling desk again that we can all use and get my airbrush and compressor out again.
I'm tempted to make another one of these little ones myself but painted+rigged properly, possibly with some etch (assuming someone does a set), mounted in a deep picture frame with a picture of the night sky + looming ice berg behind, and a translucent film on the inside of the glass to show the waterline.
I'm tempted to make another one of these little ones myself but painted+rigged properly, possibly with some etch (assuming someone does a set), mounted in a deep picture frame with a picture of the night sky + looming ice berg behind, and a translucent film on the inside of the glass to show the waterline.
There are two boxings of this kit- the Academy one is moulded in the correct colours for Titanic, or the Airfix boxing is moulded in grey and needs painting, although paints are included with that one, I guess a Britannic model would need painting white anyway. I think the only noticeable differences would be the extra lifeboats and the larger davits.
Various model shops online have them in stock- try Hannants, Antics, Wonderland models.
It's a lovely little kit and goes together really well. An 8 year old should have no issues with it. This is the 1:1000 version and is about 25cm long. There are also 1:700 and 1:400 versions which are larger but have very similar part design.
Various model shops online have them in stock- try Hannants, Antics, Wonderland models.
It's a lovely little kit and goes together really well. An 8 year old should have no issues with it. This is the 1:1000 version and is about 25cm long. There are also 1:700 and 1:400 versions which are larger but have very similar part design.
Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 28th November 15:03
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