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What is a Felix Pole wagon?
Posted in: Model Railway, Rolling stock
6th July 2021
Felix Pole was an ambitious employee of the Great Western Railway. Born in 1877, by the age of 27 he was working in...
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Can I undercoat in black if I am going to paint white?
Posted in: Painting
10th January 2020
Yes, you can use a black undercoat if you are painting something white but ideally you should look at using a white...
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How do you weather a model ship's decking?
Posted in: Painting
23rd May 2022
Weathering your ship's decking will provide spectacular results to the overall appearance of the model, especially if...
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What is a "helping hand" tool?
Posted in: Kit building, Assembling and gluing
4th June 2020
Introducing the most useful piece of kit that any modeller could have in their toolbox. It is called a helping hand...
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What is code 83 track used for?
Posted in: Tracks
14th November 2021
Code 83 track is used to represent North American railway track prototypically used on main lines and for heavy...
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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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