Global Scale Modeller

Evening gents,

First off I'm (obviously) new here so forgive any unintentional woopsies in forum etiquette.

Using your combined wisdom, can you please suggest a good first 1/35 armour build? I've built a couple of 1/72 kits, but my interests have until now focussed on things with wings.


I'm open to suggestions, but so far my interests seem to be on ww2 and mostly German stuff.

Thanks in advance.

Anything Tamiya, easy to build and great detail. Just pick a kit that inspires you but if I had to suggest one it would be the Panzer IV.

Oh and

(Always wanted to do that)

Wirbel ~ Rufus

Thanks, I will look through the catalogue.

Any notoriously difficult kits to avoid, as something of a newbie?

Most Tamiya kits are straight forward builds, main thing is, their instructions are very clear. Probably the best out there, which makes the build a lot easier. HTH

to the ISM forum

to ISM mate, will second the Tamiya kits. You may want to try something a bit unusual such as

Tamiya 1/35 Self-Propelled Howitzer Wespe # 35200
Tamiya 1/35 SdKfz.251/9 Kanonenwagen # 35147
Tamiya 1/35 Marder II Tank Destroyer Sd.kfz.131 # 35060

They should be fairly reasonably priced at approx £18-£25

Yeh I'd go with Tamiya first up. See if you can get a Stug III or Stug IV as it's a about the easiest kit to build.

Ozzie21

"Keep the CA off your fingers"

Kookaburra wrote:Thanks, I will look through the catalog.

Any notoriously difficult kits to avoid, as something of a newbie?

Stay away from their Early 1970's Re-pop... they are good at that and ...
can be a little disappointing, if you were expecting more from them !

Stay above kit #35150 and you will be in the 1990 and upward !
where a lot of their best kits started to come out !

if you buy kits below that mark ! you will be in the 1970's and 80's era !
not their best years !

but if you do buy Older Tamiya models... just expect a little more work !
compared to their latest releases...

shop around... for the best prices... Tamiya kits tend to be more expensive...
and sometimes disappoints peoples.. due to the lack of individual tracks or metal barrel and P.E.
like many companies like Trumpeter and Dragon now offers for similarly priced models...

Enjoy !

For some unknown reason my favorite Tamiya tank has always been their Panzer II. I just love that little bugger! Makes a great first as well, IMNSHO.

Hi I just did my first 1/35 build Tamiya 35065 picked it up for just £13 I enjoyed it a lot,
Any of the Tamiya kits will be a Great Place to Start

Hi and welcome! I agree. Tamiya re probably the best to cut your teeth on. You can't go wrong with the Marder III. Beautiful kit. Easy to follow instructions, good detail, builds well, and lastly, it looks REALLY cool! Good luck!

I can't thank you enough for your responses. You have given me lots to think about!

I'm doing some travelling next weekend, which will take me past the doors of my two favourite modelling shops, so with your advice on board, I will choose something they have.

One more question. Although everyone has said Tamiya, what are your thoughts on Dragon? I've made a few of their winged offerings, and whilst the end product is of good quality, the instructions are fury inducing. Does the same apply for armour?

Dragon do some great armour, as you say, the destructions can be a little obscure! I think most were suggesting Tamiya as something to start you off. If you have experience, then by all means, give dragon a try. Just be aware that they tend to have lots (&lots&lots&...) of tiny pieces! Personally, I like that in a build, but it's always refreshing to get a good fitting, quick Tamiya kit too! Good luck dude

I have to agree that Tamiya's instructions are just about the pinnacle of what model kit instructions should be. If you're good at deciphering obfuscese then there are many other great companies out there and the choices abound! It literally comes down to what you like! Go browse the available kits and see what catches your eye. Just remember that the more complex the kit, the more complex the finishing - more fiddly bits to paint and weather, the bane of my existence, don't know about yours!

Tarasdad wrote:I have to agree that Tamiya's instructions are just about the pinnacle of what model kit instructions should be. If you're good at deciphering obfuscese then there are many other great companies out there and the choices abound! It literally comes down to what you like! Go browse the available kits and see what catches your eye. Just remember that the more complex the kit, the more complex the finishing - more fiddly bits to paint and weather, the bane of my existence, don't know about yours!

I feel your pain, and I openly admit I fall into the 'lazy' catagory. Easier the better, truth be told. As I said, I have been impressed by the quality of manufacture of Dragon kits, but man, those instructions! Indeed I have had so many good kits ruined by the fools who came up with the instructions.

Rose tinted glasses perhaps, but back when I was a kid and made the occasional Airfix kit, everything was simple, everything fitted and the instructions were simple enough for an 8 year old to decipher...Modelling does seem to have become harder.

I haven't actually made a Dragon kit myself, but from the comments from my fellow enthusiasts would say that the instructions for Dragon are like my school reports - "Could do better if he (they) wanted to too"

The Tamiya Panzer II has been mentioned and is a sweet little kit, it is quite cheap, there is a reasonable amount of detail and goes together like a dream - (There was recently an ISM Special Interest Group for the Panzer II as of the guys here,(me included) had the same kit), the only downside is that the kit is one of the older Tamiya offerings and as such does show it's age.

Daishi12 wrote:I haven't actually made a Dragon kit myself, but from the comments from my fellow enthusiasts would say that the instructions for Dragon are like my school reports - "Could do better if he (they) wanted to too"

The Tamiya Panzer II has been mentioned and is a sweet little kit, it is quite cheap, there is a reasonable amount of detail and goes together like a dream - (There was recently an ISM Special Interest Group for the Panzer II as of the guys here,(me included) had the same kit), the only downside is that the kit is one of the older Tamiya offerings and as such does show it's age.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/German-Panzer ... 4ad5085d83

That one?

Yeh that's the one they're talking about. This to is a simple kit to build http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTcyWDMwMA==/$(KGrHqZHJFEE-ko8eGBiBPvPF4jqRQ~~60_35.JPG
But this one has the additional PE set that adds a bit extra but you don't have to use it.

Ozzie21

"Keep the CA off the fingers"

You said German, but I love the Tamiya, T34 or KV 1 for a quick, fun build

My first armoured vehicle was an AFV scimitar...it s nice to build, thi fitting pretty good nice details

This was a nice first experience. And i think they re a little cheaper thanTamiya

good hunting

Goose

schweinhund227 wrote:

Kookaburra wrote:Thanks, I will look through the catalog.

Any notoriously difficult kits to avoid, as something of a newbie?

Stay away from their Early 1970's Re-pop... they are good at that and ...
can be a little disappointing, if you were expecting more from them !

Stay above kit #35150 and you will be in the 1990 and upward !
where a lot of their best kits started to come out !

if you buy kits below that mark ! you will be in the 1970's and 80's era !
not their best years !

but if you do buy Older Tamiya models... just expect a little more work !
compared to their latest releases...

shop around... for the best prices... Tamiya kits tend to be more expensive...
and sometimes disappoints peoples.. due to the lack of individual tracks or metal barrel and P.E.
like many companies like Trumpeter and Dragon now offers for similarly priced models...

Enjoy !

This is pretty much dead on. The 70's Tamiya kits I've built lilke the Panther A and Tiger I were not good. Looking at them now they're inaccurate but even when I built them (few years ago) they were not as easy to build as the later stuff. The 80's era stuff like the Sherman I built this year is better but not quite the best Tamiya stuff.

The 90's Tamiya stuff I've made like the King Tiger and Sturmtiger just fell together like you hear. That StuG III B Ozzie21 mentioned is pretty good too. Although as an avid armor modeller myself now most require track replacement and PE grill sets. The instructions are prefect though,, and no flash and perfect fit is hard to beat.

Kookaburra wrote:

Daishi12 wrote:I haven't actually made a Dragon kit myself, but from the comments from my fellow enthusiasts would say that the instructions for Dragon are like my school reports - "Could do better if he (they) wanted to too"

The Tamiya Panzer II has been mentioned and is a sweet little kit, it is quite cheap, there is a reasonable amount of detail and goes together like a dream - (There was recently an ISM Special Interest Group for the Panzer II as of the guys here,(me included) had the same kit), the only downside is that the kit is one of the older Tamiya offerings and as such does show it's age.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/German-Panzer ... 4ad5085d83

That one?

Yep, that's the bunny

When you find a kit you like the look of, a quick google of reviews will help you out. It's the only way to be sure. The Tamiya churchill I've just built was from 1977 if I recall! Brilliant kit!

Long story short, all companies have good and bad kits. End of. It's research that will sort the wheat from the chaff!

Good hunting, and I look forward to seeing whatever you get, built up.

My first armour was the Tamiya PII. I'm now doing a Tamiya Flakpanzer Gepard and a Jagdpanther. They go together extremely easy, definitely a recommend for your first shot at armour

A revell/ tamiya kit, and make something that you are really interested in.

Tamiya Panther V or M41 Walker Bulldog. Both older and cheap (less than $20) yet still go together well and look good at the end. Around 50 parts to each so a good place to start in my opinion.