Aero Online

Curiosities 12 - Aviation Hobbies: Plastic Modeling

João Henrique Barboza Jorgetto • Jun 08, 2023

Take a good look at the plane just below and tell me: Is it or isn't it an excellent miniature?

Because this is one of the many hobbies that the aeronautical universe contemplates: plastic modeling!

The hobby you must already know or at least have seen in some store. Usually an illustrated box (always well illustrated) and containing inside a plastic kit with a reduced scale miniature. Historically, there is no specific date for the beginning of this art, but Airfix and Frog, two companies in the field, were already selling good kits in the 50s.

During the Cold War, the plastic model market underwent a real leap, largely due to the vast majority of miniatures being military items such as planes, tanks and ships, and this market preference still served as a good propaganda battleground in the ideological war fought between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. While western miniature kits were extremely detailed and robust, Soviet military kits were lame and unremarkable.

Currently the market is huge and still attracts many aviation fans. In addition to the successful European and American brands, new brands have emerged on the market with Russian, Japanese and Chinese companies delivering high quality kits to their customers. Exhibitions and groups of plastic modelers are very common in the hobby and it is always very interesting to participate in events.

If you like airplanes and would like a new hobby that requires patience, detail and a lot of study, plastic modeling is an ideal choice. Imagine the feeling of having a "Super Tucano" assembled entirely by you? Look for models that are more suitable for beginners, buy the basics of paint, brushes (or airbrush), specific glue and good luck!