Total beginner needs advise

[boatman]

Hi Gary an a welcome from me as well so what you gonna do( eg planes or ships or tanks or other ? ) that's if you made up your mind that is ?
chris

[Mr Bowcat]

Hi Gary,

This may or may not help, but when I started out I went to Hobbycraft, spent some time looking at the kits (they have quite a few) and picked one that interested me. I opened the box to get at the instructions and added the paints called out, along with some thinner, brushes and glue.

Admittedly Hobbycraft aren't the cheapest (I don't think I've bought a kit from there since), but they have a good selection plus all the other bits you will need.

Cheers,

B

[Jim R]

Hi Gary
Welcome to the forum. I am sure you will enjoy your time here.
Lots of sound ideas already. So many kits to choose from. To start with stick to something simple.
What equipment do you need - notice I said need. You need some basic, good quality stuff to use to make your model. Without it you will be frustrated and you won't be able to do what is needed. This is my idea of a basic modelling kit.



Cutting mat - best to work on. The squared lines help you to fit parts together squarely. Also stops ruining the dining table :tongue-out3:
Snippers or sprue cutters - get the best you can afford. Used to cut the parts cleanly from the plastic 'tree' they come on. Don't twist off the parts - you'll ruin them.
A knife - I like a Swann-Morton scalpel with a No11 blade for general work. The blades are cheap so you can change them regularly to ensure you always work with a decent blade.
Sanding sticks - different sizes, shape and grades are useful.
Tweezers - you'll not handle tiny parts without them. Buy a decent pair as cheap ones have points that don't meet properly and will drive you mad.
Cement - difficult one this. I like a thin cement which I apply with a cheap, fine paint brush.
Paint brushes - reasonably good ones. Flat and pointed.
Paint - For brush painting I like Vallejo Modelcolor. It is thinned with water and gives a nice matt finish. Don't expect to cover with one thick coat. Use two or more thin coats. You will get a better finish and not obscure detail.

That is just my thoughts. Every modeller has their own ideas. The main thing is HAVE FUN - it's a hobby after all.
Jim

[zuludog]

The problem is, as I'm sure you'll appreciate, that we can't teach you everything all at once, and sooner or later you'll just have to start on something.
So here are my general suggestions -

Start buying a general magazine like Airfix Model World or specifically on aircraft or military vehicles, they are the two most popular fields. Just go to a newsagent - W H Smiths is the obvious choice - and see what you like. Though the Airfix mag is sold in Sainsbury's, I don't know about other supermarkets
As you read you will see how things are done, and pick up tips, techniques, & ideas

Similarly Search YouTube for 'plastic modelling' there will be videos for beginners, or specific areas. Make a start and just keep following the suggestions

Airfix beginners kits might not be the best, but you've gotta start somewhere

As I've posted in other threads, www.abcbrushes.com do a general modelling set of brushes for about £12 or see what else they have

Knives. - I like scalpels. #3 handle is smaller than #4

www.scalpelsandblades.co.uk have taster sets with one #3 or #4 handle and one of each type of blade for a reasonable price, so you can see what you like and order from there

The most common type of blades are 10, 10A & 11 for size 3 handle or size 18 or 19 and 25 for size 4 handle
Otherwise just search their website to see what's available

[Guest]

Thanks all for the advice

[Dave Ward]

Gary,
Starter sets are a good place to try your hand - they're normal models, just with the addition of paint, cement & brushes, ideal to see if you like the hobby. Tools, well, you should be able to cope with a starter model, with normal household items! As a kid, I used nail clippers, and nail files, before moving onto more convenient tools.
We're having a group build, using starter sets, starting in April * Starter GB * This can give you an idea of what forum members will be making ( myself included ).
All you have to do is enjoy it - it's a learning curve, and you're making it for yourself - not to be judged by others ( that'll come later! )
All the best, Dave

[Guest]

Maybe the best advice is: don’t overthink things. You can spend ages thinking about what you need or don’t need, but you’re far more likely to see if this is a hobby for you by buying a kit of a subject you’re interested in (but, as mentioned, it is a good idea to ask whether it’s suitable — some kits are very hard to put together, others are very easy) plus a few basic tools, and just starting building it.

Speaking somewhat generically, what you’ll want to avoid if you’re after a model you can actually build with little or no experience, are kits by Eastern European and American manufacturers. Anything reasonably modern from a Western European or East Asian manufacturer is unlikely to have poorly fitting parts, though some brands have far more and smaller detail parts than others.

[AlanG]

One of the most important things i will say is. Just have fun. Yes you might make mistakes. Paint something wrong. Glue your fingers together or leave a smudge on the kit. But hey ho. I still do that and i've been making kits for decades.

I still look back at some of the kits i've made way back and think 'wow they are a bit dog rough'. But you know what. I had fun making them. And that's what i remember. I can also see where i have improved too.

Enjoy