Why a Tamiya kit should be your first....

#scalemodelling #kitreview
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In this video I give my views on why I think a Tamiya kit should be your first and why you may want to avoid starter kits....

[simonmowatt]

For someone starting out, I highly recommend doing 1/35 armour. Aircraft can be a little daunting with interiors and canopies. Yes, you have to deal with wheels and tracks with armour, but at least for me, armour is the way to go for a beginner, especially since armour schemes are typically just one or two colours to paint. Your 1/35 armour YouTube series is honestly the best series for any beginner.

[pcassar]

I started the hobby last year with an Airfix Hurricane, went to paint a Zero and a Wildcat. Only after I picked up the Tamiya 1 : 48 Wildcat it became apparent to me what I should have done from the start. Great Video!

[daneshivers]

My very 1st kit was a 1/72 Revell Zero...pale blue plastic... I knew nothing about sprue tabs, rough edges, alignment issues and fit. I had a tube of Testor's glue and the kit. It was a disaster, looking back. Sprue nubs kept parts from fitting and the glue fogged the canopy. I have learned much up 'til now. I, of course, was delighted with it. I was 9. We have so much to teach new modelers and a good or great kit is the place to start and not the hacky junk we all accepted as normal back then. The Zero was a nice little kit and deserved someone much better than me to build it. Thanks for letting me air this, Dane

[Dragon_Werks]

If you want a liquid cement applicator that's even better than Tamiya's little brush that comes in their Extra Thin, go get some insulin syringes. You can get a box of 100 +/- for @ $25.00 USD. The tiny, thin needle lets you get into tight spots that were previously unreachable to place just the right amount of cement on site.

[sufianansari]

3:23 I have got that same Messerschmitt BF109 E-3 in 1/72, built it 20 plus years ago and its the best example of this aircraft in 1/72. Highly recommended

[onecheesey]

Excellent advice & I absolutely agree with your comments re Tamiya. Can't beat them for engineering, quality & simplicity. But I wish folk would stop righting off companies such as Airfix quite so quickly !
Modern Airfix 1/48 aircraft kits are a world away from their classic stuff & are well engineered, detailed & go together beautifully. They also release subjects that Tamiya would never touch.
Great advice indeed but don't right off other manufacturers too readily 👍👍👍

[LAHFaust]

The Airfix starter kits are great for people who aren't sure if they'll enjoy the hobby and don't want to invest in all the tools associated with. My first kits were an Airfix 1/72 Tiger and Hurricane Mk. I and they showed me that I do enjoy the parts I was iffy about, namely the tiny parts and painting.

They're $15, so it doesn't really matter if you lose an antenna mast or the black for the rubber bleeds onto the road wheels. Just build em for some quick easy fun and a cheap taste of the hobby.

[fourfeet]

Peter Rouse
This vidio has given me some very good info. I am in my 80s and have dabled in modole but not for many years. My main hobby was woodturning for which I achieved a number of National awards, however dust become my enemy and I have now started to construct one or two models.
The advice you give in your vidio was both useful and constructive and I look forward to the same in future vidios Peter

[Paul]

Brilliant tips and advice, sir. I'm 54 now and getting back into plastic military models (started when I was 12 with Monogram 1/48 WW2 kits mostly). I've also debated between 1/72 and 1/48 and with my failing eyesight, going back to 1/48 is wise advice indeed, as is sticking with Tamiya. I have Tamiya kits only and they are top quality. well worth the money and are a joy to build. Subscribed to your channel! Cheers from the USA. Best, Paul

[huwtindall]

Great video but most people don't go into this taking the hobby seriously. There is a place for a Tamiya 1:48 kit for the middle aged first timer with money and a place for Airfix for the 8 year old or people who can't afford a big Tamiya kit. With the new tool Airfix they are amazing fit and every new tool is going to be as good. They are also good if you want to take a break and do a quick one or two day build and paint. All the stuff Airfix do for schools and scout groups etc is amazing as well. Can't thank them enough.

[vereferreus]

When I started modelling Tamiya didn't even exist in Europe. Airfix, Heller and Revell were the popular brands.
I always found the range from Airfix the best, both in price ranges (remember the cheapest 1:72 in plastic bags) and they always fitted.
Revell had often problems with that. Ship hulls bent so nothing fitted anymore. Heller was very good, but very french oriented then.

[AdamMannD]

Just starting this, but I love the idea. Recently an Australian modeler made a video crapping on Tamiya. It's so important for the beginner.and as a refresher for us. This is why I like your channel sir.

[liamgray]

Hey Jason - what a brilliant video - i wish you had done this about a year again 😂 My first was a Revell 1/48 spitfire, difficult. I have to completely agree with you Tamiya kits are fantastic for a starter / novice and I’ve build most of these this year, however just finished 1/72 Airfix Tiger 1 & Sherman- to be honest it went together enough.

[henrikdagil]

In the '70 i got a lot of Airfix and Matchbox kits and they worked ok for me, until i bought my first Tamiya in 1981, a Land Rover, and I never since bought anything else

Tamiya have as you said very detailed kits and simple instructions even for young ones 🇯🇵👍😊

[theblytonian]

Airfix starter sets are still ideal for kids such as my own first kit experience at age 6 or 7 -long before starter kits per se. I only built 1/72 Airfix Series 1 hanger bagged kits through to about age 15 unless I was gifted a higher series for a special occasion. Of course these days where kids are indulged, beyond childhood toward teen the older Tamiya 1/48 and 1/35 kits are an accessible affordable reality as well as straightforward simple builds which look great OOTB, and great fitting compared with my own Airfix experience days.

[FinsburyPhil]

Good points well made. My only problem when coming back to the hobby recently after more than forty years, was just how much info there was out there. I watched hours and hours of YouTube technique videos, bought all the gear, had a stash of half a dozen kits...and still hadn't built anything! I think the best advice is get on and start building, don't worry about the results of your first three or four and then put time aside for your first 'proper' build and paint.

[martynlea]

Thank you for your sound advice. It has probably been two decades since I have built a model and I would like to get back into it. I brought many years ago a couple of Tamiya 1/48 Lancaster and Mosquitoes as well as a Badger airbrush. As you say things have changed since then and I think I need to practice on some more simpler models.
Look forward to seeing your next video.

[rothschildianum]

This is an excellent video for those who want to get into building plastic model.

[FlyFree]

Excellent explanation, rekindling my desire to build something! Kits have indeed changed since my days. Many thanks.

[georgewilson]

A very good video for beginners. I think you are right. Yamin is the best way to go. It is what I did. The only problem I had, was following some parts of the interaction. They were not jery clear. But it was my fault. I did not look closely enough. So I had take some apart and move it a very small amount. I love tamiya. Everyone who is starting to build should watch this