Model Airplane Building Isn't Just for Kids
When I got married quite a few years ago, not only did I acquire a wonderful guy for a husband, but I also ended up adding his huge model airplane collection to my life. It wasn't easy, because, at the time, he had more than fifty models airplanes ranging in size from about five inches to a few with 6 foot wing spans.
Over the years, the planes would come and go as he traded with friends, sold one now and then, and, unfortunately, totaled a few during our frequent trips to competitive meets and on solo trips to a nearby lake where he enjoyed flying his amphibian models.
As soon as each of our children was old enough to hold a tiny balsa glider, their dad had them out in the back yard flying their own little airplanes, and, over the years, many of the neighborhood kids joined in as well. Later, grandchildren were added to the mix, and the "gang," as they love to call themselves, still love to meet at a field or lake and practice their flying skills against each other.
Model airplane building is fun and educational. Kids can start with inexpensive little balsa press-out kits that can be assembled in just a few minutes. Then, as they grow older, plastic models with just a few basic parts, or rubber band models can be purchased for a reasonable price. These can be painted and personalized with numbers so the child feels a real sense of ownership.
Depending on the interest and skills of older children, you may want to move from the simple models mentioned earlier into kits where the child follows a pattern to cut out individual parts and glues them, sands, them, applies fabric, paint, etc. If an adult member of the family already has these skills, so much the better, but, if not, there are books available online that can help.
Radio control model airplanes are the next step, and the one most families who are interested in building and flying model planes look forward to. It is a more expensive step, and one that should be studied carefully before you actually get into it to make sure you choose a plane that isn't too difficult to build or fly for the skill level of your family members.
The time to get your family started on this exciting hobby is now, during the winter months, so that you will be ready to "take off" when good flying weather rolls around next spring.