[mbrd]

It's definitely not the hobby of choice for young boys any more, but it feels like it is having a golden age of kit quality aiming at an older audience with disposal income. Manufacturers like Tamiya, and also Eduard or Meng (those are my favs anyway) are producing extremely high quality kits.

There is always consternation amongst modelers about where the next generation will come from, but the Gundam/Gunpla scene is supposedly very large in Japan and growing in the West.

[JKCalhoun]

That's true — there are certainly a lot of variety now, especially with 3D printing and garage kits. The "long tail" has definitely been kind to the esoteric modeler.

Adult-me recently took to designing a kit for a NASA "Space Tug" that never existed (only proposed "artist's renderings" from the 1970;s) [1]. It is so esoteric that no one made a kit for it — I had to learn to use Blender, ha ha.

I just wish more kids were into modeling.

[1] free to download: https://github.com/EngineersNeedArt/Space-Tug_3DModel

[sho_hn]

FWIW, this kind of thing is a lot easier to model in a CAD package (e.g. FreeCAD or Fusion) than Blender. If you ever go again!

[JKCalhoun]

I have played with a couple of CAD packages (free ones like FreeCAD anyway). There is quite a learning curve to those as well.

I had hoped that learning Blender would pay dividends in other types of pursuits as well since it is a fairly broad tool. And as you probably now, there are "mathematical" ways to use Blender — parametrization though is a bit lacking (without going down the plug-in rabbit-hole).

[Joel_Mckay]

It is funny, as the metal 3D printer I've been working on is designed to handle printing/repairing large girder structures. Making things work in vacuum is an interesting design challenge, but also opens a lot of design possibilities for arbitrary structures that can't launch on cargo rockets.

People are often too judgmental these days, and youth must make their own decisions about the world they want to live in.

If you know the history of how JPL started, than you can probably guess it is the "odd" ones that tend to change science for the better. =3

[Rediscover]

Jack Parsons' Lab?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons

[Joel_Mckay]

Entertaining times =3

[wiz21c]

Really nice job !!!

[Cthulhu_]

I bought my first Gundam model the other day (never seen them before in shops, but they can be bought online) and I was really impressed. I've built two Revell models before and some Warhammer stuff in the past. This model was cheaper than all of those (about €19), bigger, multicolour plastic, different materials, the result is fully poseable, different weapons and hands, fiddly stickers and decals, the works. And it's very cleverly designed, no glue needed.

I'd argue that if someone wants to get started with building models, Gundam is the way to go. Painting optional, no glue needed, etc. Plus, giant robots are cool.

[zephyrfalcon]

Also: Zoids... https://zoids.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Zoids

[the_af]

The wargaming hobby (yes, Warhammer but not limited to it, there are very brands nowadays) is going stronger than ever. Plastic, resin ans 3D printed kits galore, which require painting, converting, etc.