This kit is considered a beginners wood kit. The hull is basically a partially machine carved piece that you have to finish carving. It will help immensely if you have a basic wood carver's and sandpaper set before you start the model. The superstructure is made up of lazer cut wood frame, wood siding, paper and metal detail parts. Pay special attention to lining up the parts while constructing the superstructure. That was one of the harder parts of the kit along with the hull finishing work. A great amount of metal detail parts make this a nice little kit. I don't know if I would call it a beginner or intermediate kit myself (leaning to the latter) but it makes a great addition to a HO scale 1/87 water front. The kit is actually 1/96 scale but it works well in the slightly larger HO scale.