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Is it best to buy a train set or each part on its own?
Posted in: Model Railway, Rolling stock, Best practices
29th November 2019
When it comes to value for money the complete train set has to be the way to go. With a typical train set, you will...
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What is a varnish?
Posted in: Decals / Transfers, Painting
31st December 2019
The purpose of a varnish is to protect the paint of your model. This is especially true if you are using your models...
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What is the best way to hang a model plane from the ceiling?
Posted in: Best practices
24th July 2021
Years ago, many modellers would hang their planes from the ceiling, it was almost an obligatory custom between father...
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What is Tri-ang Series 3 track?
Posted in: Tracks
20th March 2024
The Tri-ang Series 3 Track refers to a type of model railway track produced by the Tri-ang Railways company. Tri-ang...
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What tools are especially useful at holding model assemblies together whilst adhesives set?
Posted in: Assembling and gluing
5th June 2023
Several tools are especially useful for holding model assemblies together while adhesives set:Clamps: Clamps are...
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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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