New kits from ICM and Trumpeter, a look at leaf-punches, and a scavenger hunt for kits and tools

Hi all! Thanks for your comments, suggestions, and questions. The point of the exercise was to go to a big-box store that isn't a craft or hobby store that a parent or other adult might find themselves confronted with a sudden impulse buy. There's no need for a lot of expensive tools. As for why Gundam? Because Gundam is popular AND there's no need for paint. (One of the MHA or DS figs would probably have worked, too). Why not the Gundam that said it didn't need any tools right next the the Gundam we chose? Because we wanted to show that you could buy basic tools and still get it done for less than $30. Why not the Bandai nippers right there? Because the nail clippers were cheaper and would achieve the same effect (we have long-time modelers on the Forum who use nail clippers as their sprue cutters--inexpensive and easy to replace). But all of your suggestions for shopping sales or other stores are valid: the overall point that you're helping make is that getting into scale modeling isn't as expensive as some think.

I would suggest looking at Hobby Lobby for starter models and tools. Our local one has 40% off on models every other week. They have a lot the tools modelers use and a lot of craft items that can be used. I've seen Bandai Star Wars models, Gundam models, World War Toons models and other armor, aircraft and ship models. Overall they are mostly car model. They also have models online. Check it out.

YouTube has hundreds of videos regarding "Beginner Modeling" and "beginner kits" in the author's opinion. I've been modeling for over 50 years and I still find these videos informative and interesting. You can always pick up different techniques/tools/etc. from individual modelers. Hobby Lobby has models at a 40% discount from time to time and most of their kits are "beginner" type kits. They sell the paint and supplies there also. Any kit that doesn't overwhelm the modeler would be a great beginner kit.

Look for your local weekly online auctions (auctiondepot dot com for one) as they sell a lot of items consigned from estates. Thrift stores and Dollar Tree are worth a look, too. Michaels' has models, but they can be priced a bit high for our taste, and I was told by a checker when I presented a 50% off coupon for one item (and the fine print did not exclude scale model kits), "You guys only show up for a big discount!" as I left with a 1/48 scale Monogram P-51D. I have a pair to practice on. (Pierce MacKinnon and his favorite wingman Ted Lines as a project? I'd have to add the dents in Ted's wingtip that Mac put in them as he'd sneak in alongside Ted and flip his wing up on the way home. Ted replied to the maintenance officer, "Must have been turbulence, Sir," each time the damage was questioned, with distant Mac grinning.) Sounds like a to-di-for-ama...   Or if you have a younger brother that likes to give you gifts that you have to spend more money on for supplies and tools to complete that project... I just received a 1/25 AMT reissue of the Ertl IH Scout II kit: "It's close to the one you had." I bought a 1971 Scout II, crawled all over it with dad's eyes and advice helping to secure every nut and bolt before driving 2600 miles up the AlCan in 1996, halfway to this 50th anniversary and this kit reissue. Great trip as people I met exclaimed that they loved the one they had and was RIP. Rusted In Place or Peace. Maybe I'll build it (the kit) with a rust-proof fiberglass body, or carbon fiber composites like Corvette Coachworks, which uses low mileage recent Corvettes and replaces the bodies with a carbon fiber body from molds of earlier classic styles, A great look with modern safety features, chassis, and drivetrain. I started with Grandpa's sending me a Monogram model B-26 Invader kit (1/67 scale) that Dad flew in Korea, which Dad did not want to build with me, but we did. I'm more looking forward to building the 1/48 3rd BW B-26C from ICM than the Monogram kit but will eventually get started... Working on the full scale trucks and cars seems more pressing and fun: a performance street exhaust header (ceramic coated) will add 10% more hp to the Toyota 2TR-FE engine is the nearer future project. Parts are bigger!

Sometimes you can find some of the Bandai kits (Star Wars) at Target. These would be a great way to start model building. Most of them don't need to be painted (unless you are a nut like me), they typically have a really nice set of "sticker" decals (sometimes water slide as well) and they snap together to make a relatively good looking finished product. I know they tend to be over the price suggested. HOWEVER, if you are looking for a beginner set of tools DON'T GO TO THE BIG BOX STORES! Try Dollar Tree (or other dollar stores) and you can get the basic set of hobby knife, nippers (I even use nail cutters) and you can wander over to the nail-care and get some sanding items as well. You could walk out of there for under $10 depending on what you picked up.  I do this relatively often for my supplies as I like to save a couple of bucks.   ADVANCED IDEAS: Grab some of the make-up items like eye-shadows, etc. to get some nice "weathering" start-ups.  QUESTION: As a public-school teacher, I was thinking about an after-school "club" to introduce students to the hobby (I even know of a couple who are heavily into Gunpla as well.) Has anyone done this? Any ideas how to start such a thing? Would love to hear thoughts on this.   GREAT TOPIC!!!!

Where are you that you can get a model at Target? All major big box stores in MI don't have them! Snap kits don't always snap together as advertised. Occasionally, even with snap kits, parts need "massaging" or modification to fit together.  - So it's not always as easy as that! :-) PF