What this estimator works out
This estimator multiplies the part count by a base rate of about five minutes per part, then adjusts for complexity and the level of painting and weathering.
Part count is a reasonable proxy for build time and a poor one for difficulty. A kit with many simple parts builds faster per part than one with few awkward ones.
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Before you plan a build
- Part count is usually on the box. Photo-etch and resin detail sets add parts and considerably more than their share of time.
- Complexity should reflect fit and engineering, not scale. A well-engineered large kit can be easier than a poorly fitting small one.
- The finish level makes the largest difference. Basic assembly and a detailed weathered finish can differ by a factor of two.
- The estimate excludes drying time between coats, which on a painted model can exceed the working time.
A model needing primer, base coats, a gloss coat for decals, washes, weathering and a matt varnish involves six or more drying periods. At several hours each, a nine-hour build occupies several weeks of elapsed time. Estimating the hours tells you the effort; it says nothing about when the model will be finished.
How this calculator works
Parts times a base rate, with two multipliers:
Base hours = parts × 0.08
× 1.6 for high complexity, × 0.75 for low
× 1.5 for a detailed finish, × 0.75 for a basic one
Medium complexity and a standard finish apply no multiplierThe 0.08 hours per part is just under five minutes, which covers cleaning up, dry-fitting, gluing and handling. It is an average across a whole kit — the first fifty parts of a fuselage go faster than the last twenty small ones.
Worked example: a 120 part kit
Using the default figures — 120 parts, medium complexity, standard finish:
- Estimated build time: 9.6 hours
Change to high complexity with a detailed finish and it becomes 23 hours — nearly two and a half times as long for the same kit. That range is the honest one, and it explains why two modellers can report wildly different times for the same box. The finish is a choice, not a property of the kit.
Common mistakes
- Treating the estimate as elapsed time. Drying periods dominate the calendar.
- Ignoring aftermarket parts. Photo-etch takes far longer per part than plastic.
- Equating part count with difficulty. Fit and engineering matter more.
- Underestimating preparation. Cleaning up seam lines and mould marks is much of the work.
- Planning a detailed finish on a first build. Each additional stage compounds the time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a model kit take?
Anywhere from an afternoon for a simple snap-fit kit to hundreds of hours for a heavily detailed and scratch-built subject. For a typical 1:48 aircraft or 1:35 armour kit built to a good standard, somewhere between ten and forty hours of working time is a realistic band, spread over weeks because of drying.
Does scale affect build time?
Less than part count does. A 1:72 kit with 200 parts takes longer than a 1:48 kit with 80, despite being smaller — and small parts are harder to handle, clean up and paint. Larger scales are frequently easier for the same part count.
What takes the most time?
Preparation and finishing rather than assembly. Removing parts from sprues, cleaning mould lines, filling and sanding seams, and then priming, painting, decalling and weathering account for most of the hours. Actual gluing together is a small fraction of a well-finished model.
How do I speed up without cutting corners?
Batch the stages — prime several subassemblies at once, paint all the same-colour parts together — so drying periods overlap rather than queue. Working on two kits in parallel uses the drying time on one for work on the other, which is why many modellers have several on the go.
Is what I enter stored?
No. Figures are processed in your browser and never transmitted or retained.
Related tools
References
- Health and Safety Executive — ventilation and safe use of solvents, adhesives and spray paints
- MoneyHelper — budgeting for hobbies
Sources are checked at publication and can change — how I choose and check references.