forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
Modelers Lounge => Time to relax => Topic started by: skeeterbuck on December 29, 2012, 12:08:09 AM
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I have been a WWI aircraft modeler since I was a child. (many years ago). I started with the Aurora kits that I sure many of the older builders here remember fondly. I recently saw a fellow WWI modeler and he inquired what I was "working on"? I told him that I was looking to start on the Fly Roland D-VI b kit. He recommended that I look into the WNW kit as it was a beautiful kit with excellent instructions etc.
Now I know that from all the reviews and builds I have seen of the WNW kits, that what my fellow modeler says is true. For me though 1:32 scale is just too big. I much prefer 1:48 as the ideal size for most aircraft. This has got me thinking as to what is currently the most popular scale? Just for the record, I have built kits in 1:72 and 1:32, but my first love is 1:48 scale.
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Are there scales other than 1/32?!
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I would've chosen 1/24th but it's not a viable option for WWI. (!/16th is, sorta... but anyway...) Not just 'cause my eyes are getting old and hands not as steady as they once were either. I always liked the big scales... -- always been interested in the details, always wanted to read the gauges, etc.
Loved the Airfix 1/24th kits when I was a kid -- the hurricane, Spit I, 109E and Mustang were epic builds for me.
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I admire and envy people who can work in 1:72 and 1:48 scales, they do incredible work producing some immaculate models, but for my age I build only 1:32 scale. I like the larger scale for the detail that can be added and the completed model is not overly large (except for the Gotha), and at the moment the price of a 1:32 scale WW1 aeroplane kit is still quite affordable. Í class myself as being very fortunate at 62 to still have pretty good eye sight and very steady hands, but I presume this will deteriorate over time, so I will make the best of it while I can.
Des.
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I admire and envy people who can work in 1:72 and 1:48 scales, they do incredible work producing some immaculate models, but for my age I build only 1:32 scale. I like the larger scale for the detail that can be added and the completed model is not overly large (except for the Gotha), and at the moment the price of a 1:32 scale WW1 aeroplane kit is still quite affordable. Í class myself as being very fortunate at 62 to still have pretty good eye sight and very steady hands, but I presume this will deteriorate over time, so I will make the best of it while I can.
Des.
Des,
Given your spectacular results I am shocked that you are, like me, sort of old! I too, despite complaining, feel very fortunate to have reasonable health and hands at 68 however my move from 1:48 to 1:32 didn't come by coincidence. Thank Gawd for Optivisors and the larger scales; as Uncle Tony says "1:24 is not a viable option for WWI (I assume for lack of product) however that situation applied to 1:32 until recently. Let's just say that if a company like WNW starts procucing quality kits in the even larger scale you'll find me there when you arrive!
Cheers and many more years of happy modelling!
Lance :) ;)
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I'm pretty committed to 1/72nd for the reasons of economy in terms of both money and shelf space. I do not profess to do good work in that scale (having only completed one and having five kits in various states of destruction at the moment), but I will not go gentle unto that good night, and I will still attempt to work in 1/72nd for as long as I can. Also my aviation interests run up to 1944 as well, and some of my favorites are just not viable in a larger scale.
I honestly think the relatively recent popularity of 1/32nd scale in aviation kits is due in no small part to the aging population of modelers in general and the attendant vision, etc. that go along with advancing years. My eyes are nowhere near what they used to be, and I wear a magnifier ALL the time when working on my kits (BTW I'm 51.) However, if an old friend of mine not much older that me can overcome vision problems AND glaucoma (he wears two sets of magnifiers at times) and still rig 1/700th scale ships, then certainly I can try to manage some 1/72nd scale kits.
Warren
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If Wingnut Wings had not come on the scene I wonder if the poll results would be different, bearing in mind that Roden have had 1:32 scale kits for quite some time. As far as WW1 aircraft models go I pressumed that 1:72 was the most popular scale, that's all I built way back in the old days. Our aging modeling community certainly has set a standard as far as scale goes but the release of the superb WnW kits has also added to the popularity of this scale. I even noticed that the 'ýounger' modelers tend to lean towards the 1:32 scale kits especially WnW, time will tell if this scale remains top of the list.
Des.
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I think there are different motivations that drives ones interest towards a particular scale. In my case, if it were practical, I'd work in 1:1 (or even larger)
Meaning: miniatures per se have no real hold on me. I admire them as I do say, a tiny Vermeer canvas, but intrinsically no more than, say, a life size Rembrandt. My real interest lies purely in the subject at hand. I want to trace my fingers over the details of what makes (or made) these things tick, imagine what it was like to see and smell them in action, what it might have been like to fight and die in them, think about what problems the designers were struggling with when they were conceived, walk a while in the squadron painter's shoes etc.
I suppose it is heretical to admit this, but I rarely find even exceptionally well done small scale models to be very compelling in real life. Far more interesting to me when depicted in photos. :o
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I only build 1:72 for reasons already stated: space and cost, plus it's what I grew up with. My aim is a collection of as many WWI types as possible and that can only be achieved in 1:72. Besides that, It's the perfect scale for detail: I can add what I want, but don't have to add too much (valve springs???) If you can work those in 1:32 or 1:48 surely you can add a little detail in 1:72? ;)
Having said that, I do have an Airfix 1:24 Stuka and 1:12 Bentley in the stash..... I'm hoping they'll be really simple due to the large scale....
Maybe things will change as I get older, but I'm pushing 50 and have to remove my glasses to work on my models...... ::)
Ian
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48th is my preferred scale, but you got to love the plastic coming out of NZ ;)
BVB
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At the moment I would say 1:32 and that is purely down to WNW, and the quality of their models which allows a relative newcomer like me to produce reasonable results. My first WWI model was the Revell 1:72 Dr.1, which I thought built into a decent job albeit with minimal interior detail. During my research into build logs etc for that model I "discovered" websites that preceded this one, and that introduced me to WNW. Having built a few models from other eras (mostly 1:72 due to cost/size) I took the plunge with WNW and haven't looked back.
However, I would argue that 1:48 would be the ideal scale - small enough for several aircraft on one shelf but large enough for some detailing. Now if WNW made kits in that scale..........
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However, I would argue that 1:48 would be the ideal scale - small enough for several aircraft on one shelf but large enough for some detailing. Now if WNW made kits in that scale..........
Ian, this mirrors my thinking too! ;)
Now IF...WNW did make 1/48 scale, then I would think that I had died and gone to heaven for sure. IMHO, Eduard and some others to a lesser extent have been a real savior for 1:48 scale WW-I modelers.
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Des,
I believe the trend was already there before WNW, in terms of a/c modeling in general. Look at all of the releases by the big hitters (Tamiya, Hasegawa, etc., etc.) over the last few years. Roden got in on the trend, but I think WNW pushed it over the edge in terms of WWI, making modeling a/c from this era seem more accessible.
Warren
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I've been sold on 1/32 I must say by WnW. Just the level of detail you can get is superb.
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I build (and buy) 1/48 exclusively.
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I like 1/32 for WWI aircraft and 1/48 for WWII and modern aircraft, 1/35 for AFVs, and 1/24 for cars. It sure doesn't make a lot of sense, but there it is!
Cheers,
Chris
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I started with 1/72 years ago as that was pretty much all that was readily available to me - Revell, Airfix, Pegasus, I even sent away for several Czechmasters kits that took forever to arrive but wow they were cool.
Then Dragon released several nice 1/48 kits, Eduard also so I moved up to that scale due to the additional detail possibilities, ease to rig, etc.
Then Roden started releasing 1/32nd scale kits - about the time they released the N28 (their fourth or fifth kit?) I decided to switch entirely to that scale and sold off the 1/48 collection
That WNW showed up and started their avalanche of kits was a very pleasant surprise
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I'm with you on this one Chris. I like 1/48 for WWII, 1/32 for WWI and 1/35 for AFVs. I guess it's something about the overall size of the prototypes when scaled down. In most instances, a 1/32 WWI fighter, a 1/48 WWII fighter or an AFV will each take up about the same amount of shelf space (with certain obvious exceptions). Those sizes just feel comfortable to me.
Regards,
Bob
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I started out long ago(1966) with 1/72. It had the largest variety and was inexpensive and took up less shelf space. When I started earning money at about the age of ten, I probably built at least one a week. I built mostly WWII, but have always had a soft spot for biplanes, so I built all the WWI kits available too. Of course there were a few box scale Revell ships in there. Oh, and the 1/28 Camel, SPAD, and Dr.1. In high school I built 1/35 and 1/32 scale armored vehicles but aircraft were still 1/72. About 15 years ago I started building 1/48. I could spend more time, it was easier to rig, and I wasn't building at the same rate. Now I was building WWI and between war with an occasional foray into WWII and god forbid, a jet or 2. With the coming of Roden and WNW( and age), I build in 1/32. The kits are more accurate and I get to learn new skills which keeps each successive build interesting. Plus I have great inspiration from the owner of this site and all of it's members.
Sean
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I'm with you on this one Chris. I like 1/48 for WWII, 1/32 for WWI and 1/35 for AFVs. I guess it's something about the overall size of the prototypes when scaled down. In most instances, a 1/32 WWI fighter, a 1/48 WWII fighter or an AFV will each take up about the same amount of shelf space (with certain obvious exceptions). Those sizes just feel comfortable to me.
Regards,
Bob
Exactly my thoughts, but you knew how to write it!
Cheers,
Chris
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I do have an Airfix 1:24 Stuka... I'm hoping they'll be really simple due to the large scale....
Ian
That kit is perhaps the best kit ever made (bold claim, I know). Despite being older than the hills everything fits like a WnW kit, it's reasonably well detailed out of the box, and hey, has there ever been a more beautifully ugly aircraft? Build it, it is pure pleasure (pick up a set of pe seatbelts if you don't want to make your own and a copy of the old Airfix book that went with it if you want to go a little AMS on it).
RB, I already have the book, seatbelts, cockpit instrument decals and metal MG17s for the wings, still looking for MG 15 for the rear gunner. I'm definitely looking forward to building this one! I close on my new house on Jan 14th and once I get set up this will be at the top of my to do list!
Ian
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I go with 1/72 for most of my aircraft. Armor gets split about evenly between 1/72 and 1/35.
But having built a few kits in 1/32, I'm liking that more and more. It's just too bad I can't house a sizable collection of them.
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Always 1/32, and 1/28.
I have a Lanc, and PBY in 1/48th, and for some odd reason want to collect all the Otaki 1/48 fighters, but WNW and Roden fill the shelves here.
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I hear you Mike! I've got a few of the Otaki 1/48 fighters, and have always liked them. Maybe it was the pretty good box art, or the fact that they produced some aircraft, particularly Japanese, that were not made by the other manufacturers at that time in 1/48. The Oscar was always one of my favorites, and also the Aleutian P-40 (perhaps it was just the novelty of a non-AVG paint scheme!). ;)
Regards,
Bob
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I can't say I really have a favourite scale, so voted for 'other'. I do like to keep groups of models in the same scale, but other than that just go with whatever the nicest/most interesting kits are.
WnW makes it easy to choose a lot of 1/32 kits though :)
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Bob, not to get to far off topic: I like the Aarii/otaki stuff as it is from the 70s, has delicate recessed panel lines, art work in the box, and lots of decals. You can add just a little to the kit, and turn out a nice model- for around 10.$ US. The last few years have seen an explosion in 1/32 similar to what the smaller scale guys have had for years, and I'm loving it.
Lone Star Models is working up some resin bits for the old Hasegawa yellow wings kits as well. Again, I'm loving it!
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1/16 as well Mike....?
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Well, you caught me out Dean. I have a few 1/16 kits, and lately added the 1/8 Camel to go with my Tripe. Those are for when my eyes really start to go....
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Hi All
A bit late to join the fun but ....
Some time ago I went through a crisis and found it impossible to finish any modelling project, probably from fear of getting something wrong. Part of the rehab. - apart from brilliant modelling advice Des - came from metaphorically throwing together a 1/72 Camel just as I had when a child. No sanding, no detailing etc. The goal was just to finish it and it would then get put into the back of a cupboard. What immediately struck me was how tiny it was.
I'm a sucker for the wonderful Wingnut Wings models, even if all those purchased have yet to be built. But having almost finished a Roden 1/32 Sopwith triplane, by way of rehearsal, I'm almost overwhelmed by the size. So how on earth will I cope with the Gotha?
Looking at the display cabinet with eight or nine Eduard/Roden 1/48 Great War aircraft I'm much struck by their seeming to be the right sort of size for display and are just manageable with my clumsy old fingers. Even that Camel sized gap in the cabinet is not too far off being filled. So, it looks like 1/48 for me even if I will just carry on buying Wingnut Wings as often as I can.
Which brings two questions.
First have Eduard now abandoned the idea of any completely new models from the Great War?
Is there any hope that Eduard would update/replace their old Sopwith Triplane?
Best wishes
Nigel
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Hi Red Baron
Do the Eduard Sopwith Triplanes come up for sale very often? I'd love to get hold of one.
Best wishes
Nigel
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Hi Red Baron
Yes, yes, yes, definitely! The one I'm after is the one with the wheels. Let me know how much you want for it and I'll consult the 'head of finance'.
Best wishes
Nigel