What Is A Skill Level Five Model Kit?

The skill level five is the most difficult rating of model kits. It has more pieces than the other levels the same scale size which can make the pieces much smaller. Luckily these kits have very detailed instructions, and if followed closely you will build a very intricately detailed model.

A skill level five is the hardest level model kit with usually at least 200 pieces and can have upwards of 1000. This level takes extensive gluing and painting with different choices of water slide decals. This kit includes very detailed instructions including suggested paint colors. Suggested age is 14 and older.

Suggested Ages For Skill Level Five Model Kit

Skill level five model kits are recommended for ages 14 and older because of the large amount of pieces in the kits. This level requires extensive use of modeling cement or glue, painting the parts many different colors, water slide decals and following detailed instructions very closely.

Paints and glues give of strong smells and can be hazardous to ones health if not used properly. Wearing a respirator mask for painting with good ventilation is very important. Cement and glues also give off toxins so work in a well ventilated area.

Model Kit Details	Skill Level 1	Skill Level 2	Skill Level 3	Skill Level 4	Skill Level 5
Recommended Age	6 and up	10 and up	12 and up	14 and up	14 and up
Painting Required	No	Yes and No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Glue Required	No	Yes and No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of Parts Approximately	Up to 50	Up to 100	100 to 125	125 to 200	200++
Type Of Decals	Peel & Stick	Water Slide	Water Slide	Water Slide	Water Slide

How Many Parts Are In A Skill Level Five Model Kit?

An example of a skill level 5 kit is this WWII convoy escort ship. It has 500 parts, and each one needs to be prepped and painted. For the experienced modeler, this is a fantastic project.

Skill level five model kits contain at least 150 parts and may have up to 1000 parts depending on the type of model it is. Many ships and airplane kits fall into the skill level five category and can contain over 200 pieces. A lot of military jets are 1/35 or 1/72 scale with well over 200 pieces.

Don’t let the high number of pieces scare you from building this level of kit. This kit comes with very detailed instructions that you need to follow closely so you wont have any issues assembling it. I have built level five kits that have taken me over a month to build and enjoyed every minute of it.

How Much Gluing Does A Skill Level Five Model Kits Require?

All skill level five model kits will require gluing of all the parts together. For a car kit, the engine alone will require extensive gluing so I recommend Tamiya extra thin with a brush. There are different types of glue for certain parts such as windows and windshields that will make gluing easier.

You will be doing a lot of gluing of different types of parts including chrome, clear plastic windshields, amber lenses and lots of plastic. Here is a table to help you understand what types of glues are the easiest to use and what they are used for. I hope this is helpful.

Glue Brand	Pros	Cons	Best Use For	Rating
Tamiya Extra Thin Cement	Fine Tip Brush	Strong odor	All Plastics	#1
Testors Plastic Model Glue	Inexpensive	Tube can be messy	All Plastics	#5
Mr Cement S	Cures Quickly	Thick Brush Applicator	All Plastics	#2
Revell Contacta Professional	Needle Applicator	Glue May Dry In Applicator	All Plastics	#4
Micro Krystal Klear	Drys Clear	More Expensive	Clear Windshield And Wood	#3

Do Skill Level Five Model Kits Require Extensive Painting?

All skill level five model kits require some or all of the parts to be painted. This includes very detailed painting of the engines and engine compartments. This will also include under carriage parts and interior parts. Some military kits will come in a gray color depicting their era but may need changed.

A skill level five kit is a good time to really perfect your painting skills. There are so many fun ways you can paint your model, including brushing, rattle cans and airbrushing. As you one these skills you will begin to learn that all three ways are easy to learn with practice and patience.

Type of Painting	Pros	Cons	Skill Level	Approx. Costs
Fine Point Brush	Inexpensive	Not Smooth, Tedious	Easy	Starter Kit $25.00
Spray Can	Inexpensive	Odors, Toxic	Medium	$4 to $8 Per Can
Airbrushing	Expensive for Good Equip.	Odors, Toxic	Medium to Hard	$150 For a Starter Kit
Paint Washes	Medium Expensive	Can Have Toxic Odors	Medium to Hard	$30 to $40 For a Wash Paint Kit

Another beautiful level 5 kit. Spitfire MK

Are Water Slide Decals Hard To Put On A Skill Level Five Model Kit?

Water slide decals are not hard to install on a model when done correctly. After cutting out decal submerge in warm water 20 to 30 seconds. Brush on decal solutions where decal will go. With a tweezers place decal on model then slide away backing. Brush decal solution on top of decal.

Placing the decals on your skill level five model is challenging as they are much larger and more detailed but look awesome when they are done correctly. Here are Seven steps to make the process easy.

Cut out the decal you want to apply
Place in warm water for 2o to 30 seconds
Remove from water and place on paper towel
Paint decal solution where decal will go
Slide the decal off of the paper to where goes
Position decal with a brush
Paint over decal with decal solution

Final Thoughts

Go out and buy you a skill level five and give it a try. If you get frustrated you can always set it aside for some time while your skills catch up. I have had some pretty big mess ups over the years but I have always been able to fix them with a little patience and more glue. Take your time and have fun with it. Happy Modeling!