A Scale Model or a Model Car Makes a Perfect Gift for a Boy or Girl from the Age of Eight and Up!

Working with your kids on a project like a scale model of a car, truck, ship, or plane can teach your child self confidence, fine motor skills and problem solving skills, but as long as you stay active in the scale model hobby with them (at least until they can proceed on their own) what they will think they are getting is a whole lot of fun!

Start them out with easier scale models; most manufacturers have a skill level printed on the box. They make snap together model kits of scale models that require no glue and contain fewer parts, though the snapping part can be tough for small fingers.

They don't need a razor knife at this point to build a scale model, though later on it would be useful. A tiny file will do almost anything you need on plastic and is far less likely to hurt them, especially with mom or dad's help!

Keep the model kits simple at first, nothing can discourage a child faster than opening a scale model of a sailing ship and seeing a mile of string... or a box completely filled with tiny scale model parts.

As the child's skill progresses look for slightly higher skill level model kits to keep them challenged. You can teach them to paint the scale models with spray cans and bottled paint and brushes, keep in mind these can make a real mess and plan accordingly. Put newspaper down and do the spraying outdoors on a nice sunny day, away from cars and anything else you don't care to have change color.

Once they advance to glue together model kits, encourage them to use as little as possible to avoid glue blobs instead of a model car and again take precautions for spills.

As the skill levels increase, they can add details like scale model wiring, decals, hoses and almost anything a real car can have. Opening doors and trunks can be made; tilt front ends and roll cages added. Modifying the body to chop and channel the scale model is fairly simple with plastic. A whole industry exists to supply a scale modeler's wants and needs for realism. Photo-etched parts are available to reproduce grilles, speakers, tools, and other parts your heart desires.

Custom paint colors and factory paints colors abound to please any taste in the building of a scale model. Air brushes can create custom paint schemes just like on the real cars, tanks, planes or big rig.

There are companies that make resin cast bodies for model cars you aren't going to find from the big manufacturers of scale models, companies that make scale model aluminum parts and companies that make scale model wheels and tires in every imaginable style.

A scale model can be a beautiful thing, reproducing race cars, pro street cars, factory stock and hot rods.

There are contests held and awards given to those so inclined, the IPMS or International Plastic Modeler's Society holds contests and shows all over the planet. There is competition in automotive, armor, ship and plane categories.

As you can see, scale modeling is not just for kids, but kids are a starting point with a life time of hobbying to follow, a hobby that can keep them well occupied and away from trouble while building a skill that will give them self respect as well as something to display on a shelf!

A scale model is a great idea for a gift, so is a finished model car. Planes can be hung from the ceiling by fishing line to resemble flight and displaying your modeling project is half the fun.