Advice on model kits to build with my dad?

[sparkmatter]

Where do I find fun/not fiddly beginner scale model kits? Model kits are one of the few interests I share with my dad so I'd like to do more with him but it's not something that we've had much luck in. So far we've attempted: metal earth kit (way too many itty bitty pieces he finds difficult and the "papercuts" from the metal edges are no fun), repainting a cheap plastic model airplane (went well but not much in the way of assembly), airfix kit (we're now on our third attempt and even the primer beads up on the plastic, the instructions are nightmarish- who tf decided to have both colors and pieces be numbers instead of one letters), and a few lego sets (fun and successful but I find them not challenging enough).
Any advice would be great, my usual realm is 3d printed props so i feel a bit out of my depth and I don't think buying kits from every brand to see what we like is a good budgetary decision haha. (I do have nice model paints by virtue of propmaking supplies so the quality/existence of kit supplied paints doesn't matter). If you have specific models in mind, he enjoys cars and i gravitate towards star wars modelling but we are open to anything as long as nothing is a german military vehicle from the WW2 era (for cultural trauma reasons). Oh also he's colorblind so if the instructions rely on "red steps do xyz and green steps need zyx" that may not go well lol.
Thanks so much!

 

[greenmachines]

You are definitely asking in the right place but because of time zones, you might need to be patient and wait a full day for some really good recommendations. If I can remember, I will respond again in about 12 hours which will bring this back up to the top of "recent" in the lists.

Just to be clear, you want beginner level, possibly snap together or clearly instructed bond together with a likely larger scale for easier to handle parts? As in, NO FIDDLY BITS, but yes to the beginner level?

 

[sparkmatter]

Just to be clear, you want beginner level, possibly snap together or clearly instructed bond together with a likely larger scale for easier to handle parts? As in, NO FIDDLY BITS, but yes to the beginner level?

Yep!

 

[JNordgren42]

It depends on the experience you want. If you're looking for a more traditional type of build, most modern Tamiya kits are quite excellent. Their 1/48 F-14 Tomcat is pretty definitive in that scale. While there are some small bits for the antennas, probes, landing gear, and cockpit, they're not too bad. And the fit and engineering are top notch, which really helps a lot. I've also heard very good things about their 1/48 F-35's. I've personally built their A6M-2b Zero in 1/72 scale. The fit is also amazing on that kit, but it is tiny so it may not be a great choice.

For sci-fi subjects it's hard to go wrong with any of the Bandai Star Wars subjects. Some of them do have a lot of small bits (the 1/72 Y Wing and 1/144 Slave 1 both come to mind), but again the fit and engineering are excellent, which makes up for a lot. They have the added bonus of being snap fit (although I usually end up using glue on a lot of parts). The 1/72 A Wing and X Wing are both outstanding kits and have a minimum of fiddlyness.

I've also got a Hasegawa 1/48 VF-1S Valkyrie (fighter mode, non-transformable) on the workbench right now, and even though its a bit of an old school kit, dry fitting has gone well and I don't see any particularly difficult areas. The only problem I see is that the wing sweep mechanism is VERY sloppy, but the wing attach points themselves are nice and snug. I may design and 3D print replacement wing sweep gears with tighter tolerances which would help.

On the car front, I just picked up the Revell 007 Aston Martin DB5, and while I haven't built it, the kit looks well engineered. There are some smallish parts for all of the gimmicks, but nothing looks too difficult to deal with. I'll have to see how it comes together, but it looks promising. I've also been looking at the Round 2 1960's Batmobile, it looks like a fun kit, but I have no idea on the fit (it's likely to be an easy kit to build if you're not going for perfection though).

Hope this helps.

 

[edge10]

Revell had some Star Wars snap-tite kits like the Star Destroyer and the U-wing. You might have to go to eBay to find them.

Any hobby shop should have plenty of car kits, that should fit the bill.

It really depends on what skill level you want.

 

[greenmachines]

I was seeing a lot of Revell snap together but only the Luke's landspeeder fits the description of Star Wars and Car so maybe another level of compromise on the mutual interest? The Luke kit seems difficult to get unless someone has a link?

Many cars are available though. Also several other companies offer these kits as Revell's competition.

Can everyone toss in the scale they believe may be what our friend is looking for?

Obviously this number will jump around for larger objects but I think the 1/24, 1/25 sounds right for cars. Also, the naming for these items (search terms) will help, so I am tossing in 'snap tite' and 'Snap'.

sparkmatter you might find that a good crossover with your dad would be classic super hero or "good guy" cars, like the batmobile and others. The ones that will grab the eye of non-car folks as conversation starters but that are still beautiful builds when done.

Also, if you are willing to roll to the store, instead of online, a trip to HobbyLobby is a guaranteed win and is a lot if fun anyway. There is a thread here somewhere that lists all known existing conventional hobby stores in each town... but I lost my shortcut to it.

This is one of the online stores:

Can everyone pitch their favorite sources for online and brick and mortar?

 

[JNordgren42]

I was seeing a lot of Revell snap together but only the Luke's landspeeder fits the description of Star Wars and Car so maybe another level of compromise on the mutual interest? The Luke kit seems difficult to get unless someone has a link?

Many cars are available though. Also several other companies offer these kits as Revell's competition.

Can everyone toss in the scale they believe may be what our friend is looking for?

Here's my two cents on scale:

For cars, 1/24 or 1/25 is pretty much standard. There are larger scales out there but counterintuitively, they're usually highly detailed advanced kits that have all kinds of fiddly bits.

For fighter sized aircraft and starships, I'd say 1/48 is a good choice. You end up with a good sized model with not too many tiny bits (usually). The Bandai 1/72 subjects are also a good scale.

For larger ships and sci-fi, it's really a crap shoot on scale, since it depends so heavily on the size of the subject matter.

 

[edge10]

The problem I have with the Bandai 1/72 kits is, they tend to be small. Small = fiddly bits.

 

[JNordgren42]

The problem I have with the Bandai 1/72 kits is, they tend to be small. Small = fiddly bits.

Yep, I noted that as well. The saving grace is that those fiddly bits (usually) fit well and are (usually) engineered with logic as to how it builds up. But some of the kits like the Y Wing have a LOT of fiddly, easy to break bits. My Y Wing is still in the box on the build pile so I haven't experienced just how difficult all those pipes are going to be. But the X Wing and A Wing are both good candidates IMO, since the fiddlyness is kept to a minimum.

 

[JNordgren42]

One of the biggest things to watch out for with Bandai is their propensity to self destruct when exposed to some solvents (mostly terpenoids). That has killed many a modeler's build, even experienced modelers (sometimes more so because of the likelihood of using more advanced weathering techniques that use said solvents).

 

[edge10]

Yep, I noted that as well. The saving grace is that those fiddly bits (usually) fit well and are (usually) engineered with logic as to how it builds up. But some of the kits like the Y Wing have a LOT of fiddly, easy to break bits. My Y Wing is still in the box on the build pile so I haven't experienced just how difficult all those pipes are going to be. But the X Wing and A Wing are both good candidates IMO, since the fiddlyness is kept to a minimum.

The TIE Fighters are small at 1/72, they make me want to cry every time I look at them.

 

[greenmachines]

The TIE Fighters are small at 1/72, they make me want to cry every time I look at them.

I guess the "what to avoid" also helps sparkmatter

 

[edge10]

A TIE fighter for ants?!

Seriously: The wings on Vader's TIE measure about 3 1/4 inches long.

 

[greenmachines]

A TIE fighter for ants?!

Seriously: The wings on Vader's TIE measure about 3 1/4 inches long.

That is fiddly

 

[sparkmatter]

Obviously this number will jump around for larger objects but I think the 1/24, 1/25 sounds right for cars. Also, the naming for these items (search terms) will help, so I am tossing in 'snap tite' and 'Snap'.

Oh this is an option I was not aware of that looks like a really great possibility! I'm looking at some 1/25 snap together car kits that seem like a great option (especially the pre painted ones because without an airbrush it is a struggle haha)

 

[sparkmatter]

One of the biggest things to watch out for with Bandai is their propensity to self destruct when exposed to some solvents (mostly terpenoids). That has killed many a modeler's build, even experienced modelers (sometimes more so because of the likelihood of using more advanced weathering techniques that use said solvents).

Very good to know! I steer away from solvents generally (asthma) but I think my primer might cause some trouble on it

 

[JPH]

Where do I find fun/not fiddly beginner scale model kits? Model kits are one of the few interests I share with my dad so I'd like to do more with him but it's not something that we've had much luck in. So far we've attempted: metal earth kit (way too many itty bitty pieces he finds difficult and the "papercuts" from the metal edges are no fun), repainting a cheap plastic model airplane (went well but not much in the way of assembly), airfix kit (we're now on our third attempt and even the primer beads up on the plastic, the instructions are nightmarish- who tf decided to have both colors and pieces be numbers instead of one letters), and a few lego sets (fun and successful but I find them not challenging enough).
Any advice would be great, my usual realm is 3d printed props so i feel a bit out of my depth and I don't think buying kits from every brand to see what we like is a good budgetary decision haha. (I do have nice model paints by virtue of propmaking supplies so the quality/existence of kit supplied paints doesn't matter). If you have specific models in mind, he enjoys cars and i gravitate towards star wars modelling but we are open to anything as long as nothing is a german military vehicle from the WW2 era (for cultural trauma reasons). Oh also he's colorblind so if the instructions rely on "red steps do xyz and green steps need zyx" that may not go well lol.
Thanks so much!

Hobby Lobby has 40% off models every other week. Check their weekly ad

I dont own stock in Hobby Lobby.

Snaptite kits are always fun and dont involve anything extra.

Mobile Suit Gundam High Grades are super fun, but have some small parts. Do you assemble models and make combat noises while building?

If you have a bigger budget, look into old models on ebay: Evangelion and Macross, Battlestar Galactica, Lensman, Buck Rodgers, VOTOMS, etc..

Also, if you have any local conventions, hobby shops, flea markets and thibgverse or yeggi for 3D print.

I would avoid helicopters.

There is such a HUGE WORLD of models to choose!

A year or two ago rpf has a guy selling a buncha models, I got an old Gallactica...made my week!

Also!!


STOP!

Check Mung's scratchbuilds! Why you gotta build something with instructions?!?!?

 

[division 6]

The Bandai 1/100 Lando Falcon is a good size and not a lot if parts.

Concept art had one painted as a firebird.

 

[JNordgren42]

The TIE Fighters are small at 1/72, they make me want to cry every time I look at them.

The TIE Fighters are small (with the exception of the TIE Striker, that thing is CHONKY), but they probably have the least amount of fiddly bits. They're extremely easy builds.

 

[JNordgren42]

Very good to know! I steer away from solvents generally (asthma) but I think my primer might cause some trouble on it

Most rattle can primers will be fine. Anything acrylic will be OK, and lacquer based primers like Tamiya Fine Surface Primer or Gunze Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 won't hurt the Bandai Plastic. The worst culprits are traditional oil paint washes that are usually thinned with turpentine or enamel washes that use petroleum based thinners. The wash creeps into the cracks and the plastic can get extremely brittle. Acrylic washes are fine.