Building Basics for the Beginning Builder

Okay, quiz time! Answer the following: Which of the following is easier to build?

A) The large Battleship

B) The small Light Cruiser

If you answered B, I am very sorry as you would be incorrect. Shown above are the first two models that I ever built: The Battleship North Carolina (BB-55) from Trumpeter Models, and the Light Cruiser San Diego (CLAA-53) from Dragon Models. As I found out that evening, the bigger the model, the easier the build. Allow me to expand.

When I first got into the world of model building, I was very unsure of what exactly I needed to do, or for a matter of fact wanted to do. So, I made up my mind to buy two model kits; the first being a relatively small model kit I could practice on to get the feel of building, and a much larger one that I would build after trying my hand with the smaller one. These two kits turned into the two I stated above, a Battleship, and a Light Cruiser. Since I had never experienced first hand the joys of model building, I began the smaller model expecting it to be easy as pie. Was I ever wrong. I soon found that smaller ships had smaller pieces. The smaller the pieces, the harder it was to build the model. Though I did finally finish both, I found that building the smaller of the two to be much more difficult. 

So, my advice for any starting builder, go big. Despite the large amount of pieces that may confront you, the larger model is almost always easier to build. Less parts does not equal less work, especially if the model kit in question is small. Your first model may not turn out picture perfect, mine certainly didn't, but you will save yourself from frustration and stress if you start out big.