Best Beginner Scale Model - What starter model kit under £15 should you buy in plastic modelling?

What is the best beginner scale model under £15 to get started in the scale modelling hobby? This video provides a large range of low-cost model kits in the most popular scales in both airplane and military vehicles, selected for ease of build, availability, cost and achievable finish for the complete novice.

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Video Chapters

0.00 Introduction
0:23 Categories
0:53 Criteria
2:59 Aircraft 1/72nd Historical
7:30 Aircraft 1/72nd Modern
14:24 Aircraft 1/48th Historical
15:13 Aircraft 1/48th Modern
16:28 AFVs 1/72nd Historical
21:49 AFVs 1/72nd Modern
23:38 AFVs 1/35th Historical
25:24 AFVs 1/35th Modern
26:20 Summary
27:01 Like, Subscribe & Share

Links for kits shown;
P51B
P51D
P47D
F4
Spitfire
Typhoon
Tempest
Go229
Combat Set
MiG15/15bis
MiG21MF/PFM
Bronco
F117
AH64
Hawk T1
MiG27
A37
F16
Mirage F1
A10A
Gripen
Rafale
F107A
Spitfire MkI
P39Q
Mirage III
Harrier FRS1
Chaffee
Humber MkII
M35
Ambulance & Tractor
Truck & Accessories
Fuel Truck & Schwimwagen
M3, Amphibian & Motorbike
Opel Blitz
Puma
Tiger I
Marder II
Trumpeter kits
AMX30
M1126
M163
M1/M1E1
Strv103
Oshkosh
AS-90
M113
BTR70
Type 74
Type 90
PzKpfw II
Bren Carrier
Chi-Ha
Panther
Kubelwagen
Schwimmwagen
Jeep
T62

[johntaylor]

Lots of really good suggestions for me, as I've just got started in this hobby. Thank you for making this video and providing several choices!

[accountnamewithheld]

I appreciate you making this video! as a 12 year old, I got taken to the Fleet Air Arm museum in Yeovilton, and they had a billion of these kits available in the exit shop. I picked an entirely unsuitable tank, which went together quite well, until it came to sewing the tracks together! Hopefully that trend hasn't persisted to modern AFV kits...

[bearisland]

picked up a Hunting Percival 1/72 airfix starter kit kit from Aldi recently, only £4! great start for my 10 year old brother who wants to make one, simple to put together and impressised with the detail on it, an easy near fully red colour scheme too.

[slwilliams]

Hi Alex. A quick note to say a huge thank you for your videos! I'm just getting into the hobby (scale model aircraft) and really appreciate your views and insight. It is also easy to see how much thought you put into your content and it's presentation. Cheers 👌🏻

[robertgarner]

This is a great list, having come back to kits after many years. Sadly not surprised that there aren’t any Airfix kits - they are always frustrating in some way. The Revell Hawk looks good!

[sneakyfildy]

I have a very bad experience trying to buy a cheaper kit "for training". What usually happens is that fit issues and frustration are making me lose interest in a kit. For a beginner I can highly recommend to stick to the best quality kits possible, so you can focus on a model instead of fighting problems. Later, with more experience you can buy something more challenging.

[doczoff]

I was very pleased to see the old Matchbox 1/76 kits leading the way in your vehicle selection. They really were ahead of the competition when first released, and I have very fond memories of the weekly Saturday morning trip to the local news agent to add the next kit to my collection (35p each back then).
I did wonder about the absence of Airfix in this review, but I take your point re new mouldings being more expensive and the old 'classic' kits just not meeting the mark for ease of constructional for the beginner. Don't get me wrong, I love building those Airfix old classics, but I love them for the challenge as often it requires advanced skills just to get them to fit together properly. There is immense satisfaction to be had from researching what those vague plastic blobs represent and then refining them, but the classic kits are a labour of love that will probably discourage beginners.
I bought the Tamiya Sea Harrier for my son based on the general quality of Tamiya kits, but I have to say that example was appalling, he couldn't get it to fit together so repeatedly had to ask me to help (and I also found it a real battle) and he eventually got disheartened and gave up. I see you have built this kit (I've not watched yet) so you may prove me wrong, but personally I'd steer the complete beginner away from this kit, it has to much of the "I guess I'm rubbish at building models!" factor to get my recommendation. Apologies for decent in the ranks, but this kit almost killed my son's interest. Luckily he discovered Games Workshop which always fit brilliantly and are super 'beginner friendly' but OMG are they expensive!!!!
However, personal opinion re the Sea Harrier asides, this is a great guide for beginners!

[huwtindall]

Pretty damn comprehensive. I'd be chucking in the new tool Airfix "Starter Sets". They are 100% designed for beginners with brilliant simple designs minimising parts without sacrificing detail. Just built the Spit XkV and Red Arrows Hawk.

[julianmhall]

Hi Alex.. this is what I meant WRT scales. Ordinarily I would ignore a Scale 3 for a beginner but Revell's Hawk T1 is a Scale 3.

[ajvsnajfb]

just getting into the hobby myself and i got for my first model the 88mm gun and tractor from airfix it is one of the vintage classics so it had a bit more flash and seams than i wouldve liked to have dealt with. still a very fun little kit to assemble (1/72 scale probably wasnt the best choice for my first model) i got it all painted with primer and put together. cant wait to give it some paint here soon 😄.

[robertgarner]

I thought I’d better warn others that the Revell Hawk was one of the worst kits I’ve built since restarting the hobby. There was flash everywhere, the fit in some places was nonexistent, some pieces had to be cut to fit, and as for the separate red circles on the transfers…
I’ve literally just finished it but it so nearly ended up in the bin. I’m amazed it didn’t tbh. This one felt like a Vintage Classic - at best. All I want is an easy and fun 1/72 Allied plane or 1/43 vehicle!

[Vlad]

Hi. Any recommendations for non military scale model kits for beginners? Thanks

[davepasopton]

Hi, that’s a great set of suggestions. Is there a reason why Airfix don’t appear in your recommendations..? I found and subscribed to your channel after watching your ‘No hassles’ Harrier FRS build that I found encouraging.
I’ve had one waiting to start this autumn but been concerned about the negativity expressed on the kit by other tubers. I just like your style.

[MottysMilitaryModels]

Good morning Duck ! Are you all ok ? Family ? Etc. Just come past your channel and I've subbed.. when I get back to my Channel and doing more videos, I'll give you a few shout outs as your one very talented chap.your w9dk needs to be seen by more folks. I f you been anything, anything at all please give me a nudge. My email address is in the " About" part of our channels. If I can't help I'm sure I'll know someone that can. Decals, Ode instructions, parts, paints weathering stuff or books if I have I'll try and help out with whatever . If you've watched any of my videos I explain here and there why I set channel up and if someone needs and cant get anything, if I have you can have. Aslong as it brings a smile and helps to the person then job done ! Oh I also do not want anything in return, sweat, blood, money etc ... nothing . If the aforementioned reactions have done for the folks that asked, that's good enough for me, stay safe my friend, family too !! Regards Steve

[gadeeshi]

P-51 is not good choice for beginner at all due to bare metal finishes and difficult to build and paint places like radiator tunnel entrance area.

[ndenyer]

All fine until you suggest the Tamiya Panther A - its dreadful.