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What are my options for modelling deciduous trees in winter?
Posted in: Scenery
23rd June 2023
There are a number of options available to Modellers when it comes to modelling deciduous trees in winter for a...
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How do I recognise a 21 pin DCC socket?
Posted in: Power and control
2nd December 2021
Model railway 21-pin decoder sockets are easy to recognise. They are usually located on top of a circuit board inside...
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What is a trailing goods yard?
Posted in: Model Railway, Tracks
25th May 2021
A trailing goods yard was a type of goods yard commonly found at many country and smaller stations during the days of...
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How long should my passenger train be?
Posted in: Rolling stock
27th May 2022
Most model railways struggle to accommodate full-sized passenger trains, to do so would require huge platforms and...
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How can I make a realistic surface for my diorama?
Posted in: Scenery
26th December 2022
There are a number of ways to create a suitable surface for a diorama. Where a large surface area is to be created...
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What is the skill level on Airfix kits?

When deciding which Airfix kit to buy most people will understandably want to choose one that is relevant to their capabilities. To help guide you through this decision Airfix kits have a skill level printed on their packaging. But this is only half the story!

The skill level is the last little bit of fine-tuning that you need to do when selecting a model, solely relying on this information could land you with a model that is unsuitable for your needs.

The first step is to choose which range of kit is right for you. There is a quick build range which is most suitable for children under 10 years of age and simply clips together, these kits don't even require painting or gluing.

The next level up is the starter set range which is ideal for younger modellers or first-time kit builders, these do require painting and gluing but everything you need is in the box including brushes, paints, plastic glue and transfers (decals).

Finally, there is the standard range for the more experienced modeller, these do not come with paint or glue because experienced modellers will most likely have their own ideas about what they want to achieve with the model, these models will usually come with decals though.

Once you have decided on your range you can further narrow down the complexity of a model by looking at the product code on the box. The product code will start with the letter A followed by some numbers, the two numbers directly after the A indicate how complex the model is with 01 being perfect for a beginner and 06 models better suited to advanced modellers.

Only now is it time to pay attention to the skill level, it is rated between 1 and 4 with skill level 1 for beginners, 2-3 for intermediate modellers and skill level 4 for experienced modellers. The skill level is based on the number of parts in the kit. By choosing your skill level within the correct range and level of complexity you are sure to have hours of fun building your new Airfix kit.

Posted in: Kit building

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