New To The Model Car Community.

[kram63]

Hello everybody,

I am  new to this community I'm a retired guy that has been a car nut all my life. Just recently I have been collecting promo cars but they're very expensive and I'm finding some of these AMT model kits are very nice as too.
I've bought a few that are already put together I'd like to try my hand at building them but I don't think I could come close to doing a good job as  I would like.
I'm worried about my painting skills 🙃 my latest car is a 69 Oldsmobile cutlass that I purchased but it has a lot of staining from age and probably glue I'd like to find out the best way to fix it researching this model has shown me that this particular model can be bought with the decals already on it & they're perfectly placed so I suspect this one was one of those with the decals in place.
Any idea how I could get this model looking better?? I would welcome some good advice on what I would need to buy if I wanted to start building kits what kind of tools would I need.
Thank You

[meechum68]

Welcome to the forum. 

 

[johnyrotten]

Welcome to the forum Mark. 

[sidcharles]

i think if you leave the bought model as is, when you start your own building, a lot of questions will answer themselves.

you can start with a hobby knife, sprue cutter, and flat file.    buy $5.00 ones or $50.00 ones; whatever you decide. you will know when you have outgrown the tool.

there's a gazillion good YouTube modelers. watch a few and see where your interest is piqued.   focus on the basic stuff for the first couple.  Showtime Studios/ Hunter Selby did an excruciatingly long series

about 8 years ago building a single model in 60+ episodes.  pick your pain threshold. if you don't like to do something one way, do it another.  it really is supposed to be fun.

use a photographs to show you how the model looks. we are regularly tricked into not seeing mold lines and other imperfections because in the building process we stare at them so long they cease to look out of place.

try the first couple following the manufacturer's instruction sheet & no paint. just keep progress moving. like playing the clarinet; if you don't practice, you'll never be another Sam Butera.

like any endeavor in life, there's no shortage of free advice and the guys who'll tell you "i would have done it ....."  all you can do is smile. 

keep your first model no matter how they turn out. #1. they can be used as paint mules when you start to add color to your masterpieces. #2. after a few models built, you will be able to track your progress. 

Edited Sunday at 01:41 AM by sidcharles
typos & supplemental information - other than that, everything is fine

[slusher]

Welcome aboard the forum, Mark'

[PappyD340]

Welcome to the forum Mark!

[Rattlecan Dan]

Welcome, Mark. Some good advice from sidcharles. There's lots of good advice and tips and tricks here on the various forums throughout. Hope you will like all the forum has to offer.

[titino]

Welcome Mark.

[Zippi]

Welcome to the MCM forum Mark.  

[sidcharles]

while you're credit card is out . . . .

this is a bit extreme, but it doesn't hurt to see how other folks do things.

[Tyreman]

Welcome Mark, leave the 442 alone my two cents ;).... it is normal to be worried and doubt yourself in anything new....what have you got to lose? dip your toe in the Arena...you will suprise yourself  your retired so no rush is there you have the luxary of free time and no competition here.You have the luxury of not been stuck in a rut building wise..and no bad habbits....do not put yourself under pressure before you start... have fun finding out how you build Sir.

 

 

 

 

Edited 19 hours ago by Tyreman

[Tyreman]

On 7/7/2025 at 12:27 PM, sidcharles said:

while you're credit card is out . . . .

this is a bit extreme, but it doesn't hurt to see how other folks do things.

LOL lets not put Mark off! all one needs but essential is Nippers...a half round file... sharp blade and that will do!(to start) i also use sandpaper...a pack of automotive various grits cut to sizes i need....i also use sanding sticks....the womens nail ones perfect.... 5 grits on one stick for £1... of course i use more tools now! but could get buy just those basics... for the price of a kit all the tools one needs for a good start $30 max...important to start with the tools in hand to develop good practices before lazy habbits that are hard to break..tools more important than kit buying.. it may seem silly when you are new to spend $$$ on tools instead of kits for the stash....but worth every penny and makes building stress free....saves money in the longrun...no builds one scraps because you did not have the tools at the time and now know better and not happy with the result.

Edited 19 hours ago by Tyreman
extra info

[Tyreman]

On 7/6/2025 at 2:35 AM, sidcharles said:

i think if you leave the bought model as is, when you start your own building, a lot of questions will answer themselves.

you can start with a hobby knife, sprue cutter, and flat file.    buy $5.00 ones or $50.00 ones; whatever you decide. you will know when you have outgrown the tool.

there's a gazillion good YouTube modelers. watch a few and see where your interest is piqued.   focus on the basic stuff for the first couple.  Showtime Studios/ Hunter Selby did an excruciatingly long series

about 8 years ago building a single model in 60+ episodes.  pick your pain threshold. if you don't like to do something one way, do it another.  it really is supposed to be fun.

use a photographs to show you how the model looks. we are regularly tricked into not seeing mold lines and other imperfections because in the building process we stare at them so long they cease to look out of place.

try the first couple following the manufacturer's instruction sheet & no paint. just keep progress moving. like playing the clarinet; if you don't practice, you'll never be another Sam Butera.

like any endeavor in life, there's no shortage of free advice and the guys who'll tell you "i would have done it ....."  all you can do is smile. 

keep your first model no matter how they turn out. #1. they can be used as paint mules when you start to add color to your masterpieces. #2. after a few models built, you will be able to track your progress. 

Hunter and the old man the best! all truth but serious amount of time to take in...... keep simple to start yes..... Mark must decide how he wants to builld? i would suggest hpi guy for a Youtube start....most of the hobby no Youtube! just build and see how it turns out? nothing to discourage them comparing to other builders,if they attend a show or buy scale auto they are already hooked and can cope with realising not world number 1  The internet can clip peoples wings confidence wise before they even start seeing other peoples work...something relatively new... and they see the best edit/example of peoples work.... so intimidating if new...we never had this in the past.

Edited 18 hours ago by Tyreman

[sidcharles]

3 hours ago, Tyreman said:

. . .  The internet can clip peoples wings confidence wise before they even start seeing other peoples work...something relatively new... and they see the best edit/example of peoples work.... so intimidating if new...we never had this in the past.

i remember when the first edition of Car Model  magazine circa 1962 pocket book size*, was treading on that same line.   or was it Model Railroader , or  Popular Mechanics ?

oh well, we all seem to survive despite ourselves.

 

*  Car Model (Home)

[Mattblack]

Hello and welcome!

The only thing I would add is there are kits and there are kits... some older or reissued kits can be a real challenge compared to (say) a modern Japanese kit.

[Jim Dodson]

Perhaps I overlooked it, but for me (tool wise) a quality set of tweezers are a necessity, especially as I age and the digital dexterity gets shaker and shakier. I use needle point tweezers for almost every part placement. The tweezers designed for decal placement are also a welcome item in my model building toolkit.

Welcome to the hobby and this forum. My heartfelt recommendation is to adhere to two simple rules...

1. Build for yourself! If you're happy with the final results, you've done a good job.

2. Have fun!!! 

Jim Dodson