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How long should a station platform be?
Posted in: Assembling and gluing, Scenery, Best practices
21st October 2019
The platform will need to be as long as the longest rake of coaches you are running plus the length of the engine....
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What is a wash?
Posted in: Painting
15th May 2019
Washes are highly diluted paints used to bring out the detail in your model and enhance the appearance of the base...
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What is a NEM pocket?
Posted in: Model Railway, Rolling stock
1st June 2020
NEM couplings are part of a universal coupling system for model railway rolling stock. They were introduced as a...
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Why is the UK railway scale called 00?
Posted in: Model Railway
14th January 2025
The UK railway scale is called 00 gauge (pronounced "double-O") due to its origins as a smaller alternative to the...
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$How to turn a percentage gradient into a fraction gradient$
How to turn a percentage gradient into a fraction gradient
Posted in: Best practices
27th December 2021
When working out the gradient for an incline on a model railway, your research may well uncover advice and tolerances...
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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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