Most complex model

I would guess the most complex model I ever built, including all the PE and aftermarket) was probably in the upper hundreds for parts (say 700).  I do have the DML PzIV 3-in-1 on my shelf with a parts count around 1400.

None of my attempts would even come close, though.  I think I've seen some articles in FSM with those crazyily detailed, scratchbuilt, superdetailed builds that have parts counts in the 10's of thousands...

AHhh...mm,,, 2 most recent kits got to me.. almost.. an Italeri Panzer MK IV, it was my first armor kit in 25 yrs.. I went a bit crazy and got PE, resin, metal barrel.. etc.. Indi tracks... It came out very well and even took a 1st at Downestcon,, but It was wearing me thin in the end... first time indie tracks.. to much overload with the roadwheels... and extras..... shortly after that, I started Tamiya's Pershing,, same thing again.. with a full engine bay/tranny bay.. lots of PE.. metal barrel... I alomst set this aside many times.. but I managed and finished it..

In the end.. it was worth it,,,, but in the process, it was mind bending...

in the mean time.. I completed 2 Bandia Starblazers battleships,, small parts count.. easy painting..

Mine was Academys 1/32 F-18D that i built for my bro(F-18D WSO). I ended up adding around 75 tiny bits of detail to the pit alone, 30 someodd bits to the nose gear, mains were in the 20s. The kit has 500 some odd parts, almost half of which are ordnance and option parts, I ended up somewhere in the 500-600 range.

Most complex model kit definitely belongs to ship..

Some complex ship comes with PE can easily surpassed 1000marks parts.

Marder II w/ Soviet 76.2mm pac 36(r). Everything above the fenders was modified or scratch built. The gun features a open bore modeled around a 1/8 aluminum tube, turned on a drill & taper achieved with Tamiya putty. The indi- track links had 5 pour stubs each! @ aprox 94 links / side this alone consisted of dozens of hours of clean-up. The 1 piece molded gun cleaner was scratch built out of hypodermic needles & wood brackets. Most stowage equipment was scratch built as well, including a tripod for a MG-34.

WOW... !

The only one that comes to my mind are some kits I still have to build (not started) If they count, then they will be an old AMT/Eartl 1/25 scale ladder truck (with lots of scratch-built goodies) and a Monogram Ford F-250 (with a scratch-built bed and details to make it into a fire truck)

The most complex model I've accually got done and completed is the KV-1 model from Zenvino (I'm not sure of the spelling. It's that manufacturer from Russia)

the most complex  i know is the over engineered icm  tb3  bomber with parisite fighters each of it's 4 eng nacelles come complette with Full engines  and  you build the intire plane  as the real one a compplete frame/skeliton  the you lay the aitcraft's skin over that 

I got a model that is worth looking at. It's not my model, but it is still interesting (and complex)

It's a 1/40 scale model of the F/V Time Bandit (of Deadliest Catch fame) completely scratch-built and radio-controled. Martin Bak, the builder, completely scratch-built everything.

Here's the link (I highly recommend looking) : http://www.timebandit.tv/martin-boat-model.html

This has given me an idea: why not scratch-build a model of every ship on Deadliest Catch? 

This is the monster that Durr refers to.And yes it is un-necessarily complicated!   

dup

The Soviet TB-3! Where did you get it? (I've been looking for one for a while.) Did it include the I-16 fighters and their trapeese rigs?

stcat

For a boxed model set, not counting aftermarket add-on's, what is the most complex model you ever built, from the point of view of number of parts on the trees?

While I don't have one the Fine Molds Millennium Falcon has over 900 pieces.

My kit didn't include the fighters but other versions do!I got my kit for 12 bucks at my LHS a few years ago! I think Squadron  my have them!

Hi, Well,not to brag, just state facts. 4,785 partsIn the hull and over 2,000 in the upperworks. The model? A seven foot model of the EDGEWATER PRINCESS.This was commissioned in 1979 ,finished in DECEMBER of 82. Each and every part was created from scratch.I just hope she still survives.That was the hardest thing I ever had to build ,much less part with.She was a model of one of the conjectural "luxury"sternwheel steamers on the MISSISSIPPI in 1864. The only other one I can think of is a 4 foot long 92' COAST GUARD CUTTER built from the keelup for a client company to give as a retirement gift to their director of operations.I DID NOT count the parts on that one(I didn,t want to know! )  TANKERBUILDER  P.S. I had to on the steamer to get paid at each stage of construction!!

I'm currently building the Heller/ Imai 1/100 scale HMS Victory.

I don't know the number of parts, but there are 104 guns, each has seven parts.

For pure parts count, probably the Trumpeter Karl Morser with railway carriers, but honestly, it wasn't very 'complex' in the sense that it was a beautifully engineered kit, and went together without a hitch.

Some kits that I have made, and that are still in the stash with every imaginable AM part that I could find for it, ugh, I dread to think the parts count, but I salivate at the joyous time of building it all.

I wonder if a distinction should be made between self-imposed complexity(addition of aftermarket resin and photoetch detail sets) and intrinsic complexity due to parts count and assembly sequence/breakdown?What say you?

I built Dragon's "Easy Eight" sherman. T-80 tracks, 80 links per side, 2 parts each, and each link had a decent mold seam. Lots of scraping going on. it was fun, but if I'm going to do individual link tracks, They'd better be 1-piece. it was a fun kit, but very hard.

For a plastic model, not counting aftermarket or scratchbuilt parts, i would have to say the Soar Art 1/35 Dora railway gun has to be the most complex kit - with close to 3000 parts! The box for the kit weighs about 50 lbs or so.  I will build it eventually (really, I will).

if you don't I'll take it off your hands... :P

Yes I heard about the Dora!There is a guy on the FSM Armor Forum who built one and I guess the kit cost 700 bucks!The thing is massive but it didn't seem to take him very long to get it together! 

philo426

 I guess the kit cost 700 bucks!

Yeah, for the price of the kit it was a bit of a disappointment - incorrect barrel, and no decals included.

I have a 1:35 Leopold Railway gun.  Scares the heck out of me....sorry I bought it.  I will look to offload it at a show or Craigslist, as it is too big for me to safely mail out on ebay......

You must mean this monster!       

hutchdh

I have a 1:35 Leopold Railway gun.  Scares the heck out of me....sorry I bought it.  I will look to offload it at a show or Craigslist, as it is too big for me to safely mail out on ebay......

Hmmm... if you really don't want it...

We really needs a classifieds section on the forums.

philo426

You must mean this monster!       

Man, that's one BIG model. I'd love to have one to keep me occupied during the summer, and on the weekends, but I can't afford it. However, if someone is willing to donate it for free, then I may accept

How come we havn't seen one of these monsters in the FSM as a review (or an article) yet? Mabe the review can be a feature story, kind of like that 1/16 scale T-34 some time back in 2003 or so

Terry 34 built the t-34... and did a beast job of it. I have the /76 varient. IT needs correcting, but it is so impressive... I love it. :) anything 1/16th is awesome

Yes, I, too love a good model that you can cram full of detail ( that's probably why I love emergency vehicles in 1/25 scale. Most are nothing more than rolling equipment racks, so detail oprotunities are plenty)

Details, you can't have enough of them.