So.... what's harder to build? Armour or Aircraft?

[Guest]

I thought we'd have another ' lively ' discussion, the kind that Scale Models is known for


Please vote, but also add your thoughts. If you only build one or the other, still chip in!


Let battle commence!


Patrick

[PaulTRose]

definatly aircraft for me


dont know why but i struggle with aircraft, just dont come out as good as anything else i do.......and i hate masking canopies and camo patterns lol

[spanner570]

I haven't voted, as I reckon both are just as "hard to build" as the other......


However, when it comes to the actual painting, aircraft win hands down where 'hardness' is concerned. Painting armour is more forgiving. There is no hiding place when painting aircraft!

[stona]

I think it would be down to experience. I mainly build aircraft and have developed all sorts of tricks and techniques to get them together nicely and then paint them. I don't have this experience for other genres and though the skills transfer this lack of experience will tell. For me therefore, in the context of the original question, building armour would certainly be more difficult. Give me half a dozen armour builds and it would get easier for sure. Give me a few years and it should be as easy as an aircraft model


Cheers


Steve

[geegad]

Started off building armour and have done so for about six years then did my first aircraft and now onto my third aircraft..and hell Yeh aircraft are harder all day longer

[Guest]

Just my opinion I think it's down to how much of a perfectionist the builder is aircraft are generally cleaner than armour and weathering is my week point aircraft I know a lot about armour I don't know as much so for me armour is harder


Roger

[rickoshea52]

Probably aircraft, but depends on the complexity of the model itself.

[dave]

I think it is down to experience, what you are used to building and the scale.


I tend to think WWII aircraft are easier but that is what I normally build You get used to the quirks which bits to build out of order to make life easier etc.


The thought of doing heavy weathering on a tank scares the hell out of me.

[Guest]

Dear Patrick.


First at all...you are a provocateur


Now, solved this point I thought the aircraft is more difficult to paint.


Maybe the reason is that you need a more smooth finished paintwork than an armour one.


I know the practice can solve this "problem", but I still thinking that the planes are more problematic....


There are many aircraft models builds all around, but only, a few ones looks so "real"!!

[Guest]

If the build of armour or aircraft is strictly out of the box I would say aircraft.


Or if the kit contains added additions such as etch or individual track links I would say armour.


For me it is really down to the kit itself and as Steve say's it is down to experience.


Personally these days I fear no kit as I am an all round modeller.


Ralph

[Guest]

A few years ago, I would have said aircraft was harder to build. This opinion was based on my experience with older aircraft kits. I wouldn't even build aircraft kits in my previous modeling heydays of the mid- late-'80s. It was armor all the way. Very forgiving in the finish department and regardless of the kit, I have always found them easy to build.


Aircraft, on the other hand, have seams all over. Smooth flowing lines that have to be perfect in order that they don't show up like a sore thumb once painted. Making sure dihedral is correct. Making sure stabilizers are lined up properly and symmetrical... the list could go on.


With more modern kits, though, I find that aircraft kits are much easier to deal with. But, at the end of the day, considering all aspects of a model project, I will still have to lean more towards armor as being the easier of the two.


Maybe that's why I have been building more aircraft kits lately.... trying to improve.

[stona]

Aircraft, on the other hand, have seams all over. Smooth flowing lines that have to be perfect in order that they don't show up like a sore thumb once painted. Making sure dihedral is correct. Making sure stabilizers are lined up properly and symmetrical... the list could go on.

It could! The angle(s) at which the undercarriage is set is something that I often see done incorrectly. That and undercarriage doors on backwards


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

I think aircraft is much more difficult because of the paint work, camo scheme, and masking everywhere. And let's not forget those decal works, stencils and cockpit, ejection seats. Then again experiences helps a lot. I built few modern armour (No camo paint, and hevy weathering with mud etc) and it's quite enjoyable to break from building jets from time to time.


Every subject has its own plus and minus I suppose.

[papa 695]

I would say Aircraft due to the fact you need to get rid of the seam lines that dont make up panel lines which will ruin a build where as in Armour is more forgiving they tend to join together where a weld would be or can be hidden buy the weathering process

[BarryW]

The tediousness of all those wheels on a tank gets me!


Actually it does depend on the kit. Some aircraft are easier than others, some tanks are easier than others....


I tried to build an AFV Club Centurion I bought at a whim on a visit to Bovington not so long ago and abandoned it. I found it a dreadful kit, the engineering was appalling specially for those little rollers for the top of the track... I concluded the model was engineered by an out and out sadist. Yet I have built tanks and other armour, not for a few decades mind - I used to build a lot of Tamiya stuff one of my favourites being the King Tiger. I may build some Tamiya armour again but I will never touch an AFV Club model.