Beeing a newbee myself, I'd still say go with the nuc if you can. I started 2 from nucs on May 1st into deep hive bodies with a medium on top as i'm only using 8 frame equipment and the nucs were 5 frame. So thought they could use the room right off the bat. Used hive top feeders on both to help them along on drawing the wax, which they did quite well in both mediums, and added excluder and medium honey super to both last thurday. Good luck!