Start Scale Modelling for CHEAP! Get these things on a budget!

apart from the cutting mat and the masking tape, amazon has nice starter tool bundles that include sprue cutters, blade, sanding sticks, tweezers for 9 quid. Also blue tack leaves oil on whatever it touches and common masking tape is generally a no-go for modelling. Also loads of kitchen paper and a pallet to mix and thin colours.

Great video and channel. I agree. I mostly buy used old models. Harder to find but much cheaper.

Cotton buds for the decals are invaluable

my cutting mat is the base for mine and my wifes wedding cake lol its stood me in good stead for a lot of years well 7up to now and still going well its hardboard by the way

they sell models in supermarkets in the uk?

I used this video along with some other similar ones to guide me back into this hobby. Great video! just finished a spitfire in 1/72 as part of a dogfight doubles set.

I was thinking that a video comparing your "Starter set only" model to one made using all these budget tools plus maybe a couple more like extra thin cement would be interesting. Maybe like a "what does spending 10 bucks to get into the hobby look like versus 30 bucks vs 50 bucks?". feel free to play around with that idea.

Nice Video, but in my opinion if you have a bigger budget then try and get all the stuff you need so everything would be cheaper in the cheaper (you don't hafta Buy more tools), Nice Selection!

Im still on a "budget" and i have been modelling since aged 11, thats 47 yrs ago and i still struggle to buy decent kits, makes it more of a thrill when i get one though.. : )

I am currently in the process of buying a set-up to start modelling, I got a 10 piece model kit that has snips, tweezers, abrasive pads and other bits for £8.49 on Amazon

They do much more expensive kits aswell but I felt for a complete beginner I'll go for that first

I've just bought some skill level 1 models, ww2 humbrol paint set , some primer and a selection of brushes and a revell glue all of which I'm still waiting to arrive as the paint had pretty much gone in the set I bought

Fingers crossed I have a good experience making my spitfire and tornado f3

Very helpful thank you

You should mention acrylic primer spray can. Acrylic paints work way better on primed surface.

That was a very good piece of work, nice one matey 😊
Bob
England

i don't know why i havent used blu tack or poster putty before lol i just sort of leave it on a paper plate and kinda ruin the paintjob lol

Great upload Matt, I think this will help those who are considering starting/having a go, for less than 30 quid and it might inspire folk to take up the hobby. i get a lot of my hobby clobber from the bargain stores, the works etc rather than the hobby shops, saves me money and the items do the same job.

Haven't made a model for ages, but used to find a pair of folding nail clippers very handy, instead of using a knife.

I saved even more money than that… I would tell you but the mrs is shouting in the background asking where her tweezers are 😊

Thank you Matt, some really helpful tips for what to get….take care as always

Thanks for the video. Also congratulations on England making it out of the group phase.

telll you what would be good once a year maybe this time of year , go back to your roots and do another model build with all these simple items , it would be great to see , especially for those who are coming to christmas and getting kits for the first time , I know you've done this before but , it always spurs me on if I see a video build that's recent , keep up the good work , great channel , I' ve got loads of model kits but never seem to get around to building them , or I'm just fearful of them being rubbish when I've done them

Indeed, getting started with modelling might be a bit expensive because you have to buy all the extras: glue, paint, cutting equipment etc. But it will also be used for all the next models you are going to build.

Great vid and a perfect choice of tools for starting out. Blu tac is awesome and can also be used as a masking type for camo schemes…..but you knew that 😉 looking forward to the next vid in this series!

If you think this is the correct hobby as a beginner I'd suggest looking for 2 kit gift sets as your second kit.

I got some Tamiya extra thin cement quick setting it dries fast

I don't know how you knew I was looking into this at the moment, but I thank you.

Here in the USA 🇺🇸 ( OHIO ) we have TOY and HOBBY SHOWS…
That’s where I find most of my kits
I still like building the old stuff…
I’ve bought many tools and supplies from MICRO MARK, we have a store called HOBBY LOBBY, I get plenty of tools and supplies from them also…
WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TOOLS… always enjoy your episodes… CHRIS from OHIO 🇺🇸

I think it is safe to assume that we can cut down a bit on what's actually required here. Some here are more nice to haves if you'd ask me.😅

Thanks I could use tips for a budget

I would say scale modelling is expensive to start off with,but as you amass more tools paint’s etc over time the only thing you end buying is the actual model that you want to build at the given time.TBH I really do agree though that you can get started on a budget and videos like this just show that it can be done.Great video.

Good initial kit suggestion, though I'd swap/add a couple of bits to it to allow a first-time builder as frustration-free an experience as possible.
1. Swap out the masking tape for a Liquid mask - it's nearly as cheap, but it's quicker (and easier) to apply and remove (and less likely to have seepage especially when brush painting), with the added bonus that it makes painting camo patterns easier
2. I'd add to (or even replace) the emery sticks with a couple of sanding sponges from the nearest hardware store - they're like a quid each (I'm personally using a Bosch Fine and Superfine ones) and last forever.
3. Something to fill the inevitable gaps like the Tamiya or Gunze disolved putties. Again, they're easy to use, cheap and are effective enough to fix a lot of issues that are common in first builds.
Ah, and 4 - pure alcohol to help with any acryllic painting mishaps :)

Edit: To fit ^ under the 30 quid limit, getting an A3 or even A4 mat is plenty for a newbie ;)

Hi Matt been watching your vids for a bit. I'm mostly a figure and armour modeller but I got 2 of those airfix plane kits from "a well known supermarket" to test out how hard doing aircraft is. They are an absolute bargain. I'm looking forward to the Japanese Zero that lidl will be doing too.

There is a ‘The Works’ shop near me, and I managed to pick up a 1/350 HMS Bounty for only £10!
I haven’t even touched it yet; people say it has tons of flash because it’s an older kit.

You forgot the band-aids for the hobby knife. 😆 great video 👍

The A-7 Corsair 2 or F-86 Sabre jet model kits.

Two things I started using are cocktail sticks and magic eraser.
The cocktail sticks are ideal for combining with blutac to hold small pieces.
The magic eraser has a similar feel to the foam they use in flower displays but doesn't fall apart at the slightest touch. It's perfect for sticking cocktail sticks in with painted pieces attached to hold them steady while the paint dries. It can be used over and over again as well.

cant wait for the next build

Great video, I'm going to show this to all my friends who say they want to try it but don't have the money. I have a question though, what do you recommend for matte spray? I don't have an airbrush, and I recently found out you can't brush paint a matte coat.

A visit to Hobbycraft for some 'washi tape' is often quite cheap. It's a low tack 'decorative tape' Handy for masking, ignore the often hideous patterns... Poundland have some nice Daler Rowney detail brushes from time to time, they have acrylic and water colour brushes, -go for the acrylic ones.

Rubber bands are an inexpensive way to hold two large halves of anything together (like aircraft fuselage halves or wing halves). Same goes for small plastic clamps, usually found at discount stores.

yo Matt, good tutorial needed this since recently got back into modelling, tho im doin well with my recent ones and probably going to do a review video of my two hurricanes i've build

This video was great and I think I realize that while there are nesacery pieces and tools for building I find that people build very differently like for example in the video blue tac was mentioned. I use medicine cups and I really like using toothpicks to stir around some paint. Great video as always 👍

Great video there Matt, the jungle website has some good deals on as well , we got the little Human no4 a gundum starter set for about 8quid , had knife with blades, side cutters ,file 2 lot of tweezers and polishing stick.
Best advice I can give to some starting out , is think out side the box where you get stuff from.

Good choices. Although it is worth trying to get some side cutters if possible, a flat blade could cause damage to small parts on removal from the sprues.

Great tutorial. for general brush supplies I always direct lads to the closest proper art supply store, since they carry the smallest brushes(10/0 and such) and are about up to 1 EU Disney Buck a piece, usually around the 0,59-0,79 mark.

Instead of a dedicated cutting mat I use an old mousepad, not the biggest one, but it works.
Also some tools come with some starter kits, for example in some Italeri starter kits, you get a free set of sidecutters.

The real cost speedbump comes when people decide they want to get an airbrush...

Great video. Ditch the glue though and get Tamiya extra thin! Thanks for sharing Matt. 😎🇨🇦

good vid mat keep up the good vid thanks lee

Ditch the tube glue asap and get some Tamiya Extra Thin glue.

Mos favourite (pegs)

WHAT YOU NEED TO BUILD MODELS TODAY IS A LOT MORE IN COST THEN WHEN I GOT MY FIRST MODEL BACK IN 1957. MY DAD TOOK ME TO THE DRUG STORE TO GET A AURORA CUSTISS JENNY AND 6 TESTORS PAINT AND GLUE.COST WAS UNDER TWO DOLLARS.NEWSPAPER AND FINGERNAIL CLIPPERS AND SCHOOL SCISSORS WAS THE REST OF SETUP. GOOD VIDEO SIR,THIS SHOULD HELP A BEGINNER IN THIS HOBBY IN TODAY WORLD.

Hard to budget with kit prices like they are.