Gift ideas for model builders
Gift Ideas for Families
Give a family a model kit they can enjoy together, from two first builds to a playset they can share after assembly. Find gifts for an adult and child, siblings or families with teenagers, with UK prices, age guidance and clear details of what comes in the box.
Featured gift LEGO City Modular Space Station 60433
Three gifts to start with
Best Model Kits to Give as Family Gifts
Best for building side by side
First Build · Plastic · 50 to 100 · Age 6+
Push Fit
£33.18
Best for a shared build and imaginative play
Easy · Plastic · Over 1000 · Age 7+
Brick Built · Pre-coloured
£95.02
Best budget display project for dinosaur fans
Easy · Paper & Card · 50 to 100 · Age 10+
Static Display · Display Stand Included
£15.09
Start a hobby together
Easy First Builds to Share
Choose a familiar subject and a straightforward assembly method for a first family build. These Quickbuild models let an adult and child share finding pieces, following the instructions and fitting the parts.
Best for a first build with a car fan
Age 6+ · First Build · Plastic
An adult and child can take turns finding and fitting the pieces of this orange Lamborghini. Snap-together assembly needs no glue or paint, leaving a finished car to put on display.
£14.95 Amazon
Best for a shared London memory
Age 6+ · First Build · Plastic
Build a familiar London bus together after a family trip, or give it to someone who loves buses. The pre-coloured snap-fit pieces keep the project focused on assembly, with no painting stage.
£24.94 Amazon
Best for a first tank build together
Age 6+ · First Build · Plastic
For a family with an interest in military vehicles, the Firefly offers a first assembly project to work through together. Its snap-together format needs no glue or paint.
£22.00 Amazon
A model each
Separate Models to Build Side by Side
A twin kit gives two people a model of their own while keeping the build a shared activity. Choose push-fit aircraft for a first project, or a painted pair for builders who enjoy finishing their models.
Best for building side by side
Age 6+ · First Build · Plastic
Give two aircraft fans a model each, with an Apache helicopter and BAe Hawk in one set. Both use push-fit assembly and come with stands and stickers for displaying the finished pair.
£33.18 Amazon
Best for a jet and helicopter pairing
Age 6+ · First Build · Plastic
Two family members can work alongside each other on a Raptor and an Apache. The separate push-fit kits give each builder their own project, with stands and stickers for the finished aircraft.
£31.70 Amazon
Best for painting two aircraft together
Age 10+ · Intermediate · Plastic
Share a pair of small RAF aircraft between two builders and compare the paintwork as you go. The set includes basic paints, glue and a brush, with a stand for displaying the finished models.
£18.99 Amazon
Enjoy it after assembly
Build-and-Play Gifts for Families
Look for separate vehicles, rooms or modules that family members can help build. These LEGO sets also give the family characters and scenes to enjoy once the construction is finished.
Best for a shared build and imaginative play
Age 7+ · Easy · Plastic
Separate room pods and a shuttle give a space-loving family different parts of the station to work on. Once assembled, rearrange the modules and use the six astronauts to invent missions together.
£95.02 Amazon
Best for a smaller build-and-play gift
Age 6+ · Easy · Plastic
An adult and child can build the transport van and getaway motorbike, then use the three minifigures for their own chase stories. The separate vehicles give this compact set more than one part to share.
£12.99 Amazon
Best for a family of Harry Potter fans
Age 9+ · Intermediate · Plastic
Build familiar Hogwarts rooms together, then arrange scenes with seven minifigures. The Hospital Wing, classroom and common room give family members different details to enjoy as the castle takes shape.
£65.00 Amazon
Build it and see how it works
Moving Models to Explore Together
Choose a mechanism the family will enjoy assembling and testing together. Match the construction demands to their experience, and check each age recommendation, especially for the teen-and-adult wooden boat.
Best for exploring engine movement together
Age 8+ · Intermediate · Plastic
An adult and a curious younger builder can assemble the engine and check how its parts move together. A transparent cylinder head lets the family watch the mechanism driven by the included motor.
£36.99 Amazon
Best for a more challenging family mechanism
Age 8+ · Challenging · Plastic
A family that already enjoys mechanical builds can tackle this beetle-shaped V8 model together. Its transparent sections reveal the moving linkages, while the iridescent wings give the finished display an unusual appearance.
£36.99 Amazon
Best for a teen-and-adult moving display
Age 14+ · Easy · Wood
An adult and teenager can assemble a wooden fishing boat, then explore how its pendulum keeps it balanced. A light touch sets the finished model swinging without batteries, giving the shared build a moving display.
£14.99 Amazon
Make something to keep
Creative Models to Paint or Display
Families can share painting, puzzle assembly or a landmark craft project. Check the supplies and allow a place to leave the model between sessions when glue or paint needs time to dry.
Best budget display project for dinosaur fans
Age 10+ · Easy · Paper & Card
A dinosaur-loving family can work through this 57-piece paper-and-card puzzle together and put Blue on the supplied diorama base. The finished model is about 38 cm long, giving the shared project a clear display goal.
£15.09 Amazon
Best for learning to build and paint together
Age 8+ · Easy · Plastic
An adult can share a first painted car project with a younger enthusiast. The Pagani bundle includes basic paints, glue and a brush, plus a work station and cutting mat to organise the build.
£47.54 Amazon
Best for a shared landmark craft project
Age 11+ · Easy · Matchstick
Families with older children can build a London landmark from matchsticks and card formers. Share the measuring and assembly, with an adult helping with cutting, then choose a place to display the finished cathedral.
£16.95 eBay
Before you buy
Choosing a Model Kit Gift for a Family
Match age and experience separately
Check the age recommendation for everyone who will handle the parts. Then use the difficulty rating to judge the patience and precision needed. The kids’ model kits guide offers more choices for younger builders. Browse First Build model kits when some family members are new to modelling.
Decide how to share the build
A twin kit gives two people a model each. A modular set provides separate sections to work on. With a single sequence of steps, take turns fitting parts and share finding pieces, reading instructions and checking progress.
Choose what the family will do afterwards
A LEGO playset can become a shared story or a new layout. A working model gives the family a mechanism to test, while a display project offers something to keep on a shelf. Explore more engineering gifts if they enjoy trying out moving parts together.
Check supplies before wrapping
Read the contents of the exact set for glue, paints, brushes, tools and power requirements. One included brush may need sharing. Add missing essentials if you want the recipients to start the project when they open it.
Plan the table and display space
Allow room for each builder and for sorting parts. For a painted or glued model, leave space for drying between sessions. Check the finished dimensions before choosing a larger shared display project.
Side by side
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Revell RV06777 Star Wars Poe’s Boosted X-Wing Fighter (Lights & Sounds) Model Kit
LEGO Harry Potter Luna Lovegood’s House with Light Brick & 5 Minifigures Model Kit 76467
Questions before you buy
Family Model Kit Gift FAQs
Can two people build a single model kit together?
Yes. A modular kit can provide separate sections to build before joining them. If the instructions follow one sequence, take turns fitting pieces or share jobs such as finding parts, reading ahead and checking each stage.
What is a good family gift for two children who both want to build?
A twin kit gives each child a separate model to work on alongside the other. The Airfix Apache and BAe Hawk Quickbuild set contains two push-fit aircraft and has an age recommendation of 6+. Check both children’s experience as well as the age guidance.
How do I choose a kit for a family with different ages?
Check the age guidance for everyone who will handle the parts, then consider their experience and the kit’s difficulty separately. Choose a set with suitable roles for each builder, such as separate models or modules, and plan adult help for the stages that need it.
Can the family play with the models after building them?
Check the intended use of the finished kit. The LEGO City Modular Space Station has rearrangeable modules and astronaut figures for shared play. Models such as the Revell Blue puzzle are display projects, while the ROKR Ocean Fisher adds a swinging mechanism to a shelf display.
Do family model kit gifts include everything needed?
Contents vary by the exact kit. Quickbuild and LEGO sets need no glue or paint. The featured Revell aircraft set includes basic painting supplies, and the Pagani bundle adds a work station and mat. Check any extra tools, brushes or power requirements before buying. See our guide to plastic model kits for more on tools, glue and paint.
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