Scale modeling fun with a Hot Wheels kit

November was Build a Model Month, and I celebrated by assembling an AMT 1/25 scale Hot Wheels 1997 Dodge Viper GTS (AMT1349M) with my 8-year-old son. While LEGO tends to be his modeling material of choice, he has dabbled in traditional scale modeling with a Revell Scooby Doo Biplane, Revell The Mystery Machine, and an entry-grade Gundam kit from Bandai.

We worked through the Hot Wheels kit together, and our skill sets complemented each other quite nicely. I helped keep the assembly in the proper order — sometimes, he sees a more interesting step he would like to skip ahead to — and he helped puzzle the pieces together with the skillful vision of an engineer.

Our mantra during this project was, “this is a model and not a toy.” While it looks like a larger version of his coveted Hot Wheels toys, it is meant only for gentle play — had we opted to glue some of the pieces in, it probably could withstand more traditional playing.

The perfectionist in me took on the delicate project of sticker placement (I’ve seen too many crooked or improperly placed LEGO stickers), and even I had to concentrate on it a bit. That gave my son a little break to let off some energy before he came back to check out the finished model.

Could he have assembled this on his own? Probably not. Could I have assembled this without his help? Possibly, but it was more enjoyable knowing that we were building it together, and I had a second set of eyes — and hands — to help ensure proper assembly. Working with him on models teaches both of us a lesson in patience, a virtue that is essential in this hobby!