Simple kit for a 10 year old

[Skyedriver]

Looking for a reasonably simple (car preferably but maybe plane) model kit as a first for a 10 year old (his brother might help). Possibly about 100 pieces max?, not a 10 piece built in 10 minutes one.
When you read the reviews on Amazon etc many, particularly Airfix are poorly made (well I guess the mould are 50+ years old), don't fit together well and the included paints are rubbish.
Price about £14 as the likelyhood is well need to buy glue & paint too.. ending up around £18 I suppose.
Are the Revell Camaro / Mustang kits ok?
Needs to be something he recognises, was thinking mini or VW camper but would a 10 year old recognise these, he certainly wouldn't know a TRiumph Herald.
He's currently into all sorts of transformer, robot, strange war creatures type stuff that I don't know.
Anyone suggest something, needed for Christmas.

[sgrimshaw]

Has he specifically shown interest in building model kits?

If not, maybe Lego Technic might be an idea?

[Zad]

How about the Revell SnapTite Star Wars kits?

[Eric Mc]

Or an Easykit from Hobbyboss?





They are cheap (around £5.00) so you could buy handfull of different kits.

They do a good range of simple 1/72 aircraft including Spitfires, Hurricanes, Me262, Me109s, Wildcats, Mig 15s, F-86 Sabres etc

[Big Fat Fatty]

Old skool, if that's his thing
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Volkswagen-1300-Beetle-196...

Standard PH response
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamiya-24-Mazda-MX-Miata/d...

Classic and everyone should own one at some point.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Morris-Mini-Cooper-Racing-...

Another PH favourite
http://www.modelzone.co.uk/tamiya-lotus-super-7-se...

These would be my choices, I would probably go for either the Mini or the 7. I realise these are Amazon links but they can all be had on eBay quite a bit cheaper.

I didn't realise the 7 was discontinued but I have found a few on eBay before now at relatively low prices.

As these are Tamiya kits the fit is excellent and the moulds are pretty accurate so should be good for a 10 year old with a bit of help from Dad.

HTH

[dr_gn]

Skyedriver said:

Looking for a reasonably simple (car preferably but maybe plane) model kit as a first for a 10 year old (his brother might help). Possibly about 100 pieces max?, not a 10 piece built in 10 minutes one.
When you read the reviews on Amazon etc many, particularly Airfix are poorly made (well I guess the mould are 50+ years old), don't fit together well and the included paints are rubbish.
Price about £14 as the likelyhood is well need to buy glue & paint too.. ending up around £18 I suppose.
Are the Revell Camaro / Mustang kits ok?
Needs to be something he recognises, was thinking mini or VW camper but would a 10 year old recognise these, he certainly wouldn't know a TRiumph Herald.
He's currently into all sorts of transformer, robot, strange war creatures type stuff that I don't know.
Anyone suggest something, needed for Christmas.

For the money you won't go far wrong with Revell kits, but you have to be a bit careful about their age; some are re-releases of extremely old kits. Revell also do an Easykit range which might be worth looking at. The best thing to do is to look for online reviews and images of the finished kit before buying. The instructions for the Camaro and Mustang are available for download on the Revell Germany website

http://www.revell.de/index.php?id=178&L=1

I sometimes have a browse before buying to check the level of detail:

Camaro:

http://www.revell.de/manual/07088.PDF

Mustang:

http://www.revell.de/manual/07355.PDF

Tamiya car kits are also superb, but a bit more expensive.

Strange you should mention the robot/transformer thing: Please don't judge me on this becasue I too have no idea what it is, but I spent this morning building a Bandai "Gundam Deathscythe Hell" robot that was given to my son (5):



It took 3 hours and was snap together and didn't need paint. It's articulated and it's probably quite a good model if only I knew what it was.

[Big Fat Fatty]

dr_gn said:

It's articulated and it's probably quite a good model if only I knew what it was.

Think Power Rangers and you're half way there. They're robots from cartoon shows that normal size people 'drive' and have battles through cities with, sometimes called Mechs or Mech Warriors.

Gundam is a series of games, anime and manga from Japan, they're immensely popular over there.

[dr_gn]

Big Fat Fatty said:

dr_gn said:

It's articulated and it's probably quite a good model if only I knew what it was.

Think Power Rangers and you're half way there. They're robots from cartoon shows that normal size people 'drive' and have battles through cities with, sometimes called Mechs or Mech Warriors.

Gundam is a series of games, anime and manga from Japan, they're immensely popular over there.

Sounds great - I'm guessing from the scale of 1:100 that the 'normal size' person sits in the head bit of it then (in theory)?

[DavidY]

Going back to the OPs request, I would look for something that will look good with a 10yo paint job, there is nothing more disheartening than being able to go great assembly and then finishing it with a crap paint job. To this effect a model with camo style paint (eg aircraft/tank) will be better than a car, since trying to get a nice glossy finish on a car model is not a starter project.

My son started with Warhammer 40K figures, his painting came on great (even won a local shop under 14 competition when he was 9!!), and has assembled the odd WW2 aircraft.

I think something iconic like a Spitfire would be a good place to start, probably in 1/72, and it really doesn't matter if it's an Airfix kit, it will go together well enough.

[Eric Mc]

I think hose Hobbyboss kits are great for begionners. They almost click together and more time can them be spent painting.

[Eric Mc]

Eric Mc said:

I think hose Hobbyboss kits are great for begionners. They almost click together and more time can then be spent painting.

[Skyedriver]

Big Fat Fatty said:

Classic and everyone should own one at some point.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Morris-Mini-Cooper-Racing-...

Another PH favourite
http://www.modelzone.co.uk/tamiya-lotus-super-7-se...

These would be my choices, I would probably go for either the Mini or the 7. I realise these are Amazon links but they can all be had on eBay quite a bit cheaper.

I didn't realise the 7 was discontinued but I have found a few on eBay before now at relatively low prices.

As these are Tamiya kits the fit is excellent and the moulds are pretty accurate so should be good for a 10 year old with a bit of help from Dad.

HTH

The 7 kit I have built twice myself as replicas of the cars I had
The mini kit seems ok but have you read the Amazon review....

"Definatley for someone who has a lot of spare time and building models is what you are into, very fittery with lots of small parts."

Why would you get one??????

[Skyedriver]

thanks everyone,
those Gangam things we got him one for his birthday as thats what he asked for - no idea what it is
Good suggestion about the painting - camoflage easier
Think it'll be his brother helping, his dads not the most practical