From Novice to Expert: The Journey of Skill Development

Staring a new hobby creates a whole new journey for skill development. Those skills that you acquire over time will stick with you for the rest of your life. Modelling not only allows you to gain skills within plastic modelling, creating master pieces to be proud of, modelling also allows you to apply these skills to everyday life and is a great way to be creative, making you think ‘outside of the box’. You may decide to build a diorama to go with your build, where only your imagination and initiative can run wild as to what you want to create!

Model making isn't just a pastime; it's a portal to creativity, history, and endless possibilities. Whether you're assembling intricate aircraft, iconic cars, or historic warships, the satisfaction of bringing these models to life is unmatched.

If you’re looking for some tips and guidance on skill development within the art of scale modelling, you have landed in the right place! We are here to increase your confidence and allow you to excel over heaps and bounds, from novice to expert, so here are a few tips for developing those skills of a perfectionist.

1) Practice Makes Perfect!

Staring as a novice in the hobby can be quite daunting, your first couple of builds may not be quite ‘up to scratch’ or your confidence declines with the unwanted results. Rest this thought aside, as ‘Practice Makes Perfect’  is considered to be one of the most important pieces of advice within the development of skills. Just remember, we all start somewhere, and it you can only improve! Modelling skills are acquired over time, whether this is through trial and error, or practicing your building and painting techniques, all these skills develop over time, so the more you practice, the more progress you will receive!

2) Acquiring New Tools

When embarking on new builds and looking to become an expert builder, always consider if you have the ‘right tool for the job’. Tools play an important role with the finish of a model, whether it ranges from new sanding sticks, all the way to using a luxurious airbrush; having the right tools allow modellers to put their skills to good use. Before you know it, your toolbox will be overflowing with anything that can be used. Let’s face it, they don’t have to be snazzy or expensive, and as a good example, I’m sure we all have a handful of clothes pegs in our tool arsenal!

3) Learn from your mistakes

No one is perfect within modelling, no matter what your ability is, but what we do know is, always learn from your mistakes! Your skills as a modeller will be able to develop into those of an expert by creating mistakes, and let’s face it, we all make mistakes! Whether you learn to not use too much glue between small parts all the way to filling gaps and sanding seam lines correctly compared to your last build, these are both small, but key steps into the journey of skill development! So always recognise this, which leads onto the next point.

4) From your first build to your most recent

No matter what your first Airfix kit turned out like, make sure you always treasure them! It's a bit like marmite, whether you love your first build or hate it, it will always be there and is helpful to identify your development of modelling skills over time. Your modelling skills will soon become apparent after you have completed a handful of kits, so your first kit holds just as much value as your most recent and pristine build. This not only allows you to show your progress, but also as a way of admiring your own progress and modelling abilities, creating a ‘can do’ attitude and something to be proud of.

5) Dioramas and Creativity

When embarking on your modelling journey, you may want to expand your creative skills to bring more life to your miniature masterpiece. This is where the joys of dioramas settle in. A simple diorama can be created to showcase your most recent or favourite build, using minimal resources, and having fun long the way.

6) Resources of today

Within the 21^st century, we are easily able to access untold amounts of information to help you build upon your knowledge, so use this to your advantage! At Airfix, we use a few platforms to help newcomers to the scene, either to share knowledge of other fellow modellers within our Airfix Forum, or on our Airfix YouTube channel. Our step-by-step tutorials of our How-to videos are based upon our new mould Starter Sets, which are designed with the beginner in mind – a great way to enter the hobby! These tutorials allow you to gain the necessary skills and confidence to complete your first build.

7) Make sure you have fun!

Above all, remember that model making is about having fun and expressing your creativity. Embrace the satisfaction of completing a model and the sense of accomplishment it brings. Be proud of your builds and never compare your builds to others, only your own. Don’t forget, we all start from the beginning and the only way is up! So have fun!

Happy Modelling!