Looking to possibly buy an AC model kit, looking for suggestions and advice.

[Sligs234]

What the title says.

I want to buy a kit, but have never done anything like this before, and I've heard about how difficult these things can be.

I'd like to ask for suggestions for kits as well as the types of tools and other things I'll need, like types of paint and glue.

[Serene]

If you're gonna get your first kit, get one that you like.

[Lord_Leperman]

AC kits from Kotobukiya are intermediate to advanced level in terms of complexity and number of parts. If it's your first model kit and there's no one there to assist you, you're gonna take quite some time depending on the amount of detail you want on your model kit.

If you just want to assemble a vanilla model kit without any modification, you just need a hobby knife to cut the parts off the plastic trees. If you don't have a hobby knife, a cutter or a nail clipper will suffice, though you sacrifice a bit of precision in the process. For detailing such as panel lines or colors, you'll need a different set of tools like air brushes and such, other members can fill you in on this as I honestly never tread in that territory.

As for your first AC kit, like Serene said just get the one you like, though IMO the most basic one out there appears to be the CRONUS or the CREST U3 core from LR (Blackjack) kit. The others are much more complex, like the White Glint w/ VOB or the Noblese Oblige Hogire kit in particular. It's better that others fill in their experience with AC kits though since I haven't built one in years.

[Sligs234]

I've got some wire cutters, will those suffice?

[Lord_Leperman]

If it has a small enough nose to be able to cut some of the smaller parts off the trees, and if you're not to concerned with the left-over plastic attached to the actual part, then it's fine.

But if you want a smooth edge or surface without risk of parts not sticking together tightly, the precision of the hobby knife is what you'll want. You can always sandpaper the bit of plastic that's left on the part your assembling if there's any that's left-over as an alternative.

In any case, wire cutters will be fine I think. :p

You don't need to invest on the precision tools unless you're gonna be collecting other model kits.

Anyway, nifty guide here: http://www.ghostofzeon.com/diy/assembly/...parts.html

[Fox]

I remember you. Didn't you already ask for advice on AC kits before? - http://ravenrepublic.net/forums/showthread.php?tid=2885

[J.E_Magog]

Backwards time traveler?