The 10 Best Model Boat Kits
Special Honors
Seaworthy Small Ships Most model boats make for an intriguing display piece, but what if the vessel could actually sail? The handcrafted wooden watercraft from Seaworthy Small Ships are a prime example of this — they’re suitable for a variety of skill levels, and you’ll be able to test them out on the water when you’re finished building. seaworthysmallships.com
Chase Small Craft Echo Bay This option looks identical and is built in the same way as a normal dory skiff — it’s just a quarter of the size. The boat’s components are made from tough birch plywood, and you’ll use superglued wire to hold everything together. Finished with paint and varnish, it will serve as a majestic addition to any enthusiast’s collection. chase-small-craft.com
Editor's Notes
October 27, 2020:
For this update, we've added three models to stoke your imagination. The Plastic Viking Ship evokes one of the great seafaring eras, while the CubicFun 3D Pirate Ship continues the raiding theme with its pirate appeal - and it has over a dozen LED lights. We've also added the Navy Patrol Boat River Pibber for its meticulous details and neat inclusions, like crew members in action poses with personal effects.
We've removed the Tasma Starter and the Revell Constitution due to availability issues, and the Artesania Latina Bluenose because its ratings didn't keep pace with the others.
Finally, we've also updated the information for several listings, including the Revell USS Missouri, the Revell LSM Landing Ship, and the Fascinations BB-63.
October 25, 2019:
The Xiaz 3D Mini was no longer available, which is why that item no longer appears on the list. Reports of ill-fitting parts, a poor instruction manual, and flimsy, low-quality pieces led us to remove the Revell Germany Titanic.
While it does replicate the same iconic British passenger liner, the Academy Titanic Centenary does not suffer from similar pitfalls. Users find it to be an excellent value, and while the challenging building process requires time and precise attention to detail, the result tends to be highly satisfying. We upgraded this item.
We added a T-Boat model as well as two additional battleship kits. We noted that the Revell T Boat includes representations of several crew members on board, which doesn’t seem to be a very common feature. The Tamiya America Battleship requires patience, genuine skill, and likely several weeks to complete — but advanced builders are thrilled with the highly detailed representation once it’s a finished product.