Hi all!
I need some help here
I have an itch to start building model planes, I need to do something creative and have some sort of hobby and evrytime i walk by a toy store or something like that i can stare at those boxes of He 111, F-15, F-105 and many other planes and just dream away and wish i could build. I did try to build some models as a kid but they always ended up as crap and thats whats keeping me from starting again.
So i need some encouragement here hehe And my fiancee is totally supporting me into starting with the hobby.

I have some questions thou, at the moment i have a tight budget since im studying and im saving for a weeding so i cant afford to go all balistic but i need to know where i should start. And another question is what planes are best suited for a beginner and what scale.
I was thinking of starting of with a Spitfire or 2 in scale 1/72 and maybe a jet aswell eventhou i would also love a He-111 since i think theyre one of the most beautiful planes ever buildt the only problem is that i dread to build and paint the cockpit.

Thanks for all advices

Scale is important: Do you want to get a collection of planes showing adversaries, or paint schemes, or whatever... or do you want to show a particular aircraft model in more detail? For WWII aircraft (at least the fighters) I think 1:48 is a nice scale: Large enough to show a lot of detail and - if you're a bit more comfortable with building - superdetailing them, yet small enough that you don't need an extension to you house to store them.

What planes are best suited you asked. Personally I think that the best planes, even (or especially!) for a beginner, is not too cheap. Cheap models often have larger and smaller problems like a poor fit, or too crude details to enjoy them. One of the best aircraft I ever built was Tamiya's F-4F Wildcat - gorgeous details, and it just fell together without problems. It's not the cheapest kit, though - back then it was already around 25 Euro, and I don't believe prices have dropped in the last 10 years.

Other good manufacturers are Hasegawa and Accurate Miniatures. The latter requires a bit more skill though to build correctly.

Don't forget BTW that apart from the kit model you also need to invest in paint, "glue" (actually it's a solvent so ventilate the room you're working in), brushes, a sharp knife (the break-away type is good to begin with)... maybe your fiancee can borrow you an old nail file to clean up parts (e.g. where you cut the part from the sprue). But these will usually last several models.

There is a Swedish model forum on http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/. They have a lot of tips and a forum for in the works where you maybe can get some inpiration you can also get help if you want. There is already some english speaking on that forum as well.

Hi,
Thank both of you for the help and tips

Fille_SWE As have been stated try to browse the IPMSstockholm forum, also consider going "light" for starters, if you want aircraft both Revell and Airfix have some decent fairly cheap kits in 1:72nd scale, try to visit online stores, Rebell.com is a good one (Solna based, I use it for paint and glue purchases) another site that can have some good advices albeit requires subscription to view everything is the Promodeller website.

Staffan

If you have modelling magazines there buy them and learn the details.

I built my first models at the age of 11. Glue everywhere and unpainted. I could't afford magazines so learned from my mistakes. 10 years later I was fine detailing cockpits with metal and scratch built plastic and experimenting with dry brushing etc etc. All self taught and I have only ever built 1/72 scale (except for two 1/32 commissions I did).

My advice is buy the cheapest kits you can at first and use them as experiments. Don't expect to make a superb job first time. Hone your skills on them and work up. I used to open the box and study the parts so I knew where they all went and built the kit in my mind. I never committed a piece until I knew it was right. Buy some graph paper so you can align parts against it.

I don't build now due to my eyesight but my top tips are (1) do your homework before you start. Understand the parts and decide in advance which version you are making and that you have the markings correct (2) only ever use as little glue as you can get away with (3) paint should be to scale as well. Imagine you are 1/72 size - what would the paint finish look like? Application is everything and can ruin an otherwise great model. Build up in subtle layers and don't pile it on all at once. Start with brushes and move up to a sprayer later if you want - I only ever used brushes though. (4) never rush a model - Always give each stage time to dry.

And finally don't make the mistake I made many times of starting another model before the last one is finished - it will never get finished!

Good luck and don't forger to post up pics of your work

Hi, thanks. I been browsing ipms forum and i bought two models from rebell.com, i started with an airfix spitfire mk1 1/72 and a hasegawa F6F-5N Night Hellcat 1/72. I have almost finished the spitfire, it was a good build the parts came togheter easy and i use vallejo paints. I have been cutting some corners at the first build thou, i dident paint the canopy yet but i decided what i would like to do and what stages im gonna skip at the first models like weathering and stuff and start practicing those things when i feel moore confident in my building and painting. And ive been using 5 different paint colors i gonna collect moore paint and tools as i learn and advancing step by step. at the moment im not aiming for 100% accuracy but trying to get as close as i can. I do enjoy this hobby alot and so far im proud of what i have done with my spitfire :), when im finished with the spit i gonna start with the Hellcat.

Thanks
/Fille

Welcome Back/Welcome to this hobby. And Good luck with your builds

I came back to this hobby when I e tired. Its really great, and so relaxing. I switch off and on with 1/72 or 1/48. Larger a/c in 1/72 and smaller in 1/48 shouldn't break ur budget. I trashed some nice models because of Botched Paint jobs, so do your home work. Tips: Check out U tube for How to Vids on plastic models. Some of the Japanese model makers are real Masters of Paint. Think about picking up an Air Brush down the road. Most of all Enjoy. Although I cant think of the names, There s a lot of spots that do a Build and painting review of plastic models on the net.