I'm just getting back into the hobby after a 10 year absence, and I thought I should get input from folks here and at the FSM forums on which kit would be better for me to tackle first as I build up my rusty skills again. I've got a few kits from when I last modeled, and have bought a few more over the past month. Below is the list of kits and aftermarket parts I have and my plans for them:

Tamiya M1046 Humvee--will be converted into an M1114 with MIG's resin kit, Blast wheels, and cupola armor

Tamiya M1025 Humvee--will receive Eduard's ASK PE set and scratchbuilt cupola armor.

Tamiya M1A2 OIF

Academy M2A2 OIF--will be upgraded with Blast resin tracks and running gear.

Dragon M270 MLRS with Rocket Pods--will build as a Desert Storm vehicle.

Academy M1025 Humvee--will build as a Desert Storm vehicle with the wheels from the Tamiya M1046. Most parts are prepped, some subassemblies are already built.

Tamiya M151A2 MUTT--I built the trailer 10 years ago, but the rest of the kit is only half built. I had planned it as a Vietnam vehicle.

Four or so sets of Dragon figures, one Trumpeter--modern US (ODS and OIF) and British Desert Rats. I'll build these slowly to reacquaint myself with figure painting.

At first I wanted to start off with the Tamiya Humvees, but since I've never used resin or PE in the past, I'm not sure if I want to dive right in given how much $$ I have already invested in the parts. Now I'm leaning toward the MUTT or the Academy Humvee, since an earlier version of me did half the work. An added complication is my lack of an airbrush (why, oh, why did I sell my old Badger in '96? ) and my now-limited budget (thanks to my shopping spree).

What do folks think I should tackle first? Should I build one of these? Buy another kit?

Welcome back to the hobby, Lucas. I would say finish the M151A2 to re-activate your skills, surf around Armorama to learn new techniques, and save some money to buy an airbrush again before using the PE. Details are easily lost when brush painting models.

Happy modelling

Erik

NB. Surfing Armorama may inflict seriously on your build time... :-)

Definitely something simple...
If you are already familiar with modelling skills and want to build a modern tank you could as well build the model "out of the box" and just make some dust with some pigments, without making scratches or things like that, also because modern AFVs are painted with better quality paints...

Welcome to the site Lucas. I think I would finish up the MUTT. I'd also do a few OOB builds before tackling PE and resin. Heck, PE stills scares me and I've been back in the hobby for a couple of years now!

If you look around some other posts, many people recommend the Trumpeter KV1 and KV2. I've built the KV2 and immediately got a KV1. These are very easy to put together kits, and the link to length tracks are superb. Plus they are dead cheap and look awesome.

Thanks for the advice folks. I think I'll go ahead and finish the MUTT first, then tackle the Academy Humvee OOB. Hopefully by then I'll have saved up for an airbrush or gotten the wife to approve the purchase of one!