Son's first model tank?

[Watcher]

My son is 19 and like most lads of his age spends most of his time on his Xbox (or wrapped round Charlotte ). Thinking that I might buy him his first tank model for Christmas (I know its a long way off). What would you recommend? Thinking 1:35 scale but I'm not hard over.

[prowler0000]

Tamiya Chieftain: Not expensive, Easy to find, Good size, straightforward build.

Oh, & BRITISH, Too!!!!!!

[pigsty]

Well, it really depends on his interests. But for a generic introduction to armour: the Tamiya or Academy Hetzer. It has two advantages: there's nothing out there with fewer wheels; and it has a fixed superstructure, as simple a build as you could hope for.

Alternatively, the early Trumpeter KV series is stupidly cheap*, and if you don't like painting piles of tyres, it doesn't have any.

* more recent KVs aren't. Stick with the ones in the red boxes.

[Watcher]

They all sound good ideas. Might try the KV on the basis that if he looses interest I can finish it for him!!!!!

[Alan 47]

Tamiya panzer 2 , chieften as mentioned above , panzer IV , hanomag 251/1 not a tank but a nice easy build , all these are tamiya and under £20

Academy panzer IV H , M3 Stuart ( Honey) , tiger 1 all either under £20 or just over

Italeri , British Crusader 3 only one I've built but a nice easy kit and looks good

I've built all these and the're straight forward builds and go together very well , some come with figures so a little dio could be made

[JAccrington]

In my humble opinion, a model kit which comes with paints, brush and cement would be easier for starter?? like Airfix starter sets as http://www.bnamodelworld.com/airfix/ax50009 So no need to buy supplies separately

[Jaky88]

I would go with something in 1/72 if this is a first model for him. That way he will get some experience and you'll see if he is interested.

As for 1/35, guys above made good points.

Cheers, Jaka

[colin]

Thing is with Airfix starter sets, to a 19yr old their going to look very toy like, and the paints/brush in them isn't going to do him any favors trying to finish it.

As above I don't think you'll beat a Tamiya, good detail, parts that fit together well, all makes up to something he's not likely to get fed up with

[rs2man]

Personally I would go for the AFV Club 1/48 late Tiger I . It's a really nice & straightforward model , it has all-steel roadwheels so there are no tyres to paint , you can build & paint the entire thing then fit the tracks afterwards & the tracks themselves are pretty decent rubber band tracks , so no individual links to worry about . Finally , it retails at a very reasonable 18 quid . Make sure you get the late version though - the early version has , IIRC , 48 roadwheel tyres to paint , which would , I'm sure , be found exceedingly tedious .