WW2 aircraft model kits and aftermarket

Find aircraft-specific model kit and aftermarket routes, including decals, canopy masks, resin upgrades, cockpit sets, crew figures and references for World War II aircraft builds.

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Kits & Aftermarket

Kit buying should feel like a build plan, not a dead list. Use these routes to pick a kit, decide what aftermarket is actually worth buying, and jump to useful shop searches.

Last updated: 2026-05-14. Ratings, paint matches and kit notes are practical modelling guidance and may be revised as better references or modeller feedback are added.

Aircraft-specific kit recommendations

This is the main hub for the kit and aftermarket guidance that sits across the aircraft pages: ratings, best-use notes, aircraft guide links and product/seller routes.

Aftermarket priority rules

The same rule applies across the aircraft pages: buy visible upgrades first, then decals if they unlock a better story.

★★★★★ Must-have

Canopy masks

Best value on almost every WW2 aircraft with framed glazing.

★★★★☆ Usually worth it

Belts and cockpit panels

Worth it when the canopy is open or the cockpit is prominent.

★★★★☆ Subject-dependent

Wheels, exhausts and barrels

Good on heavy aircraft, exposed guns, radial engines and large-scale builds.

★★★☆☆ Story upgrade

Decals and masks

Best when they unlock a specific squadron, pilot, theatre or mission.

★★☆☆☆ Usually skip

Hidden resin interiors

Poor value if the fuselage closes and the detail disappears.

Alex Aftermarket WW2 aircraft accessories

Specific Alex Aftermarket routes added to aircraft Build Guide → Aftermarket tabs. Check scale, kit compatibility and stock before buying.

US bomber crew and B-17/B-24 upgradesCrew figures, B-17G interior decals, B-17 masks, B-17/B-24 propellers and engine/cowl upgrades.Open bomber aftermarket routeLuftwaffe ground crew figures1/72 Luftwaffe pilots and ground crew for Bf 109, Fw 190, Me 262, Ju 87, Ju 88, He 111 and Do 17 scenes.Open Luftwaffe routeHellcat corrected cowl and decal routesF6F corrected cowl, Hellcat decal routes and Fleet Air Arm/USN options.Open Hellcat routeI-16 decal routesBegemot I-16 types 4, 5 and 12 sheet covering VVS, Spanish Civil War and China options.Open I-16 routeIJN carrier aircraft decalsZero, Kate and Val carrier-air-group markings route.Open IJN routeSpitfire PR and late Spitfire decalsSpitfire PR Mk XI and late Spitfire decal routes.Open Spitfire route
Useful routes

Popular build guides

Useful entry routes into kits, paints, techniques and theatre-led WW2 aircraft builds.

Build routeBeginner WW2 aircraft kitsReliable starter kits and forgiving subjects.Build routeBest Battle of Britain kits1940 aircraft routes and subject choices.Build routeBest Spitfire kitThe best Spitfire routes by use case.Build routeBest Hurricane kitAirfix, Arma Hobby and more.Build routeBest Luftwaffe kitsBf 109, Fw 190, Ju 87, Ju 88 and He 111 routes.Build routeBest Pacific aircraft kitsZero, Hellcat, Corsair and carrier subjects.
Trust and methodology

Project notes

How the site is built, how ratings are judged, and how to suggest corrections.

Project pageAbout WW2 ModellerWhat the project is and why it exists.Project pageHow ratings are decidedHow kit ratings and difficulty labels are judged.Project pageSources and referencesHow references, paint notes and kit routes are built.Project pagePaint match disclaimerWhy paint matches are practical equivalents.Project pageCorrections and contributionsHow to suggest fixes, sources or better recommendations.