Modern Battleships & Navy Ships

Naval kits shift the work from rigging to assembly and finishing. The hulls are usually straightforward. The interest is in the superstructure, turrets, launchers, directors, radar masts, boats, railings and the paintwork that ties it together.

What is in the box

Construction varies by manufacturer. Some are wooden plank on bulkhead builds with timber decks, others use moulded hulls or plastic components, and many include photo etched parts for railings, ladders and radar arrays. Etched detail is the single clearest difference between a model that looks like a warship and one that looks like a toy, so it is worth checking what a kit includes before buying.

Paint discipline matters here

Correct greys, deck contrast, sharp hull numbers and a clean boot topping do more for the result than any added fitting. Mask properly rather than freehanding. Paints and primers, adhesives suitable for brass and plastic and fine tools from our tools range are worth having before you start rather than halfway through.

Difficulty and scale

Grades run from simple introductory kits to advanced projects with high parts counts and etched upgrades. Both waterline and full hull subjects appear. Scale varies by vessel so that a carrier and a frigate both finish at a practical size, which is worth noting if you are building a matched set.

Related sections

Finished warships are in ready made warship models. A specific ship, commission and pennant number is built to order through bespoke naval models.

Common questions

Do you stock submarine kits?

Yes, alongside surface vessels. Availability varies by manufacturer.

Is photo etch difficult to work with?

It takes patience and a sharp pair of tweezers rather than special skill. Practise on a spare fret before committing to a visible railing run.

Can naval kits be radio controlled?

A few are designed for it. Most in this section are display builds. Check RC compatible if running the model matters to you.