What's the ideal model kit for beginners? The Model Kit Basics

[@chrissteadman4614]

Super refreshing to watch a no nonsense, down to earth video of this kind, that isn't 30 minutes long! Thanks!

[@melgreier1630]

I agree!! Too many times I see a 15 or 20 or 30 minute video that, to me, seems so complicated for anyone who is trying to get into model building...glad someone just cut out all the crap and said, ‘try these kits, build them and have fun doing it!’, rather than ‘now we get into painting and customizing your kit...’ great video, great advice! Any kids (or adults) getting into model building, just do it!

[@theblytonian3906]

Right on the money, if building in 1/48 (aircraft), 1/35 (armour), with the caveat, for first/early models stick with Tamiya's older kits which if less accurate than latest toolings, are simple, inexpensive and yet result dressed up in their war paint, result in attractive models. Just pick one which most excites the mojo.

[@bunnyniyori6324]

I think the best ideal kit for beginners is best stated as "Not the small one, the cheap one, the one with fewest parts." Because often those ones are also crap. Or inherently flawed. or just a lot of work to make into something that isn't a disappointment. The best kits are often made by very solid companies that have been in business for decades. Pick one of their new releases. It will usually be them at their best. Pick a tank. They are less prone to need skills like painting. Planes need to be assembled perfectly. Cars need to be painted perfectly. Ships have many small parts. A tank is often no interior. A box shape with some parts glued on it. Some wheels and tracks. And it is ok to look beat up.

[@garfieldsmith332]

Great kits. The older molds are great for beginners to work their way up into building more complex kits. They are also great for the average builder who just wants an easy build to display. And weathering etc can make these early kits look great. If you are a serious builder then the highly detailed and high parts counts from other manufactures are for you. I build Tamiya, straightforward, easy to build and a nice parts fit

[@user-wf2lm3vi7o]

Agree. And as they cost less, mistakes don't cost as much! Great for trying techniques on as experience grows.

[@garfieldsmith332]

@@user-wf2lm3vi7o Yes. And in armour or WW2 aircraft mistakes become "battle damage". However the price of Tamiya here (Canada) has gone way up. Their newer kits are expensive and so,e older kits have gone up a fair bit. A $30 kit I got two hears ago is now $43. Still they are value for money.

[@user-wf2lm3vi7o]

@@garfieldsmith332 the older kits here haven’t changed much, it’s the entry point for newer kits at over $80 for say that Panzer IV, the Nashorn from 2014 at more than $90!

[@garfieldsmith332]

@@user-wf2lm3vi7o Yes, the newer kits can cost. The new Panzer IV was $88 CDN with taxes. I can get some early armour in the $20 to $30 range.

[@theblytonian3906]

@@user-wf2lm3vi7o Tamiya's newer kits are going up against Dragon (armour) and Eduard (air). Have you priced Dragon armour kits lately? Makes Tamiya seem very reasonable.

[@faded_yt5845]

Im just getting into building kits, thank you for the tips!

[@melgreier1630]

Have fun building and don’t think you have to buy the biggest, most expensive kits available! Tamiya kits are awesome for all skill levels! Good luck and hope you have a blast!!

[@billclarke5916]

Hey thanks, that's a great vid for beginners, especially young people.

[@coling3957]

my first 1/35th vehicle was the Tamiya Panzer IIf - the one from the 1970's which you can still get for about a tenner... its dead easy to put together and has the bonus, especially if you're a youngster, of having a squad of Afrika Korps soldiers with which to display it with. dead easy to make and a nice little kit. something like the Leopard or the T62 are also pretty cheap and dead easy to assemble.

[@davidcole333]

Lately, I have been building Takom's 1/72 turret kits (Yamato, Missouri, Hood, Bismarck, etc...) I actually think these kits would be marvelous kits for learners and here's why: 1) low part count. 2) good fit and finish. 3) lower price 4) not a lot of paint or other materials/supplies required. 5) perfect opportunity to learn basics of weathering. 6) simple to paint, especially if new with the airbrush. 7) can be built in a weekend. 8) good opportunity to learn the basics of cutting parts off of the sprues, removing the nibs, preparing for glue. Just my two cents. I normally build 1/32 aircraft, 1/16 armor and 1/35 armor.

[@lappin6482]

perfect for lock-down get building people!!

[@stephenmcdonald7908]

Totally agree. The 2 sprue a/craft kits are excellent.

[@deanmcbeth4140]

Thanks, great video for beginners

[@SouthernMercenary]

Another great series is Mengs World War Toon kits. They're small and very easy to make while not being expensive.

[@simongee8928]

I have the Toon Panther and whilst it's a very fun kit, some of the accessories needed the pre drilled holes enlarging. But apart from that, a great idea - !

[@jeremyalam480]

Buildability and fit are very important for beginner's kits. You don't want something with warped parts, lots of flash, surface irregularities, badly mating surfaces, or thick sprue gates. Nor do you want something with a huge part count. You want something with parts you can cut off the sprues easily and glue together with a minimum of fuss. And lastly, a beginner should start small and master the arts of assembly and finish. For this reason, I would suggest newer 1/72 aircraft or armour kits as better options for the beginner. Obviously, you also have to consider subject preference as well--some people prefer cars, ships, spaceships or even dinosaurs to planes and armour. Airfix, Revell and Hasegawa kits are all good choices apart from Tamiya, particularly their more modern offerings. They are usually cheaper than Tamiya kits and of comparable quality. As a further suggestion for tools, sanding sticks are a must to clean up parts and deal with seams.

[@raymondrosario9893]

I agree 100% with this video. Tamiya makes kits for the modeler...quick assembly, fairly accurate, good part count. You can go with Meng, RFM, Takom for really high detailed kits but something you can do in a weekend...Tamiya hands down

[@williamvanparys6858]

I love Tamiya kits but I, usually stick with AMT, revell, monogram and sometimes MPC... Since the pandemic I've been branching out to other kit companies like Tamiya, meng, IMC, hobby boss and a few others...

[@kevinu6004]

Aoshima, Revell & amt are some other decent balanced options I've found....

[@grzegorz2688]

Imho...taking into consideration planes for beginners I would recommend 1:72 scale instead of 1:48...based on my personnal expierence it has worked for me...I think "easy set, quick build" is the way to start and develop skills...after several 1:72 kits I switched to 1:48 and I was happy with overall result on bigger scale

[@Aston1356]

I’m a beginner and i have seen heaps of different opinions and I’ve gone with yours so i hope it will go good. Thanks

[@melgreier1630]

Good advice again! For younger, less experienced builders, low parts count kits are a great way to build your confidence and abilities! After you’ve done a few, I bet you’ll find your own style and pace! Have fun!!

[@davidwilson4331]

I am going to take your advice. I have my eye on a Revell - USS Arizona Battleship which is 1:42 scale. Not too many parts and I could definitely practice some techniques that I will use on larger kits.

[@ryanandtech3164]

Thanks for this mate, would you say 1/48 is easier than 1/72.. I started with a 1/72 from airfix and because some of the parts are the size of a spec of dust i found i was breaking parts way to easy, leaving me frustrated, would these bigger 1:48 kits be more forgiving? Still a rookie at this any info would help.

[@geoffyoung3012]

Great Video... Thank you so much.

[@michaelnaven213]

Spot on about Tamiya. They engineer their kits with the primary priority is the builder.

[@MojoDevirus]

All hail Tamiya !!!!

[@mageckman]

I realize that this is 3 years old or so, but I have to comment on what was said about tamiya's tracks. Some of the rubber tracks are glue together, like he said. However, some are supposed to be melted together with a hot screwdriver or something similar. If it is a child beginner building the kits, they would need adult supervision for that part.

[@Alan-gb4wh]

Me jumping right into a modern 1:72 thinking smaller was better. I was successful but boy oh boy was it a rough learning experience

[@simongee8928]

You didn't mention files to smooth things off. No problem, as nail files and emery boards available cheaply in budget pharmacy shops will do very well.

[@flipvdfluitketel867]

as starterkit aircraft the 1/72 revell kits are cheap, usually decent and some allow you to learn to work with imperfect kits. For armour there is nothing better than the older tamiya kits for learner kits.

[@thomasenright5282]

All the stuff your showing here is in Australia, I live in Ireland any idea where to get the stuff I need over here

[@MGB-learning]

Great video

[@allgood6760]

Good stuff mate! 👍🇳🇿

[@shawnkelley9942]

Nice job. Thank you.

[@sonnyd.6777]

Always been a Tamiya Armour guy. I miss the motorized versions . they where cheap and easy to assemble. I esp love the big scale 1/24 scale , which had motor ,individual track links and suspension.

[@steveelkins52]

Would be nice to have similar models in different scales. I can't get my head around the math.

[@m4rkmk136]

i tougth tamya models costed 100's or more but the raf mustang surprisingly is 29 euros on amazon

[@thomasb7237]

Between armor and planes, which is typically easier for a beginner?

[@MetroHobbiesAus]

Hi Thomas, speaking very generally - planes are easier to glue but harder to paint with more fine details. Armor is harder to glue, but easier to paint with less details. The specific kit, brand & scale. e.g German tanks in general will be harder that Allied tanks. Tamiya as a brand will be easier as their moulds are better quality/fit together better. You might want to have a look over the instructions online prior to committing to the build as this will give you the most accurate idea of difficulty. We hope that helps!

[@BigAndTall666]

Tamiya's Panzer 2 in 1:35 scale is sooo easy to build, easier than airplane kits...

[@TheHambo4]

Forgot to add that! But yes, it's a classic kit that's 51 years old!

[@falcony100]

The same recommendation when talking about beers … just a model in front of you and start

[@V3lk0n]

Can the wheels move with the tracks?

[@johnathanrobinzine3149]

I like that military models

[@wilfredwayne7139]

I've been wanting to try this for a while but the painting puts me off I suck.

[@iankozlovsky178]

i love tamiya 1/35 tanks however i dont get the chance to build many because of how expensive they are

[@vtbmwbiker]

Ebay is a good place to look. Check out the shipping price first -- don't be afraid to ask for a lower shipping rate. Academy makes some good armor kits as well. Some people are down on Italari and Testors, but I've found them to be enjoyable to build.

[@theblytonian3906]

Is older mould Tamiya armour expensive in your country? Pretty inexpensive in mine, and everything is overpriced here relative to country of origin (Japan) and the USA.

[@vtbmwbiker]

@@theblytonian3906 Depends. I can usually find a good deal on Ebay if I'm patient and not too discriminating. I've found that if I wait until an end of an auction I do better, though it does pay to check the shipping costs.

[@theblytonian3906]

@@vtbmwbiker Pickings on eBay in my country are pretty slim. I find better pickings shopping selectively online internationally or at sale and promo times. Private seller stash auctions here on eBay are just crazy. I've bought stuff like compressors at eBay auctions off pro sellers, but always look for a Sunday local end as many bidders are away and don't use the auto-bid system so I can lowball and get away with it.

[@tomstamford6837]

The frustrating thing is the kits you want are almost always out of stock. I wait patiently, check the website regularly, then when something comes in again I have to wait until I can get to the store - ok I am old school and I have an aversion to having items put aside - and the night before I check availability again and... you guessed it, out of stock. It seems everyone is back into kit building again and they all want to same kits you do! It doesn't help that supply has also been affected. Yet, I persist in the hopes I might strike it lucky at some point.

[@theblytonian3906]

Have to be a little flexible on the particular model in these times, and yes the Tamiya's cheapies do move quickly -for the obvious reason, especially when so many are shopping the same few online sources.

[@tomstamford6837]

@@theblytonian3906 On top supply problems. I think I will most likely have to do the request option to reserve kits so at the very least Metro knows there is a demand for certain items and to order them in. But dang it, I just loved going into a store and browsing the shelves, picking them off myself. I'm also kicking myself that in Nov '20 I didn't get the Tamiya Flakpanzer kits that were sitting on the shelf, as I have not seen them in stock since - "I'll get them next time". There never is a "next time".

[@theblytonian3906]

@@tomstamford6837 Sign of the times. Not just plastic modelling. The plandemic has seen demand currently outstrip supply in many leisure industry type pursuits for the myriad of self-evident reasons. That said, you are most fortunate in being able to go into a model store at all, particularly one with the range of plastic kit stock Metro entertains. Unless one lives in a capital city, that's generally not possible in 2022. Not even a Mr Toys or Hobby & Toyland type store in many regional cities today. Insufficient interest to sustain the latter which used to carry a token range of kits and plastic modelling accessories. Observable demise through their primary target demographic, that kids don't play with tactile things any more, particularly those requiring input of personal effort not handed to them on a plate or offering instant titillation, gratification and all important peer adulation and approval. They are too busy with their smartphones and Playstation/Xbox games or are too busy being propagandised into confusion as to whether they are Arthur or Martha in the prime adolescent potential plastic kit modelling years. Back to the particular model reserved for "next time". If you see it and REALLY want THAT kit, not to be confused with the lustful wanting everything new and exciting one sees perspective, just buy it. They ain't tomatoes and wont rot. The way prices have gone over the past decade, it's potentially possible to recover the price paid on most of my purchases e.g. Dragon, Hasegawa, Eduard flogging them off on eBay without putting silly Buy Now prices on them.

[@Sillybilly8899]

Honestly if i can get into the hobby I’m gonna make my own vehicles via splicing and dicing

[@Aston1356]

What plane would be the best for a beginner out of all of them

[@TheHambo4]

The bf108E4! Excellent kit...

[@Aston1356]

@@TheHambo4 is this Andy?

[@Sorarse]

0:47 I was confused when you said 1/48 scale was 1/4 scale. That seems contradictory. Surely a 1/4 scale aircraft model would have a wingspan of several feet.

[@ianthomson9363]

Quarter scale is shorthand for quarter inch to a foot on the real thing. It doesn't mean 1/4 scale- as you rightly say, a 1/4 aircraft would be pretty huge!

[@Sorarse]

@@ianthomson9363 Thanks for clearing that up. As I build in 1:4 and even 1:3 scale, it had me confused.

[@ianthomson9363]

@@Sorarse You're very welcome! I'm intrigued by the scales you work in- what sort of things do you build?

[@Sorarse]

@@ianthomson9363 At that scale, r/c slope soarers.

[@ianthomson9363]

@@Sorarse That's something I've never dared to get interested in. I know that after only a few minutes I'd end up with only a lot of smashed bits!

[@stevieb6173]

mm not so sure , great video , but , 1/48 for the beginner , that's a large kit and expensive for the beginner , and if you include paints , and don't get me started on the brush v airbrush debate, but I do agree tamiya one of the best, or eduard (profi pack) or hasagawa , the other problem with 1/48 is where the heck do you put them at that size,,, non the less informative video 👍

[@melgreier1630]

I see your point but I’d also like to add that in 1/72 scale, some parts are extremely small and are easily lost or broken... I think 1/48 is a pretty good choice for a beginner to learn the ropes and develop confidence... that and choosing kits with low parts count to hone one’s abilities 👍👍

[@andysixgaming6780]

Is there a kit that dont require painting?

[@MetroHobbiesAus]

Hey @andysixgaming6780 😄we stock a huge range of Bandai products that are almost all pre coloured plastic. The Airfix Quick Build and Revell Click range are also a great option for their types of kits!

[@user-ro1cs5hp5e]

U should do a video explaining that super glue is much better than using cement bc cement is toxic and it can cause permanent neurotoxic issues

[@rosallygallano5288]

Me who uses a model as a toy:hehe model go boom

[@JohnSmith-zv8km]

Glue types could have been better explained.

[@rszanger]

Tamiya produces the best model kits whether you're a beginner or intermediate or even advanced modeler. Academy also makes great models, but they don't have huge selection like Tamiya has. The Chinese models usually come with too many parts or/and cluttered parts. Revell/Monogram/Pro modeler ones are not as good as Tamiya or Academy, and parts don't fit that well., not very detailed.

[@patrolduty8715]

Never start with Aircraft as the first kit. The tank or armoured vehicles have better chance to fit, and they have much simpler paint job. My biggest mistake was to start this hobby with 1/48 FW190. I nearly gave up because of challenging paint works. When I build my first T-54 kit, I questioned myself a lot for not choose that kit instead of FW190. My first FW190 kit turned out terrible as I dont have enough skill to do aircraft as the first kit.

[@mageckman]

I can see where that would cause problems. The German planes had intricate paint jobs on them. You would have probably had an easier time with the painting if you had built an American or British plane of the same time period. They had much simpler paint jobs on them.

[@steveharrigan7811]

If you are really a beginner, military models like tanks and planes shouldn't be your first choice. The best models to get familiar with modeling are 1/32 scale car kits. They are simple, not many parts, and look great with very little painting. After you get a couple of these under your belt, you will feel more comfortable with military models, which usually are far more complex, and require far more painting to get desirable results......Atlantis 1/32 scale Chevy Nova, and Camaro are excellent choices for a first kit. I would highly recommend them for your first build.

[@theblytonian3906]

Disagree. Cars are pointless if they don't excite one's interest or imagination, which is what modelling is about. Never interested me. 1/48 in air and 1/35 in armour are ideal scales. Hells bells when I was a kid it was 1/72 air or 1/76 armour which was all we could afford out of pocket money on a good day, and that wasn't until I was about nine before which it was 1/144.

[@sufianansari4923]

Did Glen just say inexpensive!?!?!

[@鎌田英明-c6f]

タイプ61とチハたんが日本の証し😉

[@underdose93]

You've been building kits for over 40 years!? You don't look a day over 40 hahah

[@egyeneskifli7808]

Tamiya and inexpensive in the same santence? Great joke. Tamiya kits are absolutely overpriced (at least those that tooled after 1995). Almost every of them have at least one as good competitor for half the price. Their very old kits are somewhat cheap, but most of those are tipically the worst in scale. In your image there is the Leo1, and that is absolutely the worst ever Leo1 kit (buy anything instead). Their T-34 range is almost the same (buy the new Zvezda instead). The Pz III and IV market is fully loaded with better kits than the Tamiyas. And most of the time, those kits are not even harder to build compared to the Tamiya ones. Tamiya engineering in their armour kits are totally focused on simplifying everything. Thanks to this all of their armour lack detail, sometimes even if you compare the newest Tamiya to a 1970s Italeri. And there are the issues with idiotistically placed ejector pins. A lots of those. For aircraft: that Bf109 is nowhere near in quality to the Eduard ones. And the Eduards are cheaper. Mustang is the same story. And Tamiya likes to overcomplicate things such as engine covers.

[@soonermodels1173]

Tamiya? Inexpensive????? Lol

[@grzegorz2688]

Well...the old tamiya kits are inexpensive...you can get them for about 15 euro...e.g. 1/35 pzkpfw ll, IV, panther etc. Best choice if you like tanks...

[@AreeyaKKC]

Tamiya bandwagon huh 😆?no mention of Revell and airfix? have tons of better molded models for about half the price.

[@theblytonian3906]

No, they don't, even as a generalisation, and certainly not in the part of the world Glen is relating to in this video.

[@flitsertheo]

If you get a "real" Revell it might be a nice kit. Problem is many of their kits are borrowed and sometimes very old (1950-60s) moulds from other manufacturers. As a result quality varies a lot. As for Airfix they have never been known for making the best (and best fitting) kits. Kits of original subjects, yes.

[@dandanita1692]

40 years of building Tamiya kits ? lol

[@dandanita1692]

Tamiya is inexpensive guys ! what is expensive so ? airfix ? Tamiya is most overpriced on market, local shops can put any price on it as theres always some crazy fan who will throw his wallet as soon as he sees a tamiya