Skip Navigation

Display Mode:

  • Choose Default Style
  • Choose High Contrast
PAMF Preteen Health Education California
  • Preteen Home
  • About the Preteen Group
  • PAMF Home
  • My Body
  • My Feelings
  • Growing Up
  • My Interests
  • For Parents & Teachers
Section TitleMy Interests
  • Hobbies
    • Directory of All Hobby Articles
    • Do-It-Yourself Projects
    • Stop Boredom
    Main content

    Toy and Model Cars

    What's your hobby? For some people building and playing with model cars is a hobby. A lot of adults were collectors of toy cars when they were kids, so ask someone to show you their collection.

    Lots of toy cars are made exactly to scale of the actual car. For example, if the real car was 65 inches wide and 70 inches tall, a model might be 6.5 inches wide and 7 inches tall. This keeps everything proportional.

    Below are some tips on building model cars from kits.

    • Practice! There are thousands of types to pick from, and some of them can be very expensive. Start with an inexpensive kit so you can get used to using the glue and other tools.
    • Start with beginner kits. Most of the cars have different skill levels. Start with the easiest level and build your way up. The advanced models can have lots of pieces and take a lot more time to put together.
    • Keep the parts away from small kids. Children might choke on a part, so keep small parts out of their reach and where you know no one will touch them.
    • Work on a model car with somebody. This can be a fun way to spend time with a friend or parent, as well as a way to fight boredom.
    • Personalize your cars. Add your own decorations, you don't have to do everything the directions say. Be creative when decorating the model.
    • Do not inhale the glue! It is toxic, so make sure that you either have an adult help you use the glue or you use it in a ventilated area. Even better, use the glue outside.
    Save your cars! They might be worth a lot in a few years (or decades), but it pays to save.

    Toy and Model Cars
    By Julia Ransohoff, high school student writer
    • Website Feedback
    • Site Map

    © 2013 Palo Alto Medical Foundation. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health®, Reg. U.S. Patent. & Trademark office.
    Serving communities around Palo Alto, Mountain View, Fremont, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Dublin, San Mateo & Santa Cruz.