Who Is Into Scale Modelling?

[gr82d8]

Hi guys, I'm not into modelling but my 7 year old son is really interested with german tanks, panzers, stugs etc... probably because of playing battlefield 1942. He's never been a brat or asked for anything but when we passed by a model shop in virra mall he literally went bonkers when he saw the model tanks, planes and ships. I asked the lady there to get us a couple of tanks,a scenery set and infantry models and all that we need to build them so she added glue and paint. (had to return the infantry because I din't know that models could be that expensive) We went home and opened one tank box and read the instructions. It seemed pretty straightforward but after a while I noticed that most of the parts had to be glued as opposed to being snap on. I had to stop there because I knew that I was just going to mess everything up, I have difficulty assembling even his Zoids. Are there any models that are kid friendly perhaps those that have large parts? I've been looking for some whenever I pass by a model shop but I've yet to see something that looks easy enough to build. Or should I give up and buy a pre-built one instead? Thanks for any info.

[Dr_PepPeR]

Hi guys, I'm not into modelling but my 7 year old son is really interested with german tanks, panzers, stugs etc... probably because of playing battlefield 1942. He's never been a brat or asked for anything but when we passed by a model shop in virra mall he literally went bonkers when he saw the model tanks, planes and ships. I asked the lady there to get us a couple of tanks,a scenery set and infantry models and all that we need to build them so she added glue and paint. (had to return the infantry because I din't know that models could be that expensive) We went home and opened one tank box and read the instructions. It seemed pretty straightforward but after a while I noticed that most of the parts had to be glued as opposed to being snap on. I had to stop there because I knew that I was just going to mess everything up, I have difficulty assembling even his Zoids. Are there any models that are kid friendly perhaps those that have large parts? I've been looking for some whenever I pass by a model shop but I've yet to see something that looks easy enough to build. Or should I give up and buy a pre-built one instead? Thanks for any info.

 

Most model kits have to be glued with plastic cement sir. At 7 years of age, you will probably have to supervise him closely. Try to get the old Academy kits, or the new Trumpeter kits when it comes to armor/tanks. If your son is satisfied with 1/72 scale, then there is your answer. They are much cheaper than 1/35 kits, less complicated to build, and there are more and more choices of armor in 1/72 than ever before. Downside are small parts, which makes it easier to lose, put inside the mouth, and glue in the wrong place. I remember that Revell had some snap-tite kits, but they are very hard to find locally. Hope I have been of some help.

[gr82d8]

Most model kits have to be glued with plastic cement sir. At 7 years of age, you will probably have to supervise him closely. Try to get the old Academy kits, or the new Trumpeter kits when it comes to armor/tanks. If your son is satisfied with 1/72 scale, then there is your answer. They are much cheaper than 1/35 kits, less complicated to build, and there are more and more choices of armor in 1/72 than ever before. Downside are small parts, which makes it easier to lose, put inside the mouth, and glue in the wrong place. I remember that Revell had some snap-tite kits, but they are very hard to find locally. Hope I have been of some help.

 

Thankyou for pointing me to the right direction sir! By the way do model kits increase in value over time?

[floppydrive]

Hi guys, I'm not into modelling but my 7 year old son is really interested with german tanks, panzers, stugs etc... probably because of playing battlefield 1942. He's never been a brat or asked for anything but when we passed by a model shop in virra mall he literally went bonkers when he saw the model tanks, planes and ships. I asked the lady there to get us a couple of tanks,a scenery set and infantry models and all that we need to build them so she added glue and paint. (had to return the infantry because I din't know that models could be that expensive) We went home and opened one tank box and read the instructions. It seemed pretty straightforward but after a while I noticed that most of the parts had to be glued as opposed to being snap on. I had to stop there because I knew that I was just going to mess everything up, I have difficulty assembling even his Zoids. Are there any models that are kid friendly perhaps those that have large parts? I've been looking for some whenever I pass by a model shop but I've yet to see something that looks easy enough to build. Or should I give up and buy a pre-built one instead? Thanks for any info.

No-glue armor kits are quite difficult to find. There are more snap-on sci-fi kits available. But I do remember starting out on armor kits in the late 70's/early 80's, and gluing was not much of a problem as armor kits had larger parts compared to planes.

 

Maybe you and your son can build the kit together. Just supervise him on the gluing. It's better than buying pre-built as he gets to learn how it's put together and how it works (specially when you move up to the higher end armor kits with working suspension).

 

The key to great kits really is in the painting. I think you'll really need to do this for him with spray cans.

 

Enjoy!

[Leibstandarte]

Hi guys, I'm not into modelling but my 7 year old son is really interested with german tanks, panzers, stugs etc... probably because of playing battlefield 1942. He's never been a brat or asked for anything but when we passed by a model shop in virra mall he literally went bonkers when he saw the model tanks, planes and ships. I asked the lady there to get us a couple of tanks,a scenery set and infantry models and all that we need to build them so she added glue and paint. (had to return the infantry because I din't know that models could be that expensive) We went home and opened one tank box and read the instructions. It seemed pretty straightforward but after a while I noticed that most of the parts had to be glued as opposed to being snap on. I had to stop there because I knew that I was just going to mess everything up, I have difficulty assembling even his Zoids. Are there any models that are kid friendly perhaps those that have large parts? I've been looking for some whenever I pass by a model shop but I've yet to see something that looks easy enough to build. Or should I give up and buy a pre-built one instead? Thanks for any info.

 

Hello there! I think if your son likes modelling panzers you should get him Tamiya models. They are in my experience the best engineered and easiest to assemble. They also have the simplest of instruction sheets that even the most novice of modellers would have no trouble following. May I suggest that you get him the Sdkfz 222 armoured car or the Panzerkampwagen II (they come with four Afrika Korps troopers and a tank crewman! :cool: )to start with.

 

Also, please be careful with handling of cutting tools, your son could get hurt. It would be best you are at his side for the duration of his kit building. You make me reminisce when my dad first introduced me to modelling when i was 6! built our first PT boat 1/72 scale! am sure it would be a great bonding experience for you and your son because you'd be doing models for the first time. you may even get hooked to it! :cool:

 

good luck and give us updates!

[Dr_PepPeR]

Hello there! I think if your son likes modelling panzers you should get him Tamiya models. They are in my experience the best engineered and easiest to assemble. They also have the simplest of instruction sheets that even the most novice of modellers would have no trouble following. May I suggest that you get him the Sdkfz 222 armoured car or the Panzerkampwagen II (they come with four Afrika Korps troopers and a tank crewman! :cool: )to start with.

 

Also, please be careful with handling of cutting tools, your son could get hurt. It would be best you are at his side for the duration of his kit building. You make me reminisce when my dad first introduced me to modelling when i was 6! built our first PT boat 1/72 scale! am sure it would be a great bonding experience for you and your son because you'd be doing models for the first time. you may even get hooked to it! :cool:

 

good luck and give us updates!

 

You're right about the Tamiya 1/35 armor kits, especially the ones circa 1970s/80s. The engineering way back then was very good and kept as idiot-proof as possible. In fact, the joke about Tamiya kits was all you would have to do is cut all the parts from the sprues, put it back inside the box, add a little glue, shake it and presto! The kit assembles itself! While I don't care too much about the accuracy, the fact that these were made to be motorized throws some of the dimensions off. Now you would have to fill in all the motorization cutouts too and the figures included are too short (the legs need to be stretched. But the most irritating thing is the price. They are old old kits that have been surpassed in quality by the new Academy, Trumpeter and DML yet they still remain quite expensive. And to think they are made in Cebu!

 

One other thing. Whenever I read the warning in the box of a model kit like 'ten years or older' I used to think this referred to the age of the one who would build the kit. Now I realize that this refers to the time it would take me to build and complete the kit.

[driftingman]

Hahaha. You're tempting me... I could do it for as long as you can give me the paint... what kind of kits are they and what scale? I hope its not a 1/144 Goshawk.

 

great that I have at least been able to tempt u.

 

of course, you should have a say on which models you wanna work on. paint will certainly be on me.

 

will get back to what kits I have as well as the scale. mostly the ones that were either with my country's airforce and I used to watch them land and take off when I was little. I may even have one for a mig-21 which I saw being shot down and the enemy pilot bailing out.

 

memories. memories. memories.

[Leibstandarte]

One other thing. Whenever I read the warning in the box of a model kit like 'ten years or older' I used to think this referred to the age of the one who would build the kit. Now I realize that this refers to the time it would take me to build and complete the kit.

 

Haha! You hit the nail right smack in the head with that!!!

[Dr_PepPeR]

Haha! You hit the nail right smack in the head with that!!!

 

I really hope that it's just me. I have a tank sitting there for the past 5 years just waiting for periscopes to be installed.

[Dr_PepPeR]

Thankyou for pointing me to the right direction sir! By the way do model kits increase in value over time?

 

Some kits do tend to increase in value but very rarely. As long as the molds have not been destroyed then the kit can be recycled and produced. This is what Tamiya has been doing for the longest time with their plant in Cebu. There are some Revell 1/32 airplane molds that have supposedly been lost when the ship transporting it sank. And the Tristar 1/48 Fw-190 old kits have sold for several dollars more since the molds were new at that time. For collectors, an out of production kit would always increase in value but again, there is no ready market except maybe for e-bay. So its pretty dicey if you want to just keep a model kit and hope over the years it will increase in value. It might be better to go to e-bay and look at what is hot selling then put it for sale.

[driftingman]

great that I have at least been able to tempt u.

 

of course, you should have a say on which models you wanna work on. paint will certainly be on me.

 

will get back to what kits I have as well as the scale. mostly the ones that were either with my country's airforce and I used to watch them land and take off when I was little. I may even have one for a mig-21 which I saw being shot down and the enemy pilot bailing out.

 

memories. memories. memories.

 

 

some of the kits that i could dig out of my closet are;

 

1. Starfighter F104 Scale 1:32 Make Revell

2. U2 R Scale 1:48 Make Italeri

3. Mirage 2000C Scale 1:48 Make Italeri

4. F86 Sabre Scale 1:48 Make Academy

5. Sukohi SU-27 1:72 Make Italeri

 

any that may interest you enough?

[Dr_PepPeR]

some of the kits that i could dig out of my closet are;

 

1. Starfighter F104 Scale 1:32 Make Revell

2. U2 R Scale 1:48 Make Italeri

3. Mirage 2000C Scale 1:48 Make Italeri

4. F86 Sabre Scale 1:48 Make Academy

5. Sukohi SU-27 1:72 Make Italeri

 

any that may interest you enough?

 

Hey thanks. Would have considered the 1/48 and 1/32 kits but the finishes, except for the Mirage 2000C are quite difficult (Natural Metal Finish and Black) so I'm sorry, got to pass on this list. Anyone?

[driftingman]

Hey thanks. Would have considered the 1/48 and 1/32 kits but the finishes, except for the Mirage 2000C are quite difficult (Natural Metal Finish and Black) so I'm sorry, got to pass on this list. Anyone?

 

thanks for considering the offer.

 

do let me know if you have second thoughts....

[Phrozhen.Khold]

A boat?

 

 

Just an update on this model... it is a 1/350 Yamato from Bandai and it will be released by January with a wopping cost of 45K yen... thats about 19K PhP :hypocritesmiley:

 

For more info check this out 1:350 Yamato by Bandai

[Dr_PepPeR]

Just an update on this model... it is a 1/350 Yamato from Bandai and it will be released by January with a wopping cost of 45K yen... thats about 19K PhP :hypocritesmiley:

 

For more info check this out 1:350 Yamato by Bandai

 

I hope Trumpeter comes out with a 1/350 Yamato so I can get one without mortgaging the house.