What is the meaning of model kit?
Scale model kits represent real or imaginary objects in a reduced size down to the millimeter, sometimes with an error of not more than 5%. Most models are made of plastic.
What Is the Meaning of a Model Kit? (Direct Definition)
A model kit is an unassembled set of manufactured parts designed to be constructed by a hobbyist into a scaled, proportionally accurate three-dimensional replica of a real-world or fictional subject (such as aircraft, tanks, cars, ships, or sci-fi mecha). Most kits are produced from high-impact polystyrene plastic via injection molding and require assembly using specialized hobby cement, snap-fit mechanics, and finishing paints.
What Comes Inside a Standard Model Kit?
| Kit Component | Material / Form | Function in Assembly |
|---|---|---|
| Sprues / Runners | Molded Polystyrene Frames | Holds numbered parts securely during injection casting and shipping; parts are excised using side nippers. |
| Clear Parts (Canopies/Windows) | Transparent Acrylic / Styrene | Separately bagged transparent sprues for cockpits, vehicle windshields, and headlight lenses. |
| Waterslide Decal Sheet | Water-activated film transfer | Provides micro-lettering, military national insignia, dashboard dials, and camouflage stencils. |
| Assembly Manual | Multi-page schematic booklet | Step-by-step exploded assembly diagrams, parts numbering map, and historical camouflage painting guides. |
| Multimedia Extras (Advanced) | Photo-etched brass, turned metal, rubber | Delicate scale radiators, turned aluminum gun barrels, and realistic treaded rubber vinyl tires. |
Key Types of Scale Model Kits
- Glue / Cement-Assembly Kits: The traditional modeling standard (Tamiya, Revell, Airfix). Requires liquid polystyrene cement to chemically weld structural joints prior to priming and painting.
- Snap-Fit Model Kits: Precision friction-engineered kits (Bandai Gunpla, Meng Kids) with male/female alignment pins that lock firmly together without requiring solvent glue.
- Resin & Garage Kits: Cast in polyurethane resin, offering limited-run, extremely fine surface detail for advanced modelers requiring cyanoacrylate (super glue) assembly.
- Die-Cast Mixed Kits: Pre-painted metal body shells accompanied by plastic interior and suspension parts requiring screw-together assembly.
Model Kit Frequently Asked Questions
Is a model kit considered a toy?
No. While toys are pre-assembled from flexible plastics designed for physical playtime, model kits are collectible display replicas requiring careful parts preparation, solvent bonding, and painting, designed strictly for static display.
Do model kits come with glue and paint included?
Standard model kits do not include cement or paint, allowing hobbyists to choose professional adhesives and airbrush colors. However, introductory “Starter Sets” or “Gift Sets” often package basic acrylic paints, a brush, and tube cement.
What was the first plastic model kit ever made?
The commercial plastic model kit industry originated in the 1930s with Frog Penguin kits in the UK, later revolutionized in the 1940s and 1950s by Airfix, Revell, and Monogram utilizing modern high-pressure polystyrene injection molding.
What is a model made of?
Almost all models produced today are made of plastic. This type of plastic, called polystyrene, is the main raw material of most of the scale models produced in mold printing. That’s why the resulting product is called a Plastic model kit.
How is a model kit made?
Model kits are made by a process called injection molding. A mold is created, usually, from steel and plastic, that can be used to form the shape of the product. Some parts are then assembled to make the finished product, using each piece’s location in the mold as its starting point for where it should go.
What was the first model kit?
The first model kit was the Meccano “No. 2 Motor Car,” a 1913 model of an early car by the Meccano Company. This kit included wheels, axles, and springs which provided motorized movement to work out how it would move.
The first model kit, often referred to as a snap-together model kit, was the Airfix 1/144 scale Heinkel He111 bomber. The kit appeared in 1943 and was made from plastic pieces that were cast in the same mold and went together without glues. This changed the world of model kits forever.
Are model kits figures?
Model kits are not figures, but rather detailed models that can be assembled in multiple configurations from an assortment of interchangeable parts. They are often used to create spaceships and vehicles but have also been used to create game-like replicas of houses, cities, and even entire planets. Although many model kits involve a level of assembly and do not involve any painting or major customization options, this is not always the case. Some kit manufacturers may do some customization for their models before shipping them to customers.
Are model kits toys?
Model kits are not toys but rather they are hobby tools used to build replicas of vehicles and airplanes. Model kits are available as assembled model or a kit that requires careful assembly by the consumer. Models can be built out of plastic, resin, or metal and come in scales ranging between 1/12 to 1/400. There are “model kits for kids” and “model kits for adults“, depending on the degree of difficulty.
