Episode 52: Barry & Jim Recall Some of Their Earliest Kits and Figures

As they wait for some of the exciting interviews they’ve lined up for upcoming episodes to fall into place, your hosts turn in this one to expanding on their own answers to one of their favorite questions for guests—How did you get your start in this small-sized pursuit of ours? They dive into some of their earliest modeling experiences, and talk about some of the kits and figures they loved tackling as kids.

Above, Barry notes: “This was my first ‘serious’ model: Tamiya Marder II, built when I was 13.” Below: Jim fondly recalls snapping together all of the Aurora “Prehistoric Scenes” kits, and even enhancing some with some Testors enamels, circa age 9 or 10.

Above: Young Barry built the Monogram Lee and was much impressed with Shep’s diorama for the tip sheet.

Above: After seeing Shep’s classic Monogram diorama of the downed Devastator in Sports Illustrated, a 13-year-old Jim became fascinated with clear casting resin. One of his first figures was the Airfix French line infantryman he assembled and put in a clear block as a paperweight (he only has this because he gave it to his stepdad as a gift, and it came back when Harry died). He said it was his first Historex figure during the taping, but looking at it now, it’s definitely Airfix.

Below, Barry notes: “These are the first figures I ever entered in a serious show (SCAHMS 2004): Metal Modeles 54mm Chasseur D’Afrique and Amati 1/10 Highlander Officer, 1760. I can’t remember which one I got a bronze for.”

Below: Monogram’s Sturmpanzer kit and Shep Paine’s classic diorama for the tip sheet. It may or may not have been enhanced if the master had included a silhouette in the building, Coyote and Roadrunner-style, for where the commander broke through the ruin.

Jim also fondly recalled the old Tamiya kit of the Bren gun carrier, which Barry said wasn’t available in Utah, and mentioned that he’s been eying Gecko Models’ forthcoming 1/16th Universal Carrier. This prompted Barry to suggest they both build one when it’s available.

Challenge accepted!

Finally, the Monogram Merite figures (Jim painted the Prussian Guard Infantry, sadly long lost to some landfill, along with the mouse carcass he had to peel off it at Campbell’s Model Hobby Shop in Jersey City). And the boys suggested this site as a good resource for revisiting some of these old kits.