First kit build for a newbie

[TheModeller1986]

Hi

 

I would like you to give me some advice to build my first kit, preferably a Tomcat, but if not possible any military aircraft. Which is one of the best for a newbie?

 

Thanks

[Nigel Bunker]

I suggest if you want to build a Tomcat, you build a couple of other kits first to practice your kit building otherwise you will build a Tomcat then in 6 months lok at it and say to yourself "I could have done so much better".

 

I'll leave it to others to recommend kits but what scale are you thinking of?

[Doom3r]

Well, "Tomcat for newbie" that is possibly one of three Tamiya's 1/48 Tomcats: F-14A https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tamiya-61114-grumman-f-14a-tomcat--559650 , F-14D https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tamiya-61118-grumman-f-14d-tomcat--1136108 or F-14A in takeoff position https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tamiya-61122-grumman-f-14a-tomcat-late-model--1364285 

 

Tamiya kits are known as easiest one and newbie friendly, the only thing is that they are quite expensive. Most likely if you build it you would be quite happy, however don't expect your first build perfect: so do not sweat too much about it. 

 

If you think this is too expensive for a first kit you can try other Tamiya kits (avoid their 1/48 Harrier FRS.1: many of us bought into the cool boxart and Tamiya name, however it is a horrible from Tamiya kit... and exception). 

Very cheap one and easy is Tamiya 1/72 Skyray https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tamiya-60741-douglas-f4d-1-skyray--103143, quite easy one (however on expensive side) is their 1/48 F-117 https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tamiya-61059-lockheed-f-117a-nighthawk--123413.

 

Another kinda newbie friendly set of the kits are modern Academy. I didn't built it, however people are praising Academy 1/72 Tomcat: F-14A https://www.scalemates.com/kits/academy-12563-usn-f-14a--1121829 or F-14B https://www.scalemates.com/kits/academy-12578-f-14b--1443661

1/72 F-15E https://www.scalemates.com/kits/academy-12568-usaf-f-15e--1261853

1/72 F-4J: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/academy-12556-usmc-f-4j-vmfa-232-red-devils--1114983 (or any other boxing of it)

1/72 Super Hornet: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/academy-12535-usn-f-a-18f-vfa-103-jolly-rogers--973576

1/48 F-4: there are few boxings for few different versions and squadron options but base one is https://www.scalemates.com/kits/academy-12232-usn-f-4b-vf-111-sundowners--1295106. 

 

One thing about Academy is that they claim that some of the kits (Phantom and Super Hornet) claim that they do not need glue and might not need to paint it, however I still use Tamiya Extra Thin glue there and you still might need to paint it. 

 

Some of the kits might have nasty a molding line on the canopy. I would probably ignore it on your first kit: no way your first kit is going to be perfect, however with more experience you might try to remove it on your next kits.

 

Good luck and have fun! 

Edited November 27, 2022 by Doom3r

[scotthldr]

Any kit is buildable by a newbie, just don’t expect it to look like a masterpiece. The kit itself is a small part of the overall modelling experience, what tools, glues and paints you use and how you use them, along with your budget, time and what level of detail you want to  achieve will ultimately dictate your finished result. You might even decide half way through the build that modelling isn’t all that enjoyable and give up, wasting a ton of cash in the process.

 

Therefore II would recommend a couple of cheap kits to start with first in order to learn the basics, building up your tools and paints as you go, before shelling out hundreds of pounds on more detailed kits and other materials. Italeri 1/48 kits like the MB326, Hawk, A-4 etc… are pretty good starting points.  

 

 

[BillF67]

Speaking as a relative newcomer to the hobby, I agree with Scott. Buy something cheap - even a biplane, just ignore the rigging! - and practice on it. Spend time and a bit of money on a reasonable range of tools and glue/filler. Don’t stress if it goes pear-shaped (unless you’re building one of those “egg planes”, in which case, it’s meant to be pear-shaped). By your second or third, you’ll feel more confident and ready to move on. I would also suggest that  you build the kit as per instructions and don’t get bogged down trying to build an accurate scale model of a particular aircraft or Mk. There IS a difference, as a read through these pages will show. 

[TheModeller1986]

Thanks to all for your answers!!

 

I have bought the Italeri 1/48 MB326. Let´s see how goes my first build....

 

Thanks again

[scotthldr]

Decent little kit, that builds well. Remember the first rule of modelling ‘dry fit twice, glue once’. For glue the Revell precision little Blue bottles are a good all rounder.

 

Any questions just ask, and the kind peeps on here will help👍🏻

[dnl42]

Welcome aboard! 

 

Good luck on your journey to building that Tomcat! As the joy is in the building, don't rush...there are many skills to learn.

[TheModeller1986]

Ok thanks Scott!!!

[Sierra Tango]

8 hours ago, dnl42 said:

Welcome aboard! 

 

Good luck on your journey to building that Tomcat! As the joy is in the building, don't rush...there are many skills to learn.

Just to reinforce what was stated. Take your time, check the part fit in advance of using glue, make sure you follow the sequence for the build as identified in the instructions.* Bottom line though, have fun! Enjoy the model and use it to build your skills for the next kit. And then the next kit, the next kit after that, the next kit after that....😁

 

*As you gain experience building kits, you'll be able to deviate from the kit instructions, if needed, in order to meet your needs to complete the model as you see fit.

 

Steve

[TheModeller1986]

Thanks Steve!!