Model Airplane Kits

For nearly every famous commercial, military, or private aircraft you can imagine, there is a model airplane kit for you. Whether your fascination lies in the model fighter planes of World War II, passenger airliners like a Boeing 747, or smaller civilian craft such as a single engine Cessna, a model airplane kit contains all the raw materials needed to build a military model airplane and start your own collection of scaled-down replicas. Bare necessities Even the simplest model airplane kit includes the basic necessities of wood airplane model construction, from the individual pieces - fuselage, wings, etc. - to stickers and decals meant to be applied once the plane is completely assembled. Step-by-step instructions included with the model airplane kit guide you from starting with a box of loose pieces to the finished model, decked out in authentic insignias and markings and ready for display. More expensive model airplane kits may include finishing materials such as paint, or even electric motors for added realism.

The two most common types of building materials found in model airplane kits are molded plastic that snaps or is glued together and balsa wood. The latter is used to construct a frame over which lightweight canvas or high-quality paper is stretched to construct the form of the airplane.

The scale

The scale of a model airplane kit refers to the size of the model in relation to the original aircraft. For example, if an airplane has a wingspan of 48 feet, then the 1/48th scale model will have a 1-foot wingspan. As with the material a particular model is made of, which size of model airplane kit you choose is entirely up to you.

The project

Because most model airplane kits generally require much skill and patience to achieve good results, they are generally intended for older, more experienced hobbyists. But less elaborate model airplane kits geared toward younger children are also available. Most kits are clearly marked with a suggested age range to help you judge which is most appropriate. The beauty of model airplane kits is that they provide limitless choices for imaginative minds and can be as educational as they are fun.