best "starter" armour kit?

[shortCummins]

since I've come back to the hobby I've built nothing but aircraft, I like aeroplanes however I'd like to have a go at some armour, I've got a Tamiya 1:35 Hanomag Sdkfz 251/1 that I just can't build up the enthusiasm to start, however I really want to make a tank of some description.

As this will be my "first" armour I'm looking for a kit that I can enjoy and end up with a half-decient (skills allowing) effort.

So what I'm looking for is a reasonably cheep around £50, $70, 65€ kit that will fire my enthusiasm for this area of the hobby.

If you can suggest anything I'd be happy to hear

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[MarkVerploeg]

Well for the budget you can pick a whole lot of different stuff
but what kind of tank are you intrested in
would you like a WWI or WWII tank or a modern one
and just as important how dificult to build
for modern i think that a T--55 or a later versiol like the T-62 could be nice
and you can often choose between kits with or without ERA blocks on them
with would be more complex and without a bit easier
but something like a Sherman can be fun aswel and those aren't to dificult to build
so if you have a are for the subject that helps with giving tips

[OliveDrab]

For a first time armor builder, its hard to beat almost any of the newer releases from Tamiya. These kits usually build up very nice with minimal assembly issues. As an example, I have the Tamiya DAK Tiger currently on the bench, and it built up beautifully! I added and corrected a few details, but its really not necessary if your just looking for a great and trouble free armor build.
A few build pics: http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 29&t=15874

[Stokesy44]

Any recent 1/35 release from Tamiya would do you, and for a lot less than £50. The new Sherman Easy 8 is meant to be nice but any up to date releases will be a pleasure to make.

[wookiee76]

The trick is to find a tank that you like the look of first, then see if tamiya makes one! Just dont go dragon for a first armour build or it will be your last, that or trumpeter modern russian stuff!

[shortCummins]

Well for the budget you can pick a whole lot of different stuff
but what kind of tank are you intrested in
would you like a WWI or WWII tank or a modern one
and just as important how dificult to build
for modern i think that a T--55 or a later versiol like the T-62 could be nice
and you can often choose between kits with or without ERA blocks on them
with would be more complex and without a bit easier
but something like a Sherman can be fun aswel and those aren't to dificult to build
so if you have a are for the subject that helps with giving tips

thanks Mark, most of my aircraft are WWII, so thats the era that I'm most interested in however what I'm after is a kit that will fire some enthusiasm for armour so I'm open to any suggestions

For a first time armor builder, its hard to beat almost any of the newer releases from Tamiya. These kits usually build up very nice with minimal assembly issues. As an example, I have the Tamiya DAK Tiger currently on the bench, and it built up beautifully! I added and corrected a few details, but its really not necessary if your just looking for a great and trouble free armor build.
A few build pics: http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 29&t=15874

Cheers OliveDrab, Tamiya would have been my first choice, the majority of their kits present the modeller with few fit issues and I'm guessing that Meng or Dragon kits would be better once I'm built a few armour subjects. At this point I'm not overly interested in accuracy but I'm sure if I get bit by the armour bug then I be looking for the correct tracks/turrets etc.

Any recent 1/35 release from Tamiya would do you, and for a lot less than £50. The new Sherman Easy 8 is meant to be nice but any up to date releases will be a pleasure to make.

Thanks Stokesy, a Sherman would be of interest and Hannants have it at under £30 so that could be a good place to start

[shortCummins]

The trick is to find a tank that you like the look of first, then see if tamiya makes one! Just dont go dragon for a first armour build or it will be your last, that or trumpeter modern russian stuff!

thanks for the advice Wookie, I'd guessed that Dragon kits were for "experienced" modellers rather than beginners

[MarkVerploeg]

If you like WWII subjects i think that the Tamiya M4A3E8 or easy 8 as they often call it could be a good starter
it is a brand new kit that has been recently released

[Heretical86]

Or if you don't want to bugger up a nice new kit, something smaller like the panzer 2 f/g was a fun and easy build. Lets you work on weathering and painting for about $13 U.S.

[Sturm]

Try one of Tamiya's 1/48 line of tanks, very easy and fun kits to build. If you don't mind the smaller scale.