Scale Aviation Modelers of Muscatine

Your first kit

Jul 30, 2000

Up until now,we have dealt with the "hardware" aspect of the hobby.Well,now we are about to purchase your first kit!!I think I'm as excited as you!Here,we will be learning about the various types of kits,as well as kit media(what they are made of),scales,and maybe other considerations,if I don't have to go cut the grass,or anything like that.

First off,let's talk about the types of kits.The two major types are snap together and your more well known glue together types.The snap kits are judt that.They snap together,with no messy adhesive required.These kits are usually for the younger beginner,and as such,often have less detail and may be "clunkier" for lack of a better term.Maybe "thicker" would have been a better word here...Oh well....But this is not to say we should shun them.Oh no!You may find a really interesting subject which you cannot find otherwise,so by all means,then,buy two or three!

The main type of kit,and the ones we will deal with here most often,are the cement together variety.These kits generally have more parts and finer detail than their adhesive-free cousins.Perhaps it would be best for the rank beginner,who has never seen a kit before,to try a snap kit first.That way,at least he or she will know pretty much what to expect when opening the box.I could go into a few "when I was your age...."stories,but I won't.

There are two main types of cements for plastic kits you should know about,as well.The tube type is the stuff you remember as a kid.I think it's non toxic,now.It is perfect for the beginner,as it doesn't run all over,is easier to handle,and......well....that is all I can think of!The other type,my favorite,is the liquid cement.There are many brands out there,my choice being Tenax-7R,by Hebco of Hohenwald,Tn,if anyone cares.This stuff should not be used by small children,according to the bottle I have in front of me.When you purchase your cement,read the lables for warnings and such and decide accordingly.I,evidently,do not care about reproductive harm and lab rats.......

Your next consideration should be the scale you choose to work in.You do not have to stick to one scale,but after time,you amass a quantity of spare parts and decals,which,of course,only work in one scale.(That is not always true,but that comes later!)The major scales for model aircraft are 1/144,1/72,1/48,1/32 and 1/24,from smallest to largest.They may also be,more correctly,stated as a ratio(1:48).It really doesn't matter how it is stated,but the scale thing works something like this.In 1/24 scale,for example,it would take twenty four model Mustangs placed wingtip to wingtip to equal the real thing in wingspan.The same goes for all measurements.The kit manufacturers may fudge here and there,and come up too big or too small,but it really doesn't matter that much,unless you happen to be a 1/72 scale pilot.Some of those control columns appear huge for tiny scale hands....

The choosing of your scale may depend on eyesight,space limitations,or subjects available.My chosen scale happens to be 1/72,mostly due to storage space limitations.I guess the wife doesn't want the walls and tables covered with completed kits,but by the same token,I'm not that fond of Hummels,either.....

The scale of your choosing should have plenty of subjects to interest you.Go to the hobby store,or look on-line.Find stuff you like and check around.You do not have to stick to one scale(I have several 1/48 kits on the shelves now!),but it may help later.There are also some oddball scales out there,for instance airliners are in smaller scales simply because they would be too big in anything larger.Something that has bugged me for a long while is the fact that most of the scale armor, soldiers and cool details for dioramas are in 1/35 scale.I would love a 1/35 scale plane kit to use with all that cool stuff.Some may argue that 1/32 is close enough,but I really wouldn't feel right doing that.Sorry...had to get that off my chest...

Another thing to consider is the media of the kit.Most kits are made of styrene plastic,and that is what you should first build,but there are others out there.We will stay away from the wooden flying models,as that is another hobby in itself.Again,styrene is most common.This is what you can buy at Wal-Mart.Vacuum formed,or vac formed is another type.With this type,a thin sheet of plastic is literally sucked down over a pattern,forming the parts when the plastic cools.Not all parts in a vac formed kit are vac formed.They may also include styrene,resin,or metal parts.These are also known as mixed media kits.These are best left for the more experienced builder because of the wide range of adhesives and skills required to complete the kit.

The last major type of kit is the resin kit.These are made of...well....resin.They require a different adhesive and more skill and patience than a typical styrene kit.I don't know why suddenly there are manufacturers making kits like these.I do know many of these kit makers are very very small,and perhaps that is cheaper than injection molding equipment.Most of these resin and mixed media kits are not cheap.Most of these manufacturers are in Europe and the former Soviet Union,so that may account for price(cost of shipping).At any rate,they do offer some very unique subjects,and may well be worth it if you really want one.(Mine were!)

So there you have it,in the proverbial nutshell,the major kit types.Check out our other hotlinks,and until next time,happy modelling!!I think the wife fired up the lawn mower.....