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

[Pgtaylorart]

I'm fairly new to WW1 plastic models. I jumped on the WnWs bandwagon so 1/32 it is. Otherwise, I've been modeling in paper at 1/60 and 1/33 scales primarily. The most common scale for aviation is 1/33 which was popularized in Europe, with Poland seeming to be at the cutting edge of the paper hobby. In paper, it's a simple matter of changing the printer scale percentage to model whatever oddball scale you want. That's one of the advantages I really enjoy about it. We're not dependent on the designers and manufacturers to dictate what subjects we model in a particular scale. Another one of our new paper modeler forumites, Pericles, usually models in 1/100 scale from what I've seen. Please correct me Pericles if I'm wrong, and I hope it's ok I mentioned you.

Maybe as 3d printing matures we'll see prices come down and quality go up. At that point it will be similar to paper models. A model will be designed and become available to anyone at any scale within reason. This discussion of "scale wars" will be a non issue.

George

[Kai]

I only model 1/32. My eyesight and dexterity finds 1/72 modelling too small, especially WWI subjects, which are very well suited to 1/32 because of their relatively small size. Except, of course, for the Gotha, AEG and Felixstowe, which are crazy large.

[zavod44]

I do 1/32nd, because I built tanks for a long time, so I felt 1/32nd was a natural transition from 1/35th.  I was comfortable with the level of detail involved.  Nothing against the others, it was just where I was.  Obviously the WNW stuff is a big attraction to 1/32nd

[petrov27]

I started in 1/72 many years ago - first the old Revell and Airfix kits in the 80s and early 90s then adding czechmaster resin and other limited run subjects.  Had quite a few kits built - didnt do much detailing as was using them also for gaming purposes as well as display.

Late 90s Eduard had shown up and started doing good 1/48s and I was finding 1/72 too small (hated rigging in 1/72) so I moved up a scale.

Those were busy years and while amassed a bunch of 1/48 kits I had no time to build much. When Roden showed up doing 1/32 kits I decided that I really liked the larger size and got rid of the 1/48 stash. Had pretty much resigned to only having limited choices in 1/32 (maybe one new kit a year) but then WNW showed up

[coyotemagic]

Aside from my one foray into 1/32 scale with WNW's exquisite Tripe, I build exclusively 1/48 scale.  For me, the size is perfect and, with an optivisor and considerable patience, easy to detail and rig.  Before the release of the WNW Felixstowe I had considered going for one of the Roden 1/72 scale versions, but soon realized that all that rigging in such a tiny scale would put me in the looney bin.  Although all of my foreseeable future projects are 1/48 scale, my WNW stash and fondness for those kits is growing and it won't be long before I do another.
Another reason for working in 1/48 scale is the wide variety of WWI types available in that scale.  Next on the bench for me is a Macchi M.5, currently unavailable in 1/32 scale.  Soon, I plan on doing Copper State's Aviatik C.I, then the Lohner B.II.  Very cool designs also not available in 1/32 scale.  So, yeah, I guess I'll be doing 1/48 scale for quite some time.  Do love those WNW kits, though.
Cheers,
Bud

[ondra]

My 2 pence, actually off topic as this thread is meant for 1:72 and 1: 48 scale.

When I wanted to try building a kit, I went for the Eduard's Eindecker 1:72 from weekend edition I got as a gift from my good friends who wanted to let me taste kit building instead of scratch building. I finished the build but I had to admit that I enjoyed much less fun.

Thinking about the learnings I came to following conclusions - 1:144 scratchbuilds from WWI are great for following reasons:

- you can choose whatever type you want and do not have to wait for kit releases
- there is no stash of kits next to your workbench, only a stash styrene sheets, files and putty
- building a model from plastic sheets with signs like "no trespassing" or "watch your step" simply makes me happy
- even when the result does not look good, you can always say "ok, with respect to the fact that it is a scratchbuild, it could have looked much worse"
- all the money you would spend on kits you can spend on tools and paints and styrene sheets and brass tubes and brass sheets and welding materials and all other stuff you would not need if you were building WNW kits (unless you were Bo or Bertl)
- if a B-29 in 1:144 looks cute, how cute must a Nieuport XI look?
- when you travel to contests, all you need to transport your collection is a box with dimensions 10 x 10 "
- and above all, I love the look in the eyes of small children when they spot my collection

Cheers.

Ondra

[Ernie]

Good post, Ondra.

Cheers,
Ernie

[radio]

I build since 1996 only 1:48 scale figures, tanks and aircraft from the periods 1900 -1918 and 1933 -1945.
I have about 200 kits in my stuff.
Martin

[PrzemoL]

As I wrote some time ago in my introduction as a featured modeller I was for a long time exclusively building WW2 1/72, mostly because of the space limitations. When I moved to WW1 it was logical to continue with 1/72. Then I became distracted, got Roden Spad VII in 1/32 as a gift. Then I discovered WNW and the gradual transition started and it is still on the way. Currently I build both, 1/32 and 1/72, almost in equal numbers. And I declare I will contiunue like this, however I must admit that the eyesight limitations are more and more noticable. I am afraid this is a one-way street and in a few years I will have to give up 1/72. But not yet, not yet. With the WNW Felixstowe currently on my desk I am already starting to plan next two builds in 1/72 - HRModels Pup and Choroszy FE8.

[xan]

Only 1/48 for me!

[Toldbod]

I built my first WW1 planes last spring, and this was a Eduard Albatros 1:72, I thought this was too small (missing details). I then moved to 1:48 Again Eduard but Fokker E.V but it was not easy to build, I have to get even more details on the plane. So I was a little confused on what scale I will build 1:72 or 1:48.
In the Meanwhile, I found this forums and read a lot about WNV and I'd love to try one of them, but they are too big and a little outside my building budget.
By chance I met a modeling Fellow who has 4 VNV set he would exchange for my Billing Boat wood set, that I have been fortunate to have received from a neighbor. So now I have a SE.5a - one Albatros DV - one Fokker D.VII (Fok) and Duelist Fokker E. III & DH.2.
I plan to start with SE.5a. Then we see what scale I prefer this.

[Des]

In my earlier days I always built 1:72 and 1:48 scale, they were the most common sizes back in my day. Since getting back into modeling I found that the two smaller scales were just getting a little too fiddly for me so I started building the 1:32 scale Roden WW1 kits, then Wingnuts came along. I find 1:32 scale to be the right size for my old eyes and hands and the more challenging the kit the better. I also do a bit of scratch building but again in 1:32 scale. There is a far greater range of WW1 aircraft models in the smaller scales which is frustrating for the large scale builders.

Des.

[radio]

Sorry Des,
but in 1:72 and 1:32 are more kits than in 1:48.
Martin

[rolanddvi]

I build in both 1/72 and 1/48th scales. However, as I get older and the eyesight changes - age & diabetes - I have realized that my stash of 1/72 scale kits was more than I would ever be able to build so I have been thinning it down. But I must say that HR Models has been putting out some great 1/72 scale kits! It is harf to resist. I now mainly have 1/48 scale and about 25 WNW. The WNW kits are for when my eyes really go bad!!

Mike

[Alexis]

I really don't have just one scale . I build in all three , but my main scale is 48 . I only build 72 scale for a quick project for I don't detail them , right out of the box works for me . Only have a few 32 scale kits and will not be getting anymore in this scale . I also have 1/12 scale motor bikes . In total I have over 260 kits . So I not worried about not having nothing to build and I can also scratch built the subject as well if I'm that keen on the subject matter .




Terri