Painting History in Scale — Airfix Figure Sets for Dioramas, Display and Classic Modelling
Airfix figure sets are one of the most charming corners of classic scale modelling. They are not just small plastic soldiers or background accessories. Used well, they can turn a model into a scene, a display base into a story, and a simple kit build into a small piece of painted history.
From Romans and Ancient Britons to Robin Hood, RAF ground crew, WWII infantry, paratroops, commandos and ceremonial guards, these sets give modellers something different from aircraft, tanks or vehicles: people, movement, context and atmosphere.
This guide looks at Airfix figure sets as painting subjects, diorama companions and historical scene-building pieces. The focus here is not rules, gaming systems or competitive tabletop play. If someone wants to use figures that way, that is their choice. For Scale & Motion, the stronger angle is painting, modelling, display and storytelling.
Quick Verdict
Best for classic historical scenes: Romans, Ancient Britons, Robin Hood and Sheriff of Nottingham. These sets have strong character and work well as self-contained painting projects.
Best for WWII dioramas: British Infantry, U.S. Infantry, German Infantry, British Commandos, Paratroops, U.S. Marines, Afrika Corps and British 8th Army.
Best for aircraft scenes: RAF Personnel, WWII RAF Ground Crew and Luftwaffe Personnel. These are especially useful around Spitfires, Hurricanes, bombers and airfield displays.
Best for ceremonial display: Guards Band and Guards Colour Party. These are less about battlefield modelling and more about colour, pageantry and careful figure painting.
Think carefully if: you only want a fast kit with no figure painting involved. These sets reward patience, brush control and attention to small details.
Why Airfix Figure Sets Still Matter
Figures bring scale models to life. A tank without crew can look impressive, but a tank with infantry nearby immediately suggests a moment in time. An aircraft on its own is a machine; an aircraft with ground crew, pilots and equipment becomes an airfield scene. A medieval or ancient figure set can become a small display base, a teaching model, or simply a relaxing painting project.
That is the appeal of Airfix figure sets. They are not always about complexity. Many are simple, classic kits, but they open the door to storytelling. A few figures, some ground texture, paint, washes and careful basing can create a scene that feels much larger than the number of parts in the box.
For a broader look at how kits, figures, tools and finishing supplies fit together, see our complete guide to plastic model kits.
For painters, these sets are also useful practice. Faces, uniforms, shields, equipment, straps, boots, weapons and poses all train the eye. The more figures you paint, the better your control becomes.
If you are building a paint setup for figure work, our Pro Acryl paints guide covers acrylic paints for miniatures, models, dioramas and small detail painting.
Classic and Pre-20th Century Figure Sets
The Airfix classic figure range includes subjects that sit outside the usual WWII aircraft-and-armour world. These are ideal if you want something more characterful, theatrical or historical without needing a large vehicle kit.
For modellers who enjoy historical subjects across different formats, Scale & Motion also covers display collectibles such as Corgi military aircraft die-cast models.
Romans
The Airfix Romans set is one of the most recognisable classic figure subjects. It gives modellers Roman soldiers, command figures and battlefield character in a compact scale format. This is a good choice for ancient history scenes, shield painting, ranks of infantry, small diorama bases and classic Airfix nostalgia.
Ancient Britons
The Ancient Britons set pairs naturally with Romans. It works well for contrast: Roman order and armour on one side, tribal movement and different textures on the other. For painters, this subject gives more natural colours, shields, skin tones, cloth and varied poses.
Robin Hood
The Robin Hood set is more folklore than military history, but that is exactly why it is useful. It gives a different painting mood: greens, browns, leather, forest bases, archery poses and character-led display work.
Sheriff of Nottingham
The Sheriff of Nottingham set makes sense as a companion to Robin Hood. Together, the two sets can create a simple story scene: outlaws, guards, pursuit, woodland tracks, village edges or castle approaches.
View Airfix Sheriff of Nottingham
World War II Infantry Sets
WWII infantry sets are the natural choice for military dioramas. They can be used around tanks, trucks, landing scenes, battlefield roads, ruins, bridges, airfields and defensive positions. They also work as standalone painting practice for uniforms, equipment and small-scale human detail.
These figures also pair naturally with aircraft and vehicle projects, especially when combined with weathering, groundwork and small accessories. For aircraft kit ideas, see our Airfix 1:48 aircraft kit guide.
WWII U.S. Infantry
WWII U.S. Infantry is a strong starting point for Allied scenes. It suits European theatre dioramas, infantry support scenes, road movements and figure painting practice around helmets, webbing, rifles and field uniforms.
View Airfix WWII U.S. Infantry
WWII British Paratroops
WWII British Paratroops brings a more specialised airborne subject into the collection. This type of set is useful for D-Day, bridge, village, drop zone or airborne-operation inspired display scenes.
View Airfix WWII British Paratroops
WWII German Infantry
WWII German Infantry can be used in opposition scenes, battlefield dioramas, defensive positions or general WWII figure painting. As always with military subjects, the modelling angle should remain historical and educational rather than glorifying the real-world conflict.
View Airfix WWII German Infantry
WWII British Infantry
WWII British Infantry is a useful core set for British Army scenes. It can support vehicle dioramas, infantry movement, Normandy-style layouts, road scenes and small historical vignettes.
View Airfix WWII British Infantry
WWII British Infantry — Northern Europe
WWII British Infantry N. Europe is especially useful when building late-war European scenes. It can pair well with vehicles, ruined buildings, roads, bridges and other battlefield scenery.
View Airfix WWII British Infantry N. Europe
British Infantry Support Set
The British Infantry Support Set is useful when a scene needs more than riflemen. Support weapons and heavier battlefield equipment help make a diorama feel more structured and less like a random group of figures.
View Airfix British Infantry Support Set
WWII U.S. Paratroops
WWII U.S. Paratroops are ideal for airborne-themed scenes, village fighting, drop zone displays and figure painting with a slightly different uniform and equipment feel from standard infantry.
View Airfix WWII U.S. Paratroops
View Airfix WWII U.S. Paratroops alternative set
WWII German Paratroops
WWII German Paratroops add another specialised troop type for WWII scenes. They can be used in mountain, airborne, defensive or late-war display settings depending on the wider scene.
View Airfix WWII German Paratroops
WWII U.S. Marines
WWII U.S. Marines move the theme away from European battlefields and toward Pacific War subjects. They are useful for island scenes, landing displays, jungle bases and weathered terrain work.
British Commandos
British Commandos are a good choice for more dynamic small-unit scenes. They suit raids, coastal approaches, ruined buildings, bridges, night-operation inspired bases and compact action vignettes.
German Mountain Troops
German Mountain Troops are useful for terrain-led dioramas. Snow, rock, slopes, mountain tracks and colder colour palettes all fit this subject naturally.
View Airfix German Mountain Troops
British 8th Army
WWII British 8th Army is ideal for North Africa scenes. This is a good route if you want sand, dust, desert tones, sun-faded uniforms and weathered vehicles.
View Airfix WWII British 8th Army
Afrika Corps
WWII Afrika Corps pairs naturally with British 8th Army for desert theatre dioramas. The appeal here is not only the figures, but the chance to paint dust, khaki, sand, muted greens, equipment and sun-worn scenery.
Airfield Personnel and Ground Crew
Airfield figure sets are some of the most useful companions for aircraft modellers. A Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster or Luftwaffe aircraft can look impressive on its own, but ground crew instantly changes the scene. It gives the model a setting: maintenance, rearming, refuelling, waiting, briefing or preparation.
Paint, weathering and small accessories are what make airfield scenes believable. Our Humbrol paints, weathering and finishing guide covers another useful route for traditional scale modelling supplies.
RAF Personnel
RAF Personnel is a strong companion for Battle of Britain and RAF airfield scenes. These figures can help create maintenance, rearming and support activity around aircraft displays.
WWII RAF Ground Crew
WWII RAF Ground Crew works especially well with larger aircraft displays and more detailed airfield dioramas. It can help turn a finished aircraft kit into a complete scene rather than a standalone model.
View Airfix WWII RAF Ground Crew
Luftwaffe Personnel
Luftwaffe Personnel gives modellers the same kind of scene-building option for German aircraft subjects. Ground crew, equipment and airfield activity are often what make an aircraft diorama feel alive.
View Airfix Luftwaffe Personnel
Ceremonial Figure Sets
Not every figure set has to be a battlefield subject. Ceremonial figures are useful for colour, formation, pageantry and careful brush painting. They can also appeal to collectors who enjoy traditional British subjects and classic Airfix presentation.
Guards Colour Party
Guards Colour Party is a compact subject with strong visual structure. It is a good choice for modellers who enjoy uniforms, flags, formal poses and traditional display work.
View Airfix Guards Colour Party
Guards Band
Guards Band is one of the most colourful options in this group. It is less about weathering and more about neat painting, clean lines, strong reds, dark trousers, instruments and ceremonial detail.
How to Choose Your First Airfix Figure Set
The best first set depends on what you want from the project.
- For a simple historical display: choose Romans, Ancient Britons, Robin Hood or Sheriff of Nottingham.
- For a WWII vehicle diorama: choose infantry that matches the theatre, vehicle and setting.
- For an aircraft display: choose RAF Personnel, RAF Ground Crew or Luftwaffe Personnel.
- For desert scenes: choose British 8th Army or Afrika Corps.
- For painting practice: choose a subject with varied uniforms, equipment and poses.
- For ceremony and colour: choose Guards Band or Guards Colour Party.
Do not overthink it. Pick a set that gives you a scene in your head. If you can already imagine the base, the colours and the atmosphere, that is usually a good sign.
That is also the best way to approach diorama modelling generally: start with the scene first, then choose the figures, paints, textures and accessories that support it.
Paints, Bases and Finishing Ideas
Airfix figure sets become much stronger when they are treated as part of a small scene. Even a simple base can help. Grass, dirt, stone, planking, rubble, sand, airfield concrete or woodland ground can give the figures somewhere to belong.
For paints and finishing supplies, the following guides may help:
- Pro Acryl Paints — What to Buy First for Miniatures, Models and Dioramas
- Humbrol Explained — Paints, Weathering, Adhesives and Finishing Supplies for Scale Modelling
- The Complete Guide to Plastic Model Kits: Brands, Scales and What to Buy
- 9 Airfix 1:48 Skill Level 2 Aircraft Kits — World War Two Filter Picks
Final Verdict
Airfix figure sets are best understood as scene-building tools. They add people, scale, movement and historical context to model displays. Some sets work beautifully as standalone painting projects, while others are strongest when placed beside aircraft, vehicles, buildings or terrain.
Romans, Ancient Britons, Robin Hood and Sheriff of Nottingham bring classic historical character. WWII infantry sets support battlefield dioramas. RAF and Luftwaffe personnel bring aircraft displays to life. Guards Band and Guards Colour Party offer ceremonial colour and traditional figure painting appeal.
If you enjoy painting, dioramas and small historical scenes, Airfix figure sets are still worth a place on the workbench. They are simple in concept, but they can add a lot of life to scale modelling.
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Image Credit: Airfix / Hornby Hobbies. All product images remain the property of their respective owners.
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