Aircraft

How to choose an aircraft model

Scale and size

A single-engine WWII fighter is about 13 to 16 cm long in 1/72, 20 to 21 cm in 1/48 and 30 cm or more in 1/32. Bombers and jets are much bigger: a four-engine bomber in 1/48 can have a wingspan over 60 cm, so measure your shelf before buying. Most builders start with a 1/48 fighter, which balances detail, cost and ease of handling. The scale guide has a full size table.

What makes aircraft kits different

• Cockpits come first. You paint and assemble the cockpit before closing the fuselage halves around it, so you cannot fix it later.
• Seams show. Fuselages and wings come in halves, and the joints run along very visible surfaces. Take time to fill and sand them.
• Canopies need masking. To paint the frames you mask the clear panes with tape. Pre-cut masks are sold separately for many kits.
• Nose weight. Some aircraft with a nose wheel (jets, P-38s, bombers) will sit on their tail unless you add a little weight in the nose. The instructions usually say how much.
• Decals do a lot of the work. National insignia, squadron codes and nose art come as decals. Our first kit guide explains how to apply them.

Fighters, bombers or jets?

WWII fighters are the classic starting point: simple shapes, famous markings and excellent kits from Tamiya and Revell. Bombers are rewarding but large and part-heavy. Modern jets add complex camouflage, many ordnance parts and lots of stencil decals. If you love a jet, a 1/72 kit is a gentler start than 1/48. For the best kit of each famous WWII fighter, see our WWII fighter guide. Prefer something that flies? Try our RC warbird guide.

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