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Gift Guide: The Best Gifts for Military History Fans
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Buying for someone who reads every WWII book and watches every documentary? A model they can build or drive is one of the most personal gifts you can give. Here are our ideas, organized by the kind of person you are buying for rather than by price, because prices change often on Amazon.
For someone who has never built a model
Skip the glue and paint. Block sets and die-cast kits give a great result with no tools and no mess.
Goat Guns M1 Garand "Patton", Die-Cast Build Kit
The Goat Guns M1 Garand is a metal miniature with a working bolt and en-bloc clip. It builds in about an hour with the included tools and makes a great desk piece for anyone who loves WWII history.
Check price on Amazon
Nifeliz Panzer IV Ausf.G Tank
COBI Top Gun F-14A Tomcat, 757 Pieces
COBI USS Arizona (BB-39)
ROKR AK-47 Rubber-Band Rifle
For the model builder
A classic kit of a famous subject is always welcome. If you are not sure what they already own, choose an iconic subject in the scale they usually build.
Tamiya Tiger I Early Production
Tamiya P-51D Mustang, 8th Air Force
Tamiya Battleship Bismarck
Tamiya F-16CJ Fighting Falcon
Tools are also a safe gift, because builders always want better ones:
Tamiya Sharp Pointed Side Cutter
Tamiya HG Angled Tweezers
Microscale Micro Sol & Micro Set Decal Solutions
Master Airbrush Cool Runner II Airbrush Kit with Compressor
For kids and teens
RC tanks with infrared battle are a hit with younger fans, and brick-built sets keep them busy for hours. Check the age guidance on each listing.
SKEKECIE Infrared Battle Tanks 2-Pack
Supdex M1A2 Abrams Tank with Smoke & Sound
SYMA S51H Military Helicopter
MISINI USS Missouri Battleship, 2228 Pieces
For the gadget lover
A hobby-grade RC tank or a gyro-stabilized warbird gives a real "wow" moment when it comes out of the box.
BESTYMXY Heng Long M1A2 Abrams
BESTYMXY Heng Long King Tiger
AIGIMU P-51 Mustang with 6-Axis Gyro
LEAMBE P-51 Mustang 4-Channel Plane
For the shelf and the man cave
Large showpieces like big brick-built battleships or a full-size brick rifle make a statement on display.
MISINI Battleship Yamato, 2569 Pieces
YWFSFZ M24 Sniper Rifle, 1,388 Pieces
General Jim's A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog, 931 Pieces
MISINI AH-1W Super Cobra Helicopter, 958 Pieces
Gift-buying tips
- Plastic kits need glue and paint, which are sold separately. If you buy a kit as a gift for a beginner, add cement, a sprue cutter and a small paint set. Our beginner guide lists what they need.
- RC models may need extra batteries for the remote control.
- Check delivery dates on Amazon before holidays; popular kits sell out.
Match the gift to their interest
- WWII buffs: a Tiger I, Sherman or P-51 kit, a COBI WWII set, or a Goat Guns M1 Garand.
- Naval history fans: a battleship like Bismarck, Yamato or USS Missouri, as a plastic kit or a big brick-built set.
- Aviation fans: a 1/48 fighter kit, an SR-71, or an RC warbird if they like gadgets.
- Modern military fans: an Abrams, F-16, F-14 Tomcat or A-10 Warthog, as a kit, block set or RC model.
- Collectors with no space: 1/72 aircraft or 1/700 ships, or die-cast weapon miniatures.
Tamiya F-16CJ Fighting Falcon
Revell SR-71 Blackbird
MISINI USS Missouri Battleship, 2228 Pieces
Goat Guns M1 Garand "Patton", Die-Cast Build Kit
Not sure about their skill level?
If you do not know whether they have built models before, choose something that needs no tools: a block set, a die-cast kit or an RC model. If they already build plastic kits, they almost certainly own glue and paint, so you can buy the kit alone. Our brand guide explains which brands suit which level.
Go deeper:
Quick answers
What is a good gift for someone who likes WWII?
A model of a famous WWII machine: a Tiger I or Sherman tank kit, a P-51 Mustang, a brick-built battleship, or a die-cast M1 Garand.
Are weapon models real guns?
No. They are display models made of metal, plastic bricks or wood, and none fire real ammunition. A few wooden kits have a rubber-band mechanism, which the listing mentions.
What if they already have the kit?
Buy from Amazon so it can be returned or exchanged under Amazon's return policy. Check the specific listing for its return window.
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