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What are the benefits of a multiple grit sanding stick?
Posted in: Best practices
26th October 2022
Inevitably in most modelling projects, there is a requirement for the clean-up of parts prior to assembly. This may...
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What is a roundhouse?
Posted in: Model Railway
21st October 2024
A roundhouse refers to a specialised building, typically found in larger rail depots, designed for housing and...
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What is BR sectorisation?
Posted in: Model Railway
4th June 2024
"BR sectorisation" refers to the reorganisation period starting in 1982 when British Rail restructured its operations...
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What is the difference between bullhead and flat-bottom rail?
Posted in: Model Railway, Tracks, Best practices
8th February 2021
From a modeller's perspective, there is no practical difference between bullhead and flat-bottom rail. The existence...
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My rails have been damaged, how can I straighten them?
Posted in: Tracks
14th November 2021
Fortunately, incidents where track gets damaged after installation are relatively rare, but spare track, and track...
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How can you tell the complexity of a kit?

The complexity of a model kit can often be subjective depending on a modeller's experience and dexterity, so how can you tell if a particular kit is for you?

That is a very big question considering the sheer number and types of kit on the market. Some manufacturers such as Airfix and Revell offer a rating system on the box to suggest a modelling ability their kit is aimed at, but what about the rest?

If you are in a shop, you can always ask for a peek inside the box. If you're doing this, take note of the number of parts in the kit. If you don't like big or complex projects, the chances are you will not enjoy a 200-piece kit.

Once you have found a suitably sized project, pay particular attention to the size of the components in the kit. Although none of us like to admit it, the clock only ticks one way, so make sure that you are happy and capable of putting together the smaller parts. It's important to be honest with yourself at this point because the shopkeeper is probably not going to make any assumptions, and rightly so.

If you are shopping online, the task of identifying the complexity of a kit becomes more, well, complex! Most listings will give little away, concentrating more on the details and what's included, and an internet search for the product will likely only succeed in bringing up lots more listings, so you end up going round and round in circles.

If that frustration sounds familiar, try looking on YouTube for your answer. There are thousands of model reviews and unboxing videos out there as well as a generous library of tutorials. These are great for assessing a kit because even if the audio doesn't directly address your questions, the footage will certainly help you.

Finally, if you prefer your communication in a more traditional way, you can always chat to your local modelling club or phone your local model shop, both of which are always happy to help!

Posted in: Kit building

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