Advice for a beginner.

Caldric · Post by **Caldric** » 21 Oct 2002 07:28

Hey guys, I have recently been wanting to start a small collection of model tanks from WWII. Mainly the major armor vehicles.

I want them all to be the same scale because I just built this nice wall stand in my den and need something to put in it.

What company makes quality kits? few extra dollars is worth quality to me.

What scale is manageable? More or less no larger then say a shoe box.

I have no problem with detail, I have many years building wood R/C Airplanes and Helicopters. Hope to not have much problem with these.

Thanks

Daniel L · Post by **Daniel L** » 21 Oct 2002 08:00

Hi Caldric,

Revell makes the best !/72 miniature tanks at the moment. Since you live in North America I'm not sure if they are as cheap there as in Europe but I would try to find revell anyway because of the great detail of their kits.

best regards

prejo · Post by **prejo** » 21 Oct 2002 16:05

Hi all,

I've just heard from one of my colleagues, (which has just return from US) that all european made kits are a bit expensive in the States. He bought only Japaneese and Koreean kits from there. So I think if an extra buck is worth value for you Caldric, try one of these asian producers...

regards,
prejo

Christian Ankerstjerne · Post by **Christian Ankerstjerne** » 21 Oct 2002 16:28

Hasegawa is good too, and it'll cost you about $8, if the prices hold for USA vs. Denmark

Some revell kits you can just throw out...

Christian

David C. Clarke · Post by **David C. Clarke** » 21 Oct 2002 18:27

Noooooo! My friend Caldric, obviously they make small shoeboxes in other places. Don't let anyone persuade you otherwise--1/35th is the true armor scale! Tamiya is the true armor compant (well, okay, DML too). Best Regards, David

Christian Ankerstjerne · Post by **Christian Ankerstjerne** » 21 Oct 2002 18:48

DML = #2 - Tamiya is the only model god!

Christian

Daniel L · Post by **Daniel L** » 21 Oct 2002 18:51

Yeah, Tamaiya is the god when it comes to 1/35 scale.

Hasegawa is good too

Some revell kits you can just throw out...

Christian, are you allright, suddenly I became concerned about your health.

Caldric · Post by **Caldric** » 21 Oct 2002 20:12

1/35 scale what size are they then? Foot or so long?

And David do you order your models in the US? Or do you have one of those cool model stores around? I doubt I have any store like that around Anchorage and may have to order.

I have one more request.

If you started out today and had a couple of hundred dollars to spend what items would you buy? Paint system, brushes, glue etc.?

I do not know if I will spend that much money right off but such a list would give me an idea of what I need to start picking up. If any of you have time to itemize your have-to-have-tools

. I would appreciate it, I hate trial and error and buying stuff I will never use.

And thanks for all the great post.

Daniel L · Post by **Daniel L** » 21 Oct 2002 20:25

I would see that I got myself a good scalpel and the right colours, it's never fun to find out that one is missing one of the colours that are demanded for the tank.

regards

Starinov · Post by **Starinov** » 21 Oct 2002 21:22

Caldric

for Tanks I would definitevely go with Tamiya. They have very nicely done kits. Dragon models aren't bad either.

You can shop for them in any hoobybstore in your area or you can order them through the internet. Try such stores as:

http://www.greatmodels.com/
http://www.udisco.com/hobbies/
http://www.vls-vp.com/pg2.htm

Good luck and have fun.

David C. Clarke · Post by **David C. Clarke** » 21 Oct 2002 21:35

Very Good Questions Indeed! First of all, your major expense will be an airbrush and compressor. The good thing is that you should only have to buy these two pieces of equipment once!

Budget yourself for about $30 per kit. I usually order over the net, you can shop around and it's cheaper--besides, no single model shop will have all the kits you want.

As for tools, you will need an X-acto knife with a selection of blades, sandpaper and needle files. Everything else in terms of accessories is pretty much a variation on cutting and sanding, so these tools will get you through your first kits.
Paints are important, decide if you want to use acrylics (water-based and easier to clean up) or enamels. All good kits come with fairly good to excellent painting instructions, although Tamiya always refers to its own paint colors.

I'll post more on this later when I get home! Best regards, David

Christian Ankerstjerne · Post by **Christian Ankerstjerne** » 21 Oct 2002 22:50

charlie don't surf wrote:Yeah, Tamaiya is the god when it comes to 1/35 scale.

Hasegawa is good too

Some revell kits you can just throw out...
Christian, are you allright, suddenly I became concerned about your health.

Well, if you look at some o fthe 80'es and early 90'es kits from Revell, you will find that they are not worth the plasrtic they were made of. They have so lare gaps that you could stick a pencil in there

But the new ones are nice

CHristian

Daniel L · Post by **Daniel L** » 21 Oct 2002 23:11

I don't think that they have any of those kits left...am I wrong here?

regards

Christian Ankerstjerne · Post by **Christian Ankerstjerne** » 21 Oct 2002 23:20

Maybe not, but even so, you can still run into them if you're not carefull.

In either case, as in the store if you can open the box - and ask for advice! If it's a good store, they'll tell you if it's crap. Some of them take it home, if it's the only model on that subject, so you can't always count on it being good.
Also, comparing a few kits in the store will get you an idea of what looks good - remember, thin plastic with no depression (sink holes) is a sign of quality casting. Also, a lot of exess plastic on the edges aren't good.

If the store owner say that you can't open the box, take a note of what kits you'd like to have, and I'm sure you can get info from someone who've build them. Otherwise, go find another shop...

Christian

Logan Hartke · Post by **Logan Hartke** » 21 Oct 2002 23:23

Otherwise, go find another shop...

I know about all of the good hobby shops in a 100 mile radius of my house; from Springfield to St. Louis.

Logan Hartke

Axis History Forum

Advice for a beginner.

Advice for a beginner.

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hi Caldric