Best Model Kits for Beginners | Top Five Kits to Get Started

Want to get into scale modeling? These are my top five kit recommendations for a beginner who's just starting out!

You can find links to all of these kits below:

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These kits offer a nice balance of quality finish & ease of construction, making them a great place to start for somebody who wants to practice their skills & make something that they can be proud of!.

What were some of the first scale models that you built? Comment below if you agree or disagree with my suggestions - and let me know if you have any kit recommendations that you think are perfect for somebody just getting into the hobby.

[normansmith]

Wow, thank you Hank. I am a 69 (almost 70) year old east London cockney who suddenly decided to get back into modelling with the notion of building all the Battle of Britain aircraft in 1/48 scale. Hurricane, Spitfire Mk.1's, Messerschmidt 109 E-3, 110C, Beaufighter, Bristol Blenheim, Ju 88A-5, Stuka. But you described exactly what has happened and what I did wrong. I bought nice kits but as I have improved I can see how I messed up the first kits and am buying replacements already, ugh! So having started trying to run before I could walk I am using those to practice. However your presentation has made me feel less of an idiot than I did and so the unbuilt BoB kits are waiting in line to become awesome (I hope). Together with some Pacific war American and Japanese Hellcat F6F-3, Zero, late war Focke Wulf, Mustang, my interest sort of spread out, my poor wife! Thanks again.

[garynash]

In 1966 or 67 I wrote a letter to Monogram asking them to consider offering 1/48 scale WW2 Tanks and Half Tracks.. because I thought what was out there was too small, being a Hopeless modeling nerd... Of course I wrote an extensive list of all, and I mean All the Armored vehicles I wanted to see!!! And .. about a month later I got back a letter ✉️ for me!!?!! from the head guy at Monogram saying great Idea!!! I was over the moon!! (13) years old, so ... anyway... about a year or two later here comes all these WW2 Tanks panzer IV, German half track I was blown away! Thinking maybe I was the guy that started the larger WW2 vehicle choices at the hobby shops, I don't know... But in those days in the good ol' USA you could write a letter to any company and get a reply, is this a good country or what??😀👍

[kieoici]

My dad used to do modeling as a kid then he joined the air force and was active duty for 20 years he still works for the AF and when he found his model kit building kit he gave it to me and now I have started and I love watching your videos. Luckily for me my dad had clamps, air brush, paints, cements, precision knives, and much more.

[scooter]

Tamiya Walker Bulldog is my choice for a first build tank. 1)Cheap 2)Easy to build. 3)Non complicated paint scheme. Hand paint, can paint or airbrush if you have one. If it turns out good, you can always add extra details.

[longlance]

Directs new modelers to the Sherman = instant like lol :D

[tippo]

For some reason your video popped up on my suggested list...and I'm glad it did.
Made tons of 1/72 aircraft as a young and older teenager...and loved the process, the learning, using different glues etc etc. Took it up again many years later after being married and having first child, and a year off work due to illness, loved it even more and took my modelling to newer techniques and expanding on what I'd already learned. Fast forward some more years and twin childrenn added, and got back into it yet again...further advancing skills and techniques again, and pushing myself to try lots of newer things. Now after having watched this...yes it's time to get back into it...those kids are now 27 and twins 22, so with much more time on my hands, and wanting to get back into what is probably my most favourite of pasttimes, I will once again venture into that world of crafting some creations out of a box, and loving every second of it.
I have mostly stuck along the military genre...aircraft, helicopters and 1/350 ships, and will continue along that line as it's always an interest of mine.
The paints may have hardened, blades dulled and tweezers been stolen by my daughters many years ago, but the greatest thing of modelling is it's relatively cheap to get into (or back into in my case), and the advent of YouTube...has certainly helped in what I'm intending on doing, creating more life like finishes, diorama's and just adding more authenticity to whatever I throw my hands and mind at.
So a huge thank you from me down here in Sydney Aus, and I look forward to watching more of your videos, and might even one day share some of my own stuff on YouTube or one of these other fancy social media sites...thanks again 😁😁😁😁😁😁

[brianv]

A friend got me into wargaming about 9 years ago, and the minis use the same plastic (mostly...some metal and resin sometimes too) and techniques as scale models. I used to build kits as a kid ages ago, and building the minis and monsters for wargaming has really sparked my interest for scale model kits again. I am glad I found your site. I may not be a beginner, but I think I will follow your guide to begin again. Thanks for the video!

[harryparry-okeden]

As a relatively junior modeller myself, i find toothpicks are amazing for linework, as you can use them just like a pencil and they are quite accurate

[kiwifruitpoo]

Can’t beat Tamiya engineering. Their glues, paints and tools are all great too. I stick to their 1:48 armour as it is affordable and to a excellent common standard. New airfix stuff is also excellent for the price. I think I’ve build nearly all the 1:48 aircraft from Tamiya and Airfix, the common kits at least.

[huwtindall]

Great selection! I'd add the Tamiya Panzer II with DAK troopers (#35009). Classic 1970s kit. It is super simple to build and the troops allow you to create a nice diorama. More than anything else though is it's SUPER cheap. Can get it for less than £10 in the UK which is a steal. As a "getting started" kit I think the price is important as some of the expensive Dragon or Ryefield kits will scare people off having a go.

[DeadDogSanders]

Ty!!!....I'm 71 yrs old..used to build about everything as a" new recruit"..a kid...your video was EXACTLY the stimulus I needed to get back into this very fun hobby..ty again
Rick S.

[davidstarre]

Great video for the new guy and older. I am 61 years old and I am finishing up a Russian Tamiya 1/48th Tank SU-85. It is motorized and I like to buy tank kits that have motors. What was challenging is that the kit had all broken axels on one side. I had to drill and glue brass axels on with super glue. IT worked!! I'm glad young people like you are in the hobby to keep it going! Can you do videos on kit bashing?

[arthurengelbert]

Great Video! I started in again, a handful of years ago, by getting the cheapest kits I could find on Amazon. That way, If I messed something up, I was only out $10. As my skills get better, I add different tools and supplies. I sometimes buy the same kit again, so that I could do something a little different than the first time around. A fun hobby all around. The only drawback is where to put them all as you complete them and move on to the next one!

[SO-ymzs]

As good (and noob-friendly) as the engineering on most Tamiya kits is, there's a company that exceeds even them in that regard: Bandai. Their Star Wars and Gundam kits are staggeringly well designed and molded. Some state-of-the art stuff. They're beginner friendly, too, in that they don't require glue, and on many of the kits, the parts are pre-molded in the right colors, so paint is not truly necessary. This will give newcomers a chance to get used to following visual directions and cutting and prepping parts for assembly. Then they can move on to painting and weathering them when they feel ready.

[briankorbelik]

Thank you for this video, I'm 66 and just getting back to modeling after 50 years are more. There are so many kits now that I wish were availbe when I was young. I just picked up a Trumpeter BF-109F-4 Trop. And thank you for the video about what tools I need to pick up. I had to leave my tools behind when I moved the last time. I also had to leave behind the unbuilt USS Wasp CV-7 plus the Japanese sub that sank her. That and unbuilt Uss Ticonderoga. But what hurts the most is the Adolf Galland BF-109E4 kit with a figure of Galland. That and a BF-109F that represented the aircraft that Werner Molders flew.

[flynn]

Brews….
I’m back in.
My uncle taught me all about building and detail of models.
He passed recently and it’s got me keen to pull out my tiger one that’s 90% complete.
Thanks mate for this video

[explosiveanimator]

I've been making tamiyas t72m1 recently and I must say, it falls together almost perfectly, even the rubber tracks went together well and the paint scheme is very simplistic, I still haven't gained the confidence to do any sort of camo yet. It really is one of my favourite kits so far

[the_once-and-future_king.]

When I got back into it, my first kit was a Dragon 1/35 Sherman Firefly Vc.

With individual track links that had to be joined using 2 tiny guide horns. By the time I finished them I was ready to pull my hair out.

So, pro tip: If you're just starting out, check if the kit has band tracks, link & length, or individual links!

[gerardogonzalez]

Thank you very much for the recommendations. suggestions. tutorials and advice, last time built a model plane I was 13 years old im 60 now. restarted again wow things and techniques have really evolved thank you again.

[theoabbot]

Thank you for the great help. I too have gotten back into building models, at 60. So far, the best advice you have offered is, enjoy it and don’t be in hurry. My favorite is an F-14. I paint them any way I want. But your tips on the smaller things are terrific. I’ve always believed the key to getting better at skills is listening to those who know how to do it better. Thank you for the guidance.

Theo - Wilmington, NC