Difficult Model Kits To Give You the Challenge You Crave

You get all hyped up over a new model that’s marked with a higher difficulty rating, you’re all primed to improve your skills and actually be challenged… and you’re done in less than an hour.

No new skills gained, no fun challenges, and a mediocre model. So frustrating! I’ve been there, and it’s terribly disappointing.

To help save you time and money, I want to share here some of the models that I personally have found to be difficult in a good way.

If you’re in a rush, here’s a quick look at one in each category:

Metal: Wuhan Yellow Crane Tower – amazing design, 357 pieces, great challenge.

Car: Tamiya Ford GT – gorgeous car, full of detail, requires gluing and painting.

Wood: Rokr Marble Run – requires many assembly steps, delicate pieces, super fun to watch in action.

Plastic: Queen Anne’s Revenge – awesome ship, 293 pieces, 8+ hours assembly time.

Difficult Metal Model Kits

Metal models are some of the most visually exciting model kits you can buy.

The twisted alloys will mold together and create a shiny new Millennium Falcon or desk-top transformer.

Take a look at my recommendations for metal model kits below to find the most challenging designs. 

Wuhan Yellow Crane Tower

If you’re a fan of Asian architecture, then you’ll love this intricate metal model.

The kit comes with 357 pieces and, when finished, forms an authentic Chinese crane tower from the Wuhan region.

You also won’t need to worry about a big mess as this kit does not require glue or soldering. 

However, you should prepare for a challenge. The degree of difficulty is 8 to 10 and will require advanced creative and problem-solving skills. 

ICONX Peacock 3D Metal Model Kit

If you’re looking for a beautiful metal model that can serve as both a centerpiece and a conversation starter, then the Peacock is the right model.

The stunning bird stands at 9.5 inches tall and over a foot long. 

The parts for the peacock are in metal sheets. You can pop them out and attach them through tabs and holes.

The colored instructions will lead you on the right path, and the model is a part of a set that you can collect. Try to build them all! 

ICONX Silver Dragon 3D Metal Model Kit

This intimidating and shiny model will remind you of Mechagodzilla with its scaly exterior or maybe the dragon coaster at your local carnival.

This model is even more challenging than your average metal model and should only be undertaken by modelers 14 and up. 

However, the Silver Dragon is a bit small when fully assembled. At only 6 x 5 x 5 inches, you might want to invest in a larger model if you want anything more than a desk ornament. 

Western Star 4900SF Log Truck

If you’re more into models on wheels, then the Western Star Log Truck could be just the thing you’re looking for.

All you’ll need to build it is a set of tweezers to bend and manipulate the steel tabs. No glue or soldering is required. 

This model was inspired by the powerful log trucks with their big steel arm to add and remove logs from the truck bed.

If you’re a truck enthusiast, it can make a fantastic decoration or addition to your collection once completed. 

Difficult Model Car Kits

If you’re a car maniac, then you probably like to build car models.

Nothing says “I know my automobiles” like a vintage Chevrolet model displayed in your bookcase.

Some of those car model designs are just too easy; you put on the doors and the wheels, and then you’re finished.

Take a look below to find car models that will put your assembly abilities to the test. 

TAMIYA 24346 1/24 Ford GT

This sleek model sports car looks so slick it might just swerve off your shelf!

The model is incredibly detailed with door-side air tunnels, a complete underside design, multi-piece head and tail lights, a rearview mirror, and a steering wheel. 

The wheels and the oil tank are metal plated, so it will have a more realistic look when you put them on the car. 

LEGO Ford Mustang Kit 

If you’re more into classic cars and want a model that’ll make you feel like you’re in a 1960s action movie, then the LEGO Ford Mustang is a perfect choice.

The kit has 1,471 pieces, and you can feel the details with headlights, a supercharger, and a full V8 engine. 

LEGO model kits are a bit easier to build than other products on this list. However, the high piece number still makes this particular set best for people over sixteen.

It’s easy to tell why this is one of LEGO’s trickier designs because, despite the high number of pieces, the model stands at only 3 x 13 x 5 inches, which means lots of small and easy-to-lose parts. 

Revell 1/25 83 Hurst Oldsmobile

The Revell 1/25 Hurst is a great model kit gift for someone who loves the Oldsmobile brand. The 1983 version of the car inspires this particular model.

It has a built-in engine as well as wheels that turn and move. 

The kit contains almost entirely plastic pieces, and anyone over the age of 10 can build it.

It’s a good starter kit for people who like car models and want to begin with something more challenging.  

Difficult Wood Model Kits

Wood models were some of the first models to become famous on the market.

Kids in the 1950s would put together wooden airplanes, and boy scouts built excellent wooden carts for downhill competitions.

But what are the most challenging wooden models on the market today? See our recommendations below. 

ROKR Marble Run Wooden Model Kit

When seeing the ROKR Marble Run fully assembled for the first time, you might not be sure what you’re looking at.

It can appear like a figure out of an MC Escher painting with all the mechanisms and whirly-birds. 

However, put a couple of marbles into the depository and turn the crank, and you’ll see the purpose of this intricate design. 

The kit measures 9.92 x 9.06 x 6.5 inches when complete and has 254 pieces.

The primary feature is a “waterwheel coaster,” which moves the marbles up the track and then releases them down a slide. 

Vintage Movie Projector

If you’re looking to build a model that has a functional purpose, this projector is the right one for you.

This complex model takes time and problem solving to build and is a real-life movie projector.

The projector has no battery but instead is powered by a hand-crank like in the good ol’ days. 

The model can take between four to six hours to build wholly and correctly, and it contains 183 pieces.

When fully assembled, it measures 9 x 5 x 10 inches.

Once you make it, you should buy some old film reels, pop some popcorn, and enjoy the show! 

Wood Motorcycle w/Rubber Band Motor

This model has no battery or motor but can still travel up to 16 feet. How? With rubber bands.

The rubber band motor works like your classic wind up toys, providing tension and energy to make the motorcycle ride. 

Like most DIY projects, this can teach young adults and teenagers the importance of patience while also making them feel more independent.

This is one of the more eco-friendly models on the list and is composed of only pollutant-free natural plywood.

It contains 203 pieces and is 14.61 x 9.84. x 1.38 inches at completion. 

Difficult Plastic Model Kits

Plastic is still the most popular material for models. It’s cheap and easy to manipulate.

Just because this is the most popular doesn’t mean there aren’t some unique and original models.

If you’ve built many of these models, maybe you want to expand your experience with a challenge. My suggestions for difficult plastic models are below. 

Queen Anne’s Revenge Sailboat

The intricate detail of this old pirate ship will have your guests wanting to tear it open and look inside. Good thing there’s a removable access hatch to the hull!

The first thing you’ll notice about the finished model is the spooky LED lights that can be turned on and off and give the ship its eerie glow. 

The model is a massive 25.9 x 10 x 25 inches and contains 340 pieces.

Among those 340 are 32 plastic deck guns to make your model ship even more realistic and authentic.

Seventeen warm light beads will light the ship’s interior and make it an even more captivating display. 

Bandai Star Wars 1/144 Millennium Falcon

What model list would be complete without some Star Wars memorabilia?

This model comes with a weighted stand, so you won’t have to worry about your Millennium Falcon tipping over and shattering into a million pieces.

It also has the original blue striping details from the movies. 

In addition, the kit also includes two LED lights and two laser-effect parts for the weapons.

Any crafty Star Wars fan would love to get this model as a gift. 

Tamiya 1/35 Sherman Easy Eight Tank

Model military equipment is always cool.

A nice Panzer tank or stealth bomber hanging from your ceiling can speak to your interests and help start conversations with guests.

This tank is a lot easier to assemble than some of the other items on our list.

The slide-molded turret and upper hull parts will make the assembly not too challenging, but what they lack in challenge, they make up for in attention to detail.

Related Questions:

Here are some common questions related to difficult model kits. 

Briefly

There are a lot of great options here, but if I had to narrow it down to the two best in terms of quality and presenting a challenge, I’d say:

Get the Wuhan Yellow Crane Tower if you want a difficult model but don’t want to fuss with glue or paint.

You’ll enjoy the unique challenge of working with metal, and the finished model is absolutely stunning.

If you’re wanting a more traditional model to improve current skills and become more confident when adding a beautiful finish to unpainted models, definitely go with the Tamiya Ford GT.

You’ll learn patience, develop painting skills, master new techniques, and wind up with a jaw-dropping car to proudly display.

Source:

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234937474-tamiya-vs-revell-etc/