The KISS principles - Keep It Simple & Stupid

At the time that your interest in scale modelling was sparked, you may have seen some extraordinary well built models, featuring elaborate camouflage schemes, packed with tiny aftermarket parts and painted with fascinating aging & weathering techniques. Who wouldn’t want to have the skills to achieve such jewels?

The bad news is, your first built kit will likely not quite reach the level of the high-end masterpiece that inspired you. But just like with any other skill, getting better at doing things comes from making mistakes, learning and training. When Jimi Hendrix was born, he did not know how to play a single chord on a guitar. You can improve your skills one by one, and each built kit will you a bit further.

While it isn’t a bad thing to set yourselves high goals, keep your expectations for your first builds realistic and achievable. You can get very satisfying results without adding unnecessary complexity. Here are some hints that you might consider when starting your journey of becoming the Jimi Hendrix of scale modelling:

• Pick a kit with a low part count. 50 – 70 parts are just right for a start. A beginner-friendly selection might be a single engine and single seated WW2 fighter plane. Avoid kits with fragile bracings, excessive underwing ordnance and complex glasshouse canopies.

  
  

• Choose a well-engineered, straight-forward buildable kit with trouble-free fit. Stick to mass production manufacturers that use high pressure injection moulds. There is nothing more frustrating than a first kit where nothing fits without heavy part adjustments. The slightly higher price tag for a quality kit is a good investment here. Also see my recommendations for suitable beginner kits.

  
  

• Maintain a clean line on your model. This will also make the painting much easier. Many kits offer options for posable flaps, open canopy, gun bay or other hatches. These eye-catchers add life and extra details to your kit – but also add complexity.

• As a beginner, avoid excessive usage of PE and resin aftermarket parts. These parts are often very tiny and tricky to use, requiring different skills and tools to handle them. Adjustments of the main kit parts can also be necessary. Also, they can very quickly get very pricy.

  If you want to enhance your basic kit with aftermarket parts, start with PE seat belts. They will already considerably improve the cockpit with minimum efforts.If you are not happy with the suggested kit decorations, you may also consider using appropriate aftermarket decals. They are often superior in count (i.e. stencils) and quality than the ones provided in the box. However, I can highly recommend pre-cut masks as aftermarket option also and especially for beginners. These are a precious help when it comes to accurate painting of clear parts or wheels.

  
  

• An accurate paint job will have major impact on the overall appearance of the finished kit. Choose a simple camouflage scheme to begin with, such as one overall color or one upper and one lower color. Typical subjects are i.e. a Zero, a P-40 or a P-51. Optionally, adding basic shading on surfaces and thin washes into recessed panel lines will already improve the paint job noticeably.

  
  

• On the other hand, avoid complex camouflage schemes with more than 2 upper colors as well as USN pre-war yellow wings or full natural metal finishes (NMF). Especially the latter will mercilessly disclose the slightest flaws. Winter camouflages with their washed appearance (generally white) can also be a challenge to achieve an authentic look.

  
  

• Finally, avoid excessive weathering, aging and chipping. This is a science in itself, based on the principle of “less is more” and is very quickly overdone.

If you stick to these principles as a pure novice, you should enjoy your first building experience and achieve a satisfying result. Are you ready for a kit? Check out my first kit recommendations!