Easy kits

[OBTC 1909]

Hi gang,
I've always been terrible at building models, but want to get better at it. I would like to find some reasonably easy kits to start out with to build up my skills and confidence. Do you guys have any building kits you would recommend for a newbie? I'm thinking about buildings like freight depot's, structures for small rail served businesses, etc. Any thoughts on something good for a beginner?

 

[santafewillie]

Just about anything from Model Power or Lifelike from Ebay, because they no longer make anything. Current DPM or Smalltown structures are generally no more than four walls and a roof.

 

[OBTC 1909]

Thanks Willie. I just hate to spend a lot of money on a kit I'm either not going to finish or finish very badly haha I'm just wanting to start small and easy and give myself a chance to learn without spending a huge wad of money on something I'll wind up giving up on. I'll check out Model Power and Lifelike on eBay and see what I can find. Thanks!

 

[Iron Horseman]

Hi gang,
I've always been terrible at building models, but want to get better at it. I would like to find some reasonably easy kits to start out with to build up my skills and confidence. Do you guys have any building kits you would recommend for a newbie? I'm thinking about buildings like freight depot's, structures for small rail served businesses, etc. Any thoughts on something good for a beginner?

I always liked the old Revell building structures. Not shake the box kits, but not difficult either. Once again 2nd hand sources like ebay is the ticket as they haven't made them since the early 1970s.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/373817663835?hash=item570944e15b:g:ooIAAOSwf2RhnsAG

 

[PNKFLOYD]

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!
If the instructions are incomplete, write in additional steps, note where to paint or glue each part and decide if you want to add any extra detail parts like a chimney or roof details to a structure. Are you going to add lighting or interior details or scale figures?

Planning can make a build much easier, quicker and a lot less frustrating no matter what you are attempting to assemble.

Stepping down from my soapbox now.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Walthers makes quite a few building kits. Easy to follow instructions with minimal tools needed.

 

[OBTC 1909]

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!
If the instructions are incomplete, write in additional steps, note where to paint or glue each part and decide if you want to add any extra detail parts like a chimney or roof details to a structure. Are you going to add lighting or interior details or scale figures?

Planning can make a build much easier, quicker and a lot less frustrating no matter what you are attempting to assemble.

Stepping down from my soapbox now.

Excellent advice! Thank you!

 

[OBTC 1909]

Walthers makes quite a few building kits. Easy to follow instructions with minimal tools needed.

Thanks Ken!

 

[OBTC 1909]

I always liked the old Revell building structures. Not shake the box kits, but not difficult either. Once again 2nd hand sources like ebay is the ticket as they haven't made them since the early 1970s.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/373817663835?hash=item570944e15b:g:ooIAAOSwf2RhnsAG

I'll take a look at them, thanks!

 

[santafewillie]

Walthers makes quite a few building kits. Easy to follow instructions with minimal tools needed.

I respectfully disagree on the "easy to follow" instructions. Unless it's a kit subcontracted to Kibri, Walther's instructions suck in my opinion. Some not as bad as others but still awful. That being said, they are one of a few manufacturers who make "railroad size" industrial structures and I might have over 40 of their industries and another 60 of their various structure and accessory kits.

 

[ACL-CSX]

As Willie stated, the Model Power kits are fairly basic and simple to assemble. I recently picked up a few as well as a Walthers's kit, which is also a basic four wall and roof structure. I am currently working on the gas station and the Merchant's Row, but I am taking a different approach. I am fully detailing the station as well as the individual shops/apartments in the Row. in addition to full interiors, I am adding LED lighting. any of these would make great beginner kits to assemble out of the box however. I found these in local hobby shops while traveling for work, but they should be easily obtained via eBay or other sources as well.

Good luck and happy modeling!

 

[D&J RailRoad]

I say that about the Walthers kits because my grandsons have built a few of them when they were 8 to 12 years old. Yeah, they had to take their time in doing it but they got em done.