How many forum members are working in 1/48th and 1/72 scale?

[Dave W]

There's been a lot of talk recently about 1/32 scale kits and their prices etc but we hear very little about those working in smaller scales.

So, how many here are working in 1/48th and 1/72 scales and if so, what's the appeal to you for these scales/ manufacturers/ subjects?.

Please- do not let this topic degenerate into yet another fan thread about Wingnut Wings. I'm interested in hearing from those who have been ignored by the large scale kit manufacturers.

For the record, I work in 1/48th and 1/32 scales, and 1/24 too, but age/ eyesight and Big Fumbly Fingers mean I have had to move on from 1/72 scale, sadly.

I'm currently working on an Eduard 1/48th Albatros W.4 and have just bought the new Eduard 48th Siemens Schuckert D.III. I think 1/48th is a great scale for WW1 but how do others feel? I also do 1/32 and have a Special Hobby 1/32 Bristol M.1c monoplane next in the queue- this is an absolute jewel of a kit!

WW1 is such a great subject area I'd love to see the major kit manufacturers embrace it and release new kits in all the major scales.

Dave Wilson
Gold Coasst
Australia

[James]

I built a SPAD & Nieuport in 1/48 scale when I was about 11 or 12 years old and I remember them being quite small. Why I bought them, I don't know as I only built 1/48 WW II aircraft at the time. I have a couple 1/32 WW II kits in the stash, the rest being 1/48 WW II & Korean War aircraft. The four Wingnut kits I have, to me it seems, and this just my opinion, WW I kits are perfect size wise in 1/32 scale. My hat is off to all of y'all who build 1/72 scale WW I aircraft as they being so small, that to me seems like a high skill level to accomplish. Now, if I wasn't so damned scared I would start one of the Wingnut kits.

James 

[jamieg]

I build mostly 1/48, but have added a few 1/32 WNW to the stash.

[dtomko]

I work almost exclusively in 1/48, which I think is perfect, enough detail and small enough not to take up a heap of shelf space.  I started in WWI in the early 90s with Eduard's first kits and the DML/Dragon Knights of the Sky releases.  I'm sad that Eduard seems to have slowed down their 1/48 releases, and Roden as well.  Still, we have a good selection in this scale. 

Drew

[Mark]

I'm just now working on my second and third WNW bips, so my experience overall is limited. That said, I purchased the new Eduard SSW D.III after seeing it entered at a local show this weekend. I wanted to give the smaller scales a shot, but after seeing the 1/48 I fear that 1/72 is out of the question due to its size and my eyesight. We'll see (no pun intended) about 1/48.

When I do get started on the SSW you can bet that I'll post the log here 

Mark G

[James]

. Now, if I wasn't so damned scared I would start one of the Wingnut kits.

James

Go get one, open the box, rip a bag open, and cut a part off. There, it's ruined. May as well build it now

You're right, but not having built a biplane properly, and never rigged anything, would you suggest the Rumpler or Fokker Eindekker?

[vincentm]

As for me, I only build 1/72 scale models. I've been building WWII subjects for decades now, so I'm pretty used to working at this scale, and I found it quite natural to go on at the same scale with WWI birds. That way all planes are at a constant scale in my showcases. To tell the truth, I didn't think WWI aircraft were so small and I had to look for smaller tweezers and tools.

Regarding the manufacturers, we don't have much choice at this scale, and almost all available kits require a lot of work. They're either very old (Airfix or Revell toolings) or short-run kits (mostly Roden, Eduard, MAC Distribution and former Toko kits now issued by Eastern Express). I understand that we 1/72 builders are a minority in WWI modelling, which means no major kit brand could make profit out of costly tools. As far as I'm concerned, I'm fond of short-run kits for WWII subjects too, so I can deal with that. However, I would surely spare time if Hasegawa or Tamiya WWI birds were available...From what I've experienced so far, I think the best WWI 1/72 kits are the Roden ones. And they're rather cheap.

[eclarson]

My interest spans all eras of aviation and other than deciding to go strictly 1/32 for WWI subjects, I build primarily 1/72 and 1/48.
As a rule, I prefer 1/48 for small to medium sized aircraft, shifting to 1/72 for larger, such as WWII heavy bombers. 

I've built two 1/48 WWI aircraft but as I've somehow amassed a fairly good sized stash of WNW kits (and one Roden 1/32 Fokker Triplane), I felt it best to
limit my kits for that era to one scale.

Eric

[ALBATROS1234]

i primarily work in 1/48, but have also done 1/32 and recently dabbled in 1/72. mainly because there are so many types in 1/72 and i am interested in interesting aircraft so i build models not vice versa.

[ermeio]

Before WNW I collected all the Eduard models and before Eduard there were Air fix, Revelll Frog and Red Star
I am still interested in 48, since it is more manageable than 32.
I switched to 32 before WNW, though.
It was a good scale for scratch building.

[Nigel Jackson]

Hello All.

I made a 1/32 D.VII for the recent group build and enjoyed it enough to start an SE5a in the same scale. Yet, despite thinking this would mark my full move away from 1/48, it hasn't quite happened that way andanyway there are kits that I hanker for which are not yet available in the larger scale.  The overwhelming majority of my small display collection is 1/48 and about half the stash remains in that scale. I also have an Eduard Camel on the way and really want to complete it.

Best wishes
Nigel

[Syd Solo]

I still buy 1/72, but seem to make them at a diminishing rate. Probably only one a year these days. Can't remember the last time I built 1/48. Probably three years ago. I primarly build 1/32 nowadays, interspersed with a figure or two (also 1/32).
But, if the right 1/72 came along, e.g. a Fokker D.VII by Eduard, then I'd probably get all excited and buy at least two and probably build them. If Eduard made an Albatros D.III In 1/72 I'd be interested as the Roden is a difficult build with that tricky three part top wing and the difficult fit of parts and the sometimes baffling engineering.
Cheers
Syd
PS some times I stray and make non-WW1 subjects. And they are more often in 1/72. Forgive me.

[Thumbs up]

Just a tad off topic,but just seen a Vetrans 72 Breuget 5 go for an atonishing £155 on evilbay

[Cimmerian]

I have a large stash of 1/72 but I am starting to prefer 1/48. The problem is both scale stashes are growing quicker than I build them.

[Ian from Doncaster]

I have models in my stash and a few already built in 1:48 and 1:72.  I am building one now!

Of the two, I prefer the larger scale as the models are not too big and still allow for a decent amount of detail inside, engines etc.  I find 1:72 just that much more difficult to detail well - although I have an Eduard 1:72 Dr1 twin-pack with loads of PE which will be a challenge as the DR1 is relatively small to begin with.

I mostly have Eduard and Revell kits in 1:48.  Their quality is good enough for my skill levels.

However I would add that my experiences with WNW in 1:32 I have improved my techniques all round in quantum leaps, which allows me to be a better modeller in 1:48.

For non -ww1 models the aircraft tend to be bigger to start with so I would normally then choose 1:48 or 1:72 anyway - especially as more modern models lend themselves less to interior detailing.