mark73 Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Looking for advice, my 6 year old wants to do a project on aircraft for the local beaver group, it will be his first build and when I showed him the size of a 1/72 kit he wasn't impressed, so looking for the best 1/48 kit, one that's easy enough for him to build with limited help. My worry is that if he ends up with a dog of a kit it will turn him off the hobby, so what's the best fit, least problems etc. Cheers in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan76 Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 I just built the Airfix Spitfire. I certainly would not recommend it for a beginner. I hear the Tamiya Spitfires fit together flawlessly, with less parts than an Eduard kit, which is another good one I hear. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 (edited) Why not consider the Pegasus 1/48 snap fit kits? Perfect for a six year old, simple assembly and they look like a Spit when done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyGTcRm2F9w http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjKg8jDya_KAhWGrD4KHaVUD1UQFgg3MAc&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpegasushobbies.net%2Fcatalog%2FPeg.-Plastic-Model-Kits-E-Z-Snapz-Airplanes%2Fc7_19%2Fp59%2F%25238410-1%2F48-Spitfire-Mark-I%2Fproduct_info.html&usg=AFQjCNFt4pBa8FXt5HIt814oiWwgE-_arQ&bvm=bv.112064104,d.cWw Edited January 17, 2016 by Tail-Dragon 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark73 Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 Will check out those options guys, cheers, he really wants to paint it and I'd skip the normal construction steps in certain places to make it easier for him to build, no need for him to build up sub sections that would never be seen etc, will check out that Pegasus one and see where I can get them here in Ireland. Anyone an opinion on any of the airfix versions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heraldcoupe Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 The old Airfix Vb is a straightforward enough kit, the new one which replaced it in the past couple of years is a lot more involved though. Revell produce what I recall as a fairly simple MkII which looks OK when built. The Pegasus kit mentioned earlier seems to be perfect for your needs though. My son built a few of these when he was the same age, very easy to get a decent result without frustration, Cheers, Bill. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The original Kit Builder Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 The Tamiya ones are shake and bake, though not quite accurate, whilst the Airfix Mk I and V's and the later marks from Eduard are accurate, but more involved builds. As has been said, the Pegasus snap-fits aren't bad for the youngsters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJP Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 I recall my six year old building a dinosaur. She painted it purple just like Barney on TV. The point is, the Beavers, your son included, probably want fun not accuracy or anything else. Acrylic paint, if it comes to paint, can be a lot more kid - and laundry - friendly. Purple also works for Spitfires. The punch line of the dinosaur is that my child is now doing the same thing with her child. Her dinosaur is green. Grandpa is having a ball. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 some very good advice. the Pegasus kit is available from Hannants, https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/PH8410 I think Pocketbond are the UK distributor, http://www.pocketbond.co.uk/About.aspx so you could ask them who distributes in Ireland. In butchering the Tamiya kit to correct it's faults I was very impressed at how well it all fits togther. The much maligned for shape errors Academy Spitfire XIV is by all accounts a very well fitting and reasonable easy kit. Finally, there is the 'half way house' Airfix Quick Build, about 1/48th, it constructs like Lego, but gives a impressive result http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234948077-quick-build-typhoon-spitfire-bf109-kits/ http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/quick-build-spitfire.html HTH T 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark73 Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 Thanks for all the pointers, reckon the Pegasus one is the way to go, he really wants to paint one and the ease of construction of that kit will be a bonus, would hate to see him put off by too complex a kit, the only reason I'm looking at 1/48 is he says the 1/72 kit is too small...guess he won't be following me down the 1/144 route... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seawinder Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 To echo what others have said, if the Pegasus one isn't available, I'd go with the Tamiya Mk. I. Well engineered, not overly complex, BoB paint scheme, shape inaccuracies won't detract from the model especially as viewed by youngsters. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil32 Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Going Pegasus also makes sense as an initial hook. A Tamiya to follow afterwards with its extra detail could then cause something of a 'wow' factor and keep interests momentum. Saying that, a lot of my 'wow' when I made my first kit (an fw-190, aged around 8), was the opportunity to play with the interesting smelling paints and spirits. Just be careful if he tries to dry the propellers glue in front of a gas fire. The result is a bit of a 'belly landed backwards' look. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Definitely Pegasus for that age group. Also see if you can pick up their Hurricane, it's pretty decent. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don McIntyre Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 You might consider the old Monogram Mk.IX if you come across one. It's got the "added advantage" of having retractable gear and those subassemblies you'd mentioned skipping aren't really an issue. Certainly not the best Spitfire kit, but I don't think a six year old is likely to be bothered about the sorts of accuracy and detail issues that bother us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I bought one of those for a few quid the other day in a fit of nostalgia. I just love the old stuff these days. Maybe will do it back to back with an Eduard one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don McIntyre Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 This is how my o!d Monogram kit turned out. Xtracolour paints and Aeromaster Burmese AF decals. Painted the inside of the canopy black, then dipped in Future. Other than that, it was an OOB build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanroon Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 May I add the Otaki/Arai/Matchbox/Airfix Mk.8/9 kit is a sweetie to build for the tyro. If available. Hobbycraft had a very nice for beginners Seafire XV that I used in a similar exercise some time ago. I do second the Pegasus kit as the current best bet tho' the grandkids like the Airfix Quick Build kits. Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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