What makes a good kit?

[NovYank]

I'm curious to see what other members look for in a kit. Ease of assembly? Type of vehicle? Boxart? Manufacturer? Or the timeless, I wanted it because I thought it looked cool.

I guess I'll start. I buy kits mainly because of what vehicle it is, and the different possibilities that it could be posed in. Recently I've been looking to buy kits that would be a challenge to build, I don't like easy, shake 'n' bake kits that are built, painted and weathered with no fun. Chaos makes it for me, I want to be able to look at a kit and say, "I made that against all odds." Maybe that's just the American in me, but that's what I look for in a kit.

Can't wait to hear all of your reasons for purchasing kits!!!!!!

[chief5437]

Hmmm, tricky one.

I don't really look for anything in a kit at first. Once I've decided what I want to build, I'll usually research what kit has the best reviews, then the major factor for me is price. So it's a case of weighing up the pros and cons against price and availability. (I have no patience!)

That said, sometimes I just see someone else's kit and think 'I gotta have one!' Hence the current Panzer 1 Funk.

Also, depending on my mood, it's nice to have a 'shake 'n bake' kit to bang together in a couple of hours. Especially after a long meticulous build of another kit.

One of my builds that I'm most happy with is a 1/76 Airfix Tiger. Very basic, and I was new to all the weathering type stuff. But as it was basic, it didn't give me any hassle, which meant I was more relaxed about it and enjoyed spending time on it. (Sounds like I'm talking about a bloody puppy!)



As you can see, very basic. But it still puts a smile on my face!

Anyhoo, I've probably gone off topic now, I tend to bang on.

Cheers!

[Coen]

Holy beans and franks Chief... that's one hell of a hit on that Tiger. Poor kitty.
What the hell was it? An arty round? Wow.. that had to sting.
What a cool little dio Dude. I love it.

Sorry... I got distracted... the man asked a question.
For me, I'll do pretty much what Chief does.
I'll have an idea as to what subject I want to build, then I'll go online and look for all the kits that fit the build that I want to do.
I'll print off all the reviews of each one and spend two or three days reading and mulling.

Price isn't something I take into consideration much, unless the kit is being held hostage by some @#*$ collector and they want a ridiculous price... (I don't like collectors... shhhh don't tell anyone).
I'll still find the vendor with the lowest price though.
Then I'll buy and build.
The "Look for in a Kit" part is covered by it fits the subject that I'm building... and it's the best one according to the reviews.

If you asked me what I hope for in a kit... well that's a different question now isn't it. haha.

Thanks for asking that Dude.
I like stuff like that... makes folks stop, consider and compare. It's healthy to take stock.

[chief5437]

^^ lol Coen! That's what happens to a tiger when hit by an archer spg! You won't find pics in the history books though, it's only when my grandad crewed them that they got 'Super Powers' lol.

[Coen]

Haha. Gotta love the archer. BOOM POOFYPOOFY.

[Lee]

Anything that catches my eye or piques my interest really. At the moment I'm into anything Israeli as I love their schemes and the way they bastardise all the machinery that's sold to them and make them better

[Bassman]

If the subject interests me (and I can afford it!) I will most probably buy it. I would say that the majority of my stash is road vehicles.

Ease of build does not necessarily come into it. I remember having problems with canopy fit on an Airfix Bv141. Didn't resolve it very well at the time (I have another to maybe do better with at some point). The same could be said of my AMT Flying Wings and Valkyrie. I don't think ease of build is their strong point - have yet to summon the courage...

I am into most types of transport. I like a decent level of detail in the kit though. I don't have many curbside car models for instance. I have a few AFV's... ones with a fairly good degree of interior detail.

If the subject is something I am vaguely interested in, but is a good price... Who can resist a bargain.

Sometimes it is maybe just nostalgia. I built the Revell NS Savannah as a kid. I bought it again when it was released a number of years ago.

[T3hGuppy]

What I buy is usually on impulse.

What makes a good kit for me is a good fit on parts and nice looking detail (Not really fussed if its not 100% accurate)
And the plastic is really important a good kit needs good plastic not to soft and not to hard.

[Gav0909]

Simple case of if its a subject I wish to have a model of, then I will get it if I can. Hence my range of small, big and medium scale models, ranging from WW2 to modern planes, helicopters, tanks etc.

My skills are getting to the point that I can comfortably do larger scale models with good results, so in terms of scale I am finding myself up around 1/48 and 1/35 now rather than 1/72.

[alextheblue]

Gotta say, I'm a bit of an impulse buyer as well - if it looks nice I'll buy it.

When I got into the hobby a little while ago I stuck to Tamiya kits as the were challenging enough to my very meagre skill level. Now a few months on, I have almost completed my first Dragon kit, with a second on the go and a third waiting in the wings. This has nothing to do with me getting any better, more a case of my ambition always seems to out-gun my ability! Love a challenge though!

If we could have a wish-list of what makes a good kit, then top of my list would be a kit whereby the bits grew to ten times their size when they ping off your tweezers and land on the floor, only to return to their original size once you pick them up. I'm still looking for the handle for the jack of the Tiger I I'm building - bet it went under the sofa!!

[HamilkarBarkas]

A perfect kit is one that does not need any aftermarket stuff because its either already good enough so no need for photo-etch or it is included already. I mainly build models out of box so the better the kit is right away the better the model will look. So, in the end, Dragon offers for me the perfect kits Apart from the detail aspect fun is very important. Some kits can be very frustrating, not because the parts do not fit but the assembly process is very long. I had this issue with the Bronco Mk.IV tank, its a great kit but the assembly takes ages.

[HobbyModeller]

An interesting paint and decal scheme is the biggest part for me I like unorthodox markings etc. But also nice fitting parts and simple instructions help ease assembly which is usually where I put the kit down if it takes too long

[Tonygol]

Anything that catches my eye or piques my interest really. At the moment I'm into anything Israeli as I love their schemes and the way they bastardise all the machinery that's sold to them and make them better

Collecting Israeli marking kits or converting them.

Large stash.

[Nige201980]

Cheaper the better for me at the mo so aslong as its basically right is ok with me I can as ways add detail if need be and good fit

[schweinhund227]

Hard question buddy! its a big Hodgepodge of feelings and Emotions...

I am usually looking for a good representation of what ever machine I decide to model !

in the last 10 years... Model manufacturer made huge leaps in technology and are now releasing incredible quality kits ! but that doesn't mean they are great to put together.... some older kits are still holding their grounds as they were build right the first time ! I don't mind a Shake N Bake "Tamiya" kit on my bench from time to time.... I welcome a challenge but not some of the Nightmarish kits "some" companies have released over the years!

As of late ! You've guest it ! I collected all the "Stryker" variants form various Model Companies like AFV Club and Trumpeter and I am happy they both have equal amount of Details and Good engineering ! although my strykers are nice kits.... both companies I am dealing with here... have had their Lows.... and have since bounced back from those dark times...

I used to be big on buying A.M. sets for all my kits and now.... its the opposite ! due to the fact, most of it comes in the box like, Turn ALU barrels, Photo Etch, Mix Media (springs and Brass rods, mesh screens) etc...

Peoples have less and less time to sit down and enjoy modeling ! so .. chose wisely and enjoy your building time!

easy or complicated ! to each their own !

Take care !

[longlance67]

for me what makes a good kit is the flow of the build. having nice detail that makes want to look up their functions on the real vehicles, having a nice but rewarding challenge and something be proud of when its sitting proudly on your shelf

[bdr65]

What makes a good kit for me (thinking )

99.9 % of my models are or will be AFV's. So everything in this genre appeals to me
and I want them all Unfortunately commonsense prevails in this.

My own personal taste's in manufacturer's would be my number one priority when
hunting for a kit, Amount of detail included is also something I look at now........

A realistic prize for the type of kit can be chucked into that mix as well


BTW: That diorama is freak in awesome...........

[Scruffy]

For me, I guess I am a bit different, I enjoy building kits from different manufacturers, alot of these end up being cottage industry types. I do enjoy a nice Tamyia or Hasegawa kit to put together inbetween some of the rougher kits I build. I like to the odd and unusual as well, and the challenge of building a kit, especially one that is not done alot. I also look at is as I don't want to be the guy that has XYZ kit in his collection, I want to be the guy that has built XYZ kit! So I guess for me what makes a good kit is one that I can have fun building the way I want, and one that is often not seen built.