Model cars are fun to build for all ages. It is important to pick a skill level that is not so hard that it’s discouraging but is also a bit of a challenge. Let’s look at how to pick that very first model whether for you or as a gift for someone.
Model car kits are sold in five different skill levels, with level one being the easiest and a good place for new modelers to begin. They come in many various types: from newer car models to muscle car era and on to the older cars. So decide where your skill level is and the type of model you prefer.
The Five Different Skill Levels
Skill level one is a beginner level that is the best fit for younger modelers beginning at age five and up to age ten if they have little to no experience. This level is a snap together, pre-painted model. It comes in twenty to thirty pieces and has the basic body parts including the wheels and tires and peel and apply decals. It will teach the modeler the basics of how cars are put together.
Skill level two adds more challenge as it introduces the modeler to gluing parts together. These kits will contain between fifty to one hundred parts. It also requires painting of the parts as they come in their original molded color which is most often white. It has some decals which are water-release. These kits are recommended for ages eight and older.
Skill level three adds more details, more parts and more skills required. These kits can contain up to and maybe a little more than one hundred parts. They are recommended for ages ten and older.
Skill level four is for a more seasoned modeler as they contain between one hundred and one hundred fifty parts. The parts are smaller and more detailed than level three and can be a very fun challenge. They are recommended for ages twelve and older.
Skill level five is for advanced skilled modelers as they may contain hundreds of parts. These kits are recommended for ages fourteen and older.
So depending on age and skill pick a level and next pick a model.
Which Model To Choose
Here’s where you need to decide what type of model interests you. Do you have a love for certain types of cars like older muscle cars, newer performance cars, supercars, older antiques, and even foreign cars?
I prefer cars from the muscle car era of the sixties and early seventies. A lot will depend on what you remember as a child or your teenage years. Whatever your choice– someone is making the type of car you like into a model kit.
If you have other preferences such as boats, planes, military and others they are also full of entry level models.
While there are many incredibly important parts of the model selection process, finding a model that you are excited to build should be the first thing you do.
What Are the Scale Sizes for Car Kits?
Basically the scale tells you how much a model has been shrunk relative to the size of the original. The sizes for automobile kits range from 1:8, 1:12, 1:16, 1:18, 1:20, 1:24, 1:25, 1:32, 1:35, and 1:43 with the 1:24, 1:25,and 1:32 being the most common in automobiles.
In reality, models do not always conform to their nominal scale. As an example there are some1/25 scale automobile models which are larger than some 1/24 scale models.
This means that kits of the same subject in nominally identical scales may produce finished models which actually differ in size, and that hypothetically identical parts in such kits may not be easily swapped between them, even when the kits are built by the same manufacturer.
Many of the same engineering skills go into producing scale models as into the real machines represented. This makes the finished model into a pretty close resemblance of the actual automobile.
What is the Cost of Model Kits?
The price of scale models can vary from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. Your first few attempts at building a model may not turn out as well as you would like or not get completed so it would be best not to spend too much to start out. Look for discounts and sales.
For example, USA craft store Hobby Lobby often has a 40% discount on a single purchase which can bring the kit price to between ten and twenty dollars on many kits. Online purchases are great if there is no store in your area. They have a good selection that includes all five skill levels and many different types of models.
This Revell model of a 1970 Dodge Charger from the movie Fast & Furious™ is about $20-25 at Amazon.
If a modeler has invested a large amount of money in a model kit there may be a reluctance to practice new skills and if the kit is messed up it can be quite disheartening. It may be a lot better to begin by working on a kit that is less expensive where it does not matter so much if the results are not perfect.
Modeling requires skills that take practice to develop. Nobody would expect to take up a musical instrument and be able to play a tune right away. Similarly, do not expect to build good models with your first few builds, so do not spend too much money on them.
Where to Buy Your First Model
You may have craft stores nearby that have a pretty good selection of models and will have the most popular offerings.
When you are looking for a particular model or year you will need to do searches on the internet. I have spent many hours looking for a certain vintage of muscle cars and often need to bid for them on Ebay.
There are lots of model kit stores on the internet and when you add them up there are thousands of choices.
I find the search to be a very fun and rewarding part of the hobby. Just log on and start looking and if you’re like me you will be buying some you really hadn’t planned on.
There are hundreds of models that are equally suitable for the beginner and I would encourage you to browse suppliers for yourself, but if you are keen to get started as soon as possible then just pick one up and start building.
Related Questions
How do you make a plastic model ready for painting?
- Clean the model before painting: Wipe it down with SEM Plastic-Prep, alcohol, or soapy water.
- Secure parts to be sprayed: A loop of masking tape (or double-sided tape) on a slab of cardboard can hold the parts so they don’t scatter when you spray them.
What kind of glue do you use for model cars? Beginners can use white glue (such as Elmer’s), or Testors Clear Parts Cement & Window Maker. These glues dry clear, and they won’t craze clear plastic.
Is model building a good hobby? Scale model building is an excellent outlet for stress by focusing on the steps in the instructions or trying to exercise your creativity with the paint scheme. If you love collecting and building things then model making is definitely the hobby for you.