Roland Pulfrew Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Ladies and Gents Much to my sister's annoyance I have managed to get both my nephews interested in building models. One really likes aircraft but the other one is much more interested in the "green" side of the house and is well into all things army. Disgusted of Henley-on-Thames. Can anyone suggest a relatively simple kit that I could get him for his forthcoming birthday? It would be a shame to lose a potential modeller just because I keep buying him (not surprisingly) aircraft kits!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 How old is he Roland? If he wants something to just bash together, one of the "classic" (ie older) Italeri or Tamiya tanks might be ideal. Avoid Shermies and their complicated bogies, maybe something like a Jagdpanther which should be quite simple but still impressive when built. I normally recommend the Tamiya 1/48 kits to someone for a first armour kit, but that's for a modeller whose eye is wandering. For a kid new to the game they're probly a bit detailed and fiddly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derwentsider Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 You`ll be safe with anything from Tamiya for decent kit which will build up well from the box. The Chieftain in 1/35 is around £15 and the Challenger 1 Mk.3 is around £20 these days. Both are nice kits which he should enjoy without any hassles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eoin6661 Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 (edited) Ladies and GentsMuch to my sister's annoyance I have managed to get both my nephews interested in building models. One really likes aircraft but the other one is much more interested in the "green" side of the house and is well into all things army. Disgusted of Henley-on-Thames. Can anyone suggest a relatively simple kit that I could get him for his forthcoming birthday? It would be a shame to lose a potential modeller just because I keep buying him (not surprisingly) aircraft kits!! Roland I've just got the wife interested as well, but we can't justify spending too much in case she lost interest......she really wanted to have a go doing a UN scheme, so I got her a little Revell 1/72 Leclerc and used some UN decals from a Warrior kit and she really enjoyed making that. The 1/72 wasn't too fiddly although a couple of bits I had to trim and sand for her and help with link and length tracks, at the same time I was doing the M1A2 and she wanted to have a go at that so now she's got a Hobbycraft 1/35 M1A1 to do. I'd suggest something modern for your nephew, the Trumpeter Chally2 or M1A1 can be got for around £12 in 1/35 and the M1 for instance comes with one piece and link and length tracks....or failing that could get him a few Revell 1/72 kits for around £6 each very well detailed and go together beautifully. good luck Edited July 29, 2008 by eoin6661 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Personally I would leave the Trumpeter Chally II well alone for a first kit, it has a few fit issues on the turret etc. I would go for one of the smaller Tamiya kits to start with like their Panther A. I know it's not a particularly accurate kit but for a beginner it's ideal. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 My vote goes also to an old Tamiya 1/35 kit. Maybe something with wheels, so as not being bothered with tracks and a load of road wheels? For exemple, the last reboxing of the SdKfz 222. Cheap, very easy to build, with TWO (Big enough) photo etched parts and an alu barrel (To build something like the big boys). And also, you get along with it a bike, some jerrycans and fuel drums. And if he want to paint it, it will be easy: - All panzer grey, or all sand yellow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest snipersmudge Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 i would recomend any of the tamiya 1/48th kits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Likewise my vote would be for Tamiya 1:48, but he may need some help why not start him on one of he Revell 1:72 cheep and fairly simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz greenwood Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Id recommend for a first build the REVELL 1/72 range super kits, at a reasonable price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanrgb Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Go for a Tammy Leopard 2 nice easy kit ..or a Challenger 1 or 2 ..or a Chieftain ..or even a Abrahms The hobbyBoss versions are fairly cheap but a little difficult , same as the trumpeter kits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted July 30, 2008 Author Share Posted July 30, 2008 (edited) Brilliant advice (as usual). Thanks all. As I mentioned, he has done a couple of aircraft kits already (1/48 Airfix Hawk and 1/48 Tamiya Spit) it's just that he is "army mad" - Oh the shame! I guess something modern might be a little easier than some of the WWII types, all that simple flat slopping armour rather than complex shapes. I am erring towards 1/48 or 1/35 for simplicity (although I am sure at 9 I was doing 1/72nd vehicles - it was a long time ago though, so I might be misremembering) and I like the idea of wheeled over tracked for simplicity. Perhaps I should have mentioned he is 9! Does that change things? Edited July 30, 2008 by Roland Pulfrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Let him start like everyone else, with an Airfix Sherman! Complicated bogies? What planet are you living on? The Fujimi ones might be tricky, so steer away from those, but the Airfix kit is simple and straightforward. I'm told the Revell Cromwell is nice, but the ex-Matchbox Comet is re-available and a nice starter. Most of the ex-Matchbox range are suitable for beginners, though I'd avoid Churchills (any kind) for a while or those horrid interlocking torsion bar things on German tanks. Not for beginners. The newer Academy, Trumpeter and Dragon kits are very nice but far too many little fiddly bits. Mind you, small fingers will probably handle them better than big arthritic ones. This is also true of most if not all of the East European stuff: avoid. However, the HAT range are fairly good if perhaps a little too simple? Excellent for an absolute starter, I'd have thought. Plus you get two in a box, so it's a nicer present. You could always compromise with your principles and get him one of the Airfix Airfield sets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Let him start like everyone else, with an Airfix Sherman! Complicated bogies? What planet are you living on? Well, not complicated if they're one piece I guess! But most kits have them in at least 4 pieces, times by 6...I find I lose the will to live doing them. I'm told the Revell Cromwell is nice, . Its very nice - one of my favourite ever kits, though I'm not sure I'd recommend it to a 9 year old as his first tank I think the armoured car is a good call as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eoin6661 Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 (edited) it's just that he is "army mad" I guess something modern might be a little easier than some of the WWII types, all that simple flat slopping armour rather than complex shapes. I am erring towards 1/48 or 1/35 for simplicity (although I am sure at 9 I was doing 1/72nd vehicles - it was a long time ago though, so I might be misremembering) and I like the idea of wheeled over tracked for simplicity. Perhaps I should have mentioned he is 9! Does that change things? "it's just that he is "army mad"....hey I can't blame him, I'm ex-RAF and I haven't built any aircraft yet since getting back into modelling The 1/76 airfix kits are now marketed by Revell as 1/76 scale, however, they are pretty crappy even for us looking back with any rose tinted spec's, and they might just turn your nephew off for good. You can get a cheap Tamiya 1/35 kit for under a tenner if you want a T62 or old Panther, but if you want a Chally 1 you're looking at nearly £20, conversely you could get him a whole Gulf war set in Revell 1/72 for that, Chally 1, Warrior, M1A1, Bradley......I've only recently gone back to trying some of the small scale stuff and can't praise the new Revell stuff highly enough, their Chally 1 even rivals the 1/35 Tamiya for detail. Italeri are also doing a few kits which contain a normal 1/72 detailed kit and also an easy build war gaming kit, might be a good way for him to build up his army so to speak...... Edited August 2, 2008 by eoin6661 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 It is the Matchbox kits that are being brought out again by Revell, not the Airfix. Neither range is so bad that they would be unsuitable for a young newcomer: quite the contrary, their simplicity and limited number of fairly solid parts are more suitable than the many fine, thin, easily-breakable parts that come in modern kits, which take twice as long to build. There are some examples that can't be recommended - but we managed the Airfix Churchill or Panther when we were young, they can't be all that difficult! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eoin6661 Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 It is the Matchbox kits that are being brought out again by Revell, not the Airfix. Neither range is so bad that they would be unsuitable for a young newcomer: quite the contrary, their simplicity and limited number of fairly solid parts are more suitable than the many fine, thin, easily-breakable parts that come in modern kits, which take twice as long to build. There are some examples that can't be recommended - but we managed the Airfix Churchill or Panther when we were young, they can't be all that difficult! I take your point........but kids being kids nowadays I think are unlikely to put up with poor fits or bad details. "Back in the day" so to speak the airfix/matchbox was all we had and knew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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