Thursday, February 08, 2007
Collectibles: Right glue needed to bind younger generation to modeling
By Don Hammonds, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Last week's column, which reported that diecast and plastic models giant RC2 may get out of the business next year, really hit a nerve with hobbyists.
The question on everybody's mind was "What can we do?"
Without question, one of the best ways to help rejuvenate the industry would be to get younger generations involved, whether through contests, local shows at hobby shops or special exhibits.
Would it work? I think so. While television, video games and high- technology toys are enticing, cars are pretty darned exciting to youngsters -- and not-so-youngsters, too.
Anytime I get an interesting test car for a week, my children want me to drive them to school where they are peppered with questions, "thumbs up" and expressions of "wow" from their friends. And it's no longer unusual for kids in my neighborhood to come up to our house, camera in hand, to take pictures of the cars we have parked out front. Full story
Last week's column, which reported that diecast and plastic models giant RC2 may get out of the business next year, really hit a nerve with hobbyists.
The question on everybody's mind was "What can we do?"
Without question, one of the best ways to help rejuvenate the industry would be to get younger generations involved, whether through contests, local shows at hobby shops or special exhibits.
Would it work? I think so. While television, video games and high- technology toys are enticing, cars are pretty darned exciting to youngsters -- and not-so-youngsters, too.
Anytime I get an interesting test car for a week, my children want me to drive them to school where they are peppered with questions, "thumbs up" and expressions of "wow" from their friends. And it's no longer unusual for kids in my neighborhood to come up to our house, camera in hand, to take pictures of the cars we have parked out front. Full story
