building first ever kit, advice required
Discussion
If you follow the assembly instructions carefully, you should be OK.
However, it's being familiar with the way to handle the glues and paints that might cause you problems, especially as you've never built a plastic kit before. I would do a quick trawl through the web for instructional videos on kit assembly and painting. Hyperscale and youtube have some good films on kit building. Most of the videos cover aircraft or armour but, in general, the principles of plastic kit building apply right across the board.
I always advise beginners to start on something really simple. A classic WW2 single engined fighter plane in 1/72 scale (such as a Spitfire or P-51 Mustang) is about as basic as you can get in building models but they can be bought cheaply (around a fiver) and can be binned if it all goes wrong without feeling that the cost has been too wasteful.
I would look out for the easybuild Hobbyboss range. They are very simple kits - almost click together in style - but you can buy them cheaply and practice your assembly and painting skills without breaking the bank.
Slightly more complex but similarly priced would be some of the newer Revell 1/72 kits - again, WW2 single engined fighters are the best starter models, in my opinion. They also retail around the £4.00 to £5.00 mark.
However, it's being familiar with the way to handle the glues and paints that might cause you problems, especially as you've never built a plastic kit before. I would do a quick trawl through the web for instructional videos on kit assembly and painting. Hyperscale and youtube have some good films on kit building. Most of the videos cover aircraft or armour but, in general, the principles of plastic kit building apply right across the board.
I always advise beginners to start on something really simple. A classic WW2 single engined fighter plane in 1/72 scale (such as a Spitfire or P-51 Mustang) is about as basic as you can get in building models but they can be bought cheaply (around a fiver) and can be binned if it all goes wrong without feeling that the cost has been too wasteful.
I would look out for the easybuild Hobbyboss range. They are very simple kits - almost click together in style - but you can buy them cheaply and practice your assembly and painting skills without breaking the bank.
Slightly more complex but similarly priced would be some of the newer Revell 1/72 kits - again, WW2 single engined fighters are the best starter models, in my opinion. They also retail around the £4.00 to £5.00 mark.
Between the two, I would suggest Revell would be a better bet for a "pain free" build. However, you do have to be a bit careful even witth Revell as they have some very old models in their current catalogue.
Their P-51B and Spitfire V models are fairly recent and go together very well.
Their P-51B and Spitfire V models are fairly recent and go together very well.
Take your time and most importantly let everything dry properly before you move on.
Also take time to read the instructions and spend extra time filing and scraping the moulding burrs of the plastic as these look crap if you leave them on.
Finally if building a car model go down to halfords and buy a spray can of the correct colour rather than use model paint for the shell, it just seems to add some authenticity and gives a good finish.
I'd start with a 1/24th or 1/18th scale kit as the generally look better and are easier to build.
This is the best model car I have done and it took a long time to do it properly including fully detailed engine suspension and interior.
it's a 1/24th Tamiya kit BTW
Also take time to read the instructions and spend extra time filing and scraping the moulding burrs of the plastic as these look crap if you leave them on.
Finally if building a car model go down to halfords and buy a spray can of the correct colour rather than use model paint for the shell, it just seems to add some authenticity and gives a good finish.
I'd start with a 1/24th or 1/18th scale kit as the generally look better and are easier to build.
This is the best model car I have done and it took a long time to do it properly including fully detailed engine suspension and interior.
it's a 1/24th Tamiya kit BTW
T89 Callan said:
Take your time and most importantly let everything dry properly before you move on.
Also take time to read the instructions and spend extra time filing and scraping the moulding burrs of the plastic as these look crap if you leave them on.
Finally if building a car model go down to halfords and buy a spray can of the correct colour rather than use model paint for the shell, it just seems to add some authenticity and gives a good finish.
I'd start with a 1/24th or 1/18th scale kit as the generally look better and are easier to build.
This is the best model car I have done and it took a long time to do it properly including fully detailed engine suspension and interior.
it's a 1/24th Tamiya kit BTW
good work there sir!Also take time to read the instructions and spend extra time filing and scraping the moulding burrs of the plastic as these look crap if you leave them on.
Finally if building a car model go down to halfords and buy a spray can of the correct colour rather than use model paint for the shell, it just seems to add some authenticity and gives a good finish.
I'd start with a 1/24th or 1/18th scale kit as the generally look better and are easier to build.
This is the best model car I have done and it took a long time to do it properly including fully detailed engine suspension and interior.
it's a 1/24th Tamiya kit BTW
thanks for the advice which i have ignorned.have chosen an airfix mk1 escort 1:32 , simply because i like mk1 escorts. think i might need some more tools though, i have tweezers , a stanley knife and some of those emery boards women use on their nails. will post a pic if it loks half decent
I think a Stanley knife is a bit unweildy. Try and grab one of the Swann Morton scalpels with a 10A blade or an Xacto knife.
The Airfix Escort is pretty ancient (1970 or so) and the moulds are a bit tired by now. You may find that a lot of trimming and fettling is required to make it go together properly. These issues are not bad in themselves and help improves one's model building skills - but for a first-timer it could prove a little frustrating and diheartening.
The Airfix Escort is pretty ancient (1970 or so) and the moulds are a bit tired by now. You may find that a lot of trimming and fettling is required to make it go together properly. These issues are not bad in themselves and help improves one's model building skills - but for a first-timer it could prove a little frustrating and diheartening.
I would go for something cheap and simple to start with. Something that won't take forever to fill the gaps and fettle. Perhaps something smallish and easy to paint. don't worry about getting it hyper detailed, just get it reasonably well built, and done. There is nothing worse than taking forever over a model, it can really make it feel like hard work and put you off modelling for good.
|http://thumbsnap.coGood progress, Engine in running good only issue is the sump is too low and too much to get out and chop, but going to stick old wheels and tyres on as they were a bit taller (larger diameter)get the horn working and stick it through MOT got a new blank dashboard will be fitting that in the winter.
Post some pictures of the kits you bodge sorry build.
Post some pictures of the kits you
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