In my series of articles on frugal hobbies, I break down an individual hobby for people who want to have fun without breaking the bank. The overview will include the details of the hobby itself, how to go into it with a frugal mindset, and the best ways to make use of your money. Not all of the hobbies covered are cheap or easy to get into, but I find ways to help you save money while still being able to partake in your favorite pastimes.
Building Models
For those who don’t know, building models is a great hobby where you create a physical representation (also known as a model) of some object or place through kits or built from scratch using materials found by the model builder. Model kits come with all the pieces needed to make one complete model. There are a variety of common scales used for different types of kits – like 1/144 or 1/60. Models are usually created in such a way that it is substantially smaller than the real thing, but proportionally accurate.
Many model kits fall into different “levels” that help a potential builder know the difficulty of the build. Level 1 would be pieces that snap together and don’t require glue or paint. Level 2 may require glue and paint. As you go higher, like level 3, then parts can become far smaller and more detailed. Levels 4 and 5 are usually incredibly detailed and require experience to build properly.
Snap Kits
First up, let’s go over snap kits. Snap kits are generally much easier, but they’re still loads of fun. You can also get a lot of super cheap (as far as model kits go) snap kits to put together while you’re on a budget. The negative is that you’re often getting what you pay for, and many snap kits are low quality. This isn’t always true, but it means you need to do your research when you’re looking into snap kits. Some brands are known for having low quality kits, while others are exceptional.
Also, while glue and paint aren’t necessarily required, you can still use them for snap kits. Many advanced model kit hobbyists will use cheaper snap kits and then customize them to look amazing!
“Normal” Kits
When I say normal, I’m referring to the kits that most people buy – usually anywhere between level 2 and 5. This covers a wide variety, but it encompasses what the average hobbyist is interested in. These also have some good brands, and some bad, which will go over later in the article. Just know that it’s easier to find quality builds outside of the snap kits, but there are problematic brands at every level.
Building From Scratch
Once you develop your skills, you can always build from scratch. A lot of times, this may be the cheapest option when you’re on a tight budget. At the same time, it can be incredibly difficult. A great place to start is by saving materials from boxes and equipment you usually throw away. It pays to be creative here! Check out this video of someone building Howl’s castle from scratch. I’m not necessarily recommending a project of this size, but it can give you tons of ideas.
Good Brands
Let’s cover some common and good brands in the model kit world. This is by no means a complete list, or even the absolute best brands ever, but the ones in this least should cover most bases.
Tamiya
For aircraft, Tamiya is generally on of the best brands out there. They have quality kits, and you should generally be happy with what you get for the price. They’re also great for armor kits (things like tanks), but other companies like Dragon may be a better option for that.
All-in-all, for proper engineering and decent prices, check out Tamiya. Some other brands may have a higher level of detail, but not as great engineering, so it may be a pro-con game you’ll play depending on what exactly you’re looking for.
Academy
Academy is another great brand that a lot of people swear by. Be wary of their older kits, as some are prone to issues. However, most of their newer kits are considered high quality and are generally a safe purchase.
The main negative I hear about this brand is their decals. Some people just don’t like them, which is a fair belief (since this is all heavily opinionated anyway). If you fall in that camp, just avoid the kits that have tons of decals!
Gunpla
Gunpla stands for Gundam plastic model. They’re part of Bandai’s lines of model kits. They don’t appeal to everyone, since their kits are mechs. However, if you like mechs or anime, this could be a good brand for you. Overall, they’re basically the king of the pre-painted snap kit space in the market. Because of that, a lot of model kit builders enjoy them just because of the quality of the builds.
On top of that, Gunpla is usually designed to be fun to build, not just an accurate scale model. Due to this, I don’t see anyone competing with them in the snap kit market for value. Also, even though they’re pre-painted, many people paint them or do panel lining to improve the look.
HG
There are 4 main lines of kits with Gunpla, although there are many exceptions in addition to these. The first line I’m covering is called HG – which stands for high grade. These are 1/144 scale and are usually priced at $13-30 (with some exceptions). They mostly offer an excellent value and are on the cheaper side of things for Gunpla. While they lack some of the detail of the other lines, they are still great kits.
Many people will customize them with paint jobs and scribing for a better look. This is popular since you can usually get them to look just as amazing as the other lines, so it all depends on which parts of model building you find fun (e.g. the building part, painting, scribing).
An HG kit should only take a handful of hours. You can definitely build it over a single weekend.
MG
MG stands for master grade, which is a 1/100 scale. Most of these kits will fall into the $30-80 range, but there are outliers here as well. This is an entirely different beast compared to HG kits, and they are much larger. There are a lot more parts, much more detail, and the build time can be considerably greater. You can probably build the average one in a week or two, during spare time, but detailing it may take considerably longer. This is probably the fan favorite Gunpla line as it strikes a great balance between affordability and quality.
RG
RG stands for real grade. Think of it as the combination of HG and MG. They’re 1/144, the same size as HG, but they have the same, or similar, detail as the MG. They’re usually priced somewhere between $30 and $50. This line went through some experimental phases, but it has finally found its stride and has become increasingly popular.
Fair warning, while all Gunpla is roughly the same difficulty – just with different time requirements for builds – I will say that RG can be tough since is offers great detail in tinier parts. Keep that in mind!
PG
PG, also known as perfect grade, is the pinnacle of Gunpla. It will set you back at least a couple hundred dollars. The kits are great, and are some of the best I’ve ever seen, but you’re likely to get higher value from the other lines, especially with the MG line.
Avoid Games Workshop
All brands have some bad kits, but I want to point out Games Workshop as an exceptionally bad brand to buy. First off, I will say that their modern kits are decent. They are not horrible kits, and it’s a nice selection if you like model kits based on a science fiction setting. However, they offer horrible value. At the best value, they’re usually over double what the market rate for similar kits actually is. At the worst, I’ve seen them priced closer to 10x what the market rate is.
In short, avoid them if you want the best bang for your buck. If the tabletop wargaming aspect of Games Workshop (like Warhammer 40,000) interests you, there are cheaper ways of getting into that.
Tools
There are a lot of tools you’ll need for building model kits. While some spend an incredible amount on these, it’s best to keep it cheap.
X-Acto Knife
X-Acto knives are a simple and straightforward tool. You get the same quality at basically whatever price you spend. You should be able to find them with ease under $10, usually about $4-6. If you want, buy a pack with multiple. In total, even with tax, you really should be under $15 for 2-3 X-Acto knives and the replacement blades they come with.
X-Acto blade replacements are where you want to be a little less cheap. They aren’t expensive by nature, but don’t buy off-brand ones unless you know they are high quality – most break with ease. The best types of blades for building model kits are the #11 and #16 lines. The replacement blades that come with your initial knife purchase should last you a bit. When you need to replace them, you can likely buy them in packs for less than $.40 per blade.
Sprue Cutters (AKA Nippers)
Some people go overboard with nippers. You should be able to find decent nippers that will last you ages for $8-15. These will do the job and won’t break the bank. As you’re starting out, you can turn to these with no issues.
For those with more time in the hobby, sometimes they use more expensive nippers – closer to $50 or even more. Sometimes the more expensive nippers are nice and make your job easier for removing nub marks. However, these more expensive nippers are usually more fragile and should be used by those knowing what they’re doing since they can break easily. Either way, only opt for the expensive ones if they’ll actually help you, which you’ll know once you have more experience with the hobby.
Glue
There are tons of glue options. Even if you like snap kits, you’ll want some. Your needs may vary, but the average model kit builder will be well served with Tamiya Extra Thin Cement. It does the job well and it won’t break the bank either.
Putty
It’s not a bad job to keep putty on hand, especially if you use glue frequently or scribe lines. It’s your call when you need it though, as you may be able to avoid this purchase if you’re just beginning.
Sandpaper
Sandpaper or sanding sticks are a must. It’s easy to get an assortment with everything you need for under $10. A lot of people like 400 or 600 grit on the rougher side, 800 and 1000 in the middle, and 2000 or higher for buffing. Feel free to experiment with this and find what works for you!
Paint
Paint can be a much more expensive part of the hobby. For those who don’t paint, or buy pre-painted kits, you can probably get by with just some panel liner. For those who want to paint themselves, you have two main options.
Spray Paint
A lot of people think spray paint will make their kits look worse and not detailed. That’s not true – if you know what you’re doing. Some of the best builders, who win competitions for their paint jobs, exclusively use spray paint. They’re also on the cheaper side, which is a nice plus. The issue is that they can be very limited, so it can feel restraining based on what exactly you want to do or paint.
Airbrush
Airbrushing is probably the more popular way to paint models. It gives you a lot more control over the paint job, but it can also get exceptionally pricey. It’s not a bad option, and you will probably end up preferring this route anyway. However, just do your research when shopping!
Self-Healing Cutting Mat
You will definitely need a self-healing cutting mat for your building area. Fortunately, this is reasonably priced at roughly $10-20 depending on the size.
Where To Get Deals
There are lots of great places to get deals on your model kits or tools. Let’s dive right into them!
Online Retailers
There are too many online retailers to go over. Instead I’ll just focus on three of the best.
Newtype
Newtype is arguably the best online retailer for Bandai kits, especially Gunpla. They have a great inventory, excellent customer service, and their prices are generally top notch. You can’t preorder kits, but that is mostly an ethical choice since they can’t guarantee when shipments from Japan will actually arrive. You can create a wish list so that you’re notified as soon as something is in stock.
Scale Hobbyist
Scale Hobbyist has everything from model cars and airplanes to tanks and ships. This will be a great one-stop-shop for most model kit builders, and they boast an amazing selection with good prices.
Amazon
Amazon is…interesting, to say the least. Often, model kits will be far more expensive on Amazon. However, there will occasionally be amazing deals on specific kits, so it’s not a bad idea to keep an eye on any you’re looking for. Beyond that, they run amazing sales on tools. While they’re not always the best way to resupply (other retailers are likely better for that), they have bundle packs with exceptional value. For example, for only $20-30 you can get all the equipment you need to start, including:
- A self-healing cutting mat
- X-Acto knives and replacement blades
- Some nippers
- Sandpaper or sanding sticks
Ebay
Ebay is another option people say they can get great deals on, but be cautious. It’s like Amazon in some ways. Sometimes the prices are great, but other times they’ll be a bit ridiculous. Additionally, make sure you purchase kits through reputable sellers.
In-Person Retail Stores
Your brick and mortar stores aren’t bad, but they don’t always have an amazing selection or the best prices. If you want to support your local businesses, then make sure you shop there. Otherwise, they’re mostly a bust – occasionally they may have certain kits that are harder to find online (or ones that sell out rapidly).
Conclusion
Hopefully this gave you everything you need to start building models – without breaking the bank. If you think I left out an important tip, brand, or retailer, then let us know in the comments!
For more content like this, and a free budgeting template and financial goals worksheet, be sure to sign up for the Bitter to Richer newsletter.
