Plastic model making is a hobby cherished by adults. In today’s fast-paced society, many adults seek activities that can help them unwind, pursue interests, and showcase creativity.
Plastic model making, as a popular hobby, has attracted increasing attention and participation from adults.
By assembling and decorating plastic model kits, they can experience the joy of creation while showcasing their skills and unique artistic vision.
But how do you choose plastic model kits suitable for adults?
For those just stepping into this realm, the multitude of choices available in the market might be overwhelming.
They may face questions such as how to determine their areas of interest, select the appropriate difficulty level for their skillset, and discern high-quality brands and materials.
Therefore, a key question arises: how to accurately choose plastic model kits suitable for adults to meet their needs and expectations?
We need to focus on the following three aspects:
Consider Interests and Themes
Self-reflection on interests and preferences: Consider which themes or fields you are deeply interested in. Is it historical warfare, science fiction, automobiles, aircraft, or other types of models?
Understanding your interests will help narrow down the choices and increase satisfaction in selection.
Research and exploration: Delve into different themes of plastic model kits through reading books, browsing the internet, visiting model exhibitions, or engaging with other model makers.
This will help you identify your most intriguing areas and explore popular model kits within those domains.
For example:
Historical Warfare
Plastic model kits revolving around historical warfare cover various war periods and military equipment.
These kits may include tanks, aircraft, warships, infantry, and military scenes, suitable for those interested in historical military events and equipment, providing an opportunity to recreate historical battlefields and military machinery.
A classic WWII-era American tank model kit suitable for historical warfare enthusiasts.
This kit recreates the WWII German assault gun, ideal for those interested in German armored weaponry.
Science Fiction and Fantasy
Plastic model kits themed around science fiction and fantasy encompass spaceships, robots, monsters, and fictional characters, suitable for those interested in the fictional worlds and characters portrayed in science fiction movies, games, or literary works.
These kits allow model makers to showcase creativity, freely imagining and constructing futuristic or fantastical scenarios.
A classic spacecraft model kit from the Star Wars series, suitable for Star Wars enthusiasts and science fiction lovers.
This kit provides fantasy warrior plastic models, perfect for those passionate about strategy games and fantasy worlds.
Automobiles and Motorcycles
Plastic model kits themed around automobiles and motorcycles cover various vehicle types and brands, including classic vehicles, race cars, supercars, and motorcycles, suitable for enthusiasts of automotive design, mechanical engineering, and speed.
Model makers can showcase their meticulous craftsmanship, recreating precise automotive appearances and details.
A classic Ford Mustang sports car model kit, suitable for those interested in automotive design and classic models.
This kit provides a motorcycle model, ideal for motorcycle enthusiasts and racing fans.
Aircraft and Aviation
Plastic model kits themed around aircraft and aviation cover various aircraft types, including fighter jets, commercial planes, helicopters, and historical classic models.
These kits are suitable for aviation technology enthusiasts, flight history enthusiasts, and enthusiasts interested in aircraft appearances and details.
Model makers can recreate aircraft appearances and details through precise assembly and meticulous painting.
A classic WWII-era British fighter aircraft model kit, suitable for aviation history enthusiasts.
This kit replicates the F-16 fighter jet, perfect for those interested in modern fighter jets and aviation technology.
Consider Skill Level and Experience
Choose an appropriate difficulty level based on your modeling experience and skill level. If you’re a beginner, consider starting with simple model kits to familiarize yourself with basic assembly and painting techniques.
If you already have some experience, you can try more challenging intermediate or advanced model kits.
Recommended kits for beginners
These kits feature simplified designs and easy-to-assemble parts, requiring no glue or paint.
They are suitable for beginners who are just starting with model making or want to try simple assembly.
This series offers a range of 1/35 scale military vehicles and soldier model kits. They come with clear instructions and detailed parts, suitable for beginners to gradually learn assembly and painting techniques.
These kits are pre-painted and pre-assembled plastic models, requiring no glue or paint. They are suitable for beginners who want to try model making without involving complex steps.
This series offers various 1/72 scale aircraft model kits. They feature relatively simple designs and fewer parts, suitable for beginners to become familiar with assembly and painting processes gradually.
These kits are marked as Level 1, indicating they are among the simplest model kits, suitable for beginners.
They typically feature fewer parts and simple assembly steps.
Recommended kits for intermediate difficulty
Tamiya’s 1/48 scale aircraft model kits often feature more details and complexity, requiring more assembly and painting skills.
These kits offer various options for fighter jets and commercial planes, suitable for intermediate level model makers with some modeling experience.
Dragon’s 1/35 scale military vehicle and soldier model kits often feature high levels of detail and accuracy.
They may include more parts and complex assembly steps, requiring skills and patience to complete.
This series offers various 1/72 scale ship model kits, including warships, submarines, and cargo ships.
These kits usually feature more details and more complex assembly processes, requiring intermediate level model makers to handle.
This series offers various advanced Gundam robot model kits, typically in 1/100 scale.
They feature more parts, more complex assembly, and more articulation, requiring some modeling experience and skills.
Recommended kits for advanced difficulty
This is an advanced difficulty German Tiger I tank model kit, featuring extensive details and assembly steps. It requires high precision and skills to complete.
Zoukei-Mura’s 1/32 scale aircraft model kits are advanced-level modeling challenges.
They feature highly detailed parts and complex assembly and painting processes, requiring advanced skills and patience.
Wingnut Wings’ 1/32 scale aircraft model kits are renowned for their outstanding details and accuracy.
These kits provide advanced level challenges in terms of historical accuracy and assembly complexity.
Bandai’s Perfect Grade series offers advanced difficulty Gundam robot model kits.
They feature extensive parts, complex assembly, and painting steps, requiring high-level modeling skills.
Consider Quality and Materials
Brand and Manufacturer Selection: When choosing model kits, opt for well-known brands and manufacturers to ensure higher quality and reliability.
Here are some highly regarded brands and manufacturers
Tamiya is a renowned Japanese model manufacturer known for its high quality and precise details.
Their model kits typically feature clear instructions, fine parts, and excellent engineering design.
Revell is a German model manufacturer offering a wide range of model kit choices.
Their products are of high quality, suitable for various difficulty levels of model makers.
Dragon Models is a company specializing in military models, known for outstanding detail and innovative design.
They have a high reputation in 1/35 scale military models.
Bandai is a well-known Japanese model manufacturer famous for its Gundam robot model kits.
Their kits are of high quality, uniquely designed, and greatly appreciated by robot model enthusiasts.
Airfix is a long-established British model manufacturer, offering various aircraft, military, and ship model kits.
Their products are consistently of high quality, suitable for model makers at all difficulty levels.
Material Selection
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
ABS is a commonly used material for model making, known for its good strength and durability.
It is often used in injection molding, producing sturdy model parts that are resistant to deformation.
The drawback of ABS material is that it may require the use of organic solvents (such as glue) for bonding and may not perform as well as other materials in certain detail aspects.
Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene is another common material for model making, known for its lightweight and good moldability.
Polypropylene model kits are typically made through injection molding, featuring good detail representation and durability.
Compared to ABS, polypropylene material is easier to cut and trim, but its strength may be slightly lower.
Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate is a high-strength and transparent material commonly used for making transparent parts, such as aircraft cockpit canopies. It has good heat resistance and weather resistance, but handling and trimming polycarbonate material require some skill and special tools.
PE (Polyethylene) and Metal Sheets
Some advanced model kits may come with PE parts and metal sheets to enhance details and achieve higher realism.
PE parts typically require bending, cutting, and gluing, while metal sheets can be used to add metallic texture and malleability.
These materials require higher skills and special tools to handle.
In conclusion
Selecting plastic model kits for adults should focus on challenges, interests, and personal goals.
By choosing reputable brands, understanding the pros and cons of different materials, and selecting specific themed models based on your interests, you can enjoy a satisfying creative process and obtain a unique piece of art upon completion.
Whether you seek relaxation and entertainment or aim to continually improve your skills, plastic model making will be an ideal choice.
Embark on your model making journey, showcasing your creativity and exquisite skills!
