Scale question

[Guest]

Why is it that when I browse around for models typically see

1:12 bikes

1:24 cars

1:72 and 1:48 aircraft

and then

1:32 scale figures?

Why is there not an abundance of (at least) 1:72 and 1:48 scale figures for say military aircraft dioramas?

[Guest]

There are some 1:72 but not always in the harder plastic. They are often like the 1:32 in soft poly and are virtually useless in my personal opinion. 1:48 is a fairly new(ish) armour/vehicle scale although very popular for aircraft. Tamiya are championing the 1:48 and are doing some decent figures and accessories like oil drums sandbags etc, John even has a few in the shop. Sadly a some of the Tamiya figures are under scale coming in at an average 5'6" for most figures.

ICM produce some really cracking figures and it is testament to this that Tamiya have done some kit bundles that include ICM figures instead of their own. Also, mainly in America from what I can determine, there are a few specialist 1:48 figure makers that do even single character figures.

I believe that although 1:48 will probably never topple the 1:35 crown, it will grow in popularity and more manufacturers than Tamiya will take up the cause. This will be proven when Miniart start doing their superb 1:35 diorama buildings and bases in 1:48. I live in hope as it is rapidly becoming my favoured scale. It makes the scenic possibilities of aircraft and vehicles very attractive. OK, there is some trade off in detail but again, it can only get better

[Guest]

I hear what you are saying but i have only just started venturing into 1/24 but can i get pilot or ground crew for that scale not likely unless the pilot comes with the aircraft, however i have had to purchase a set of Fujima and Tamiya 1/24 rally mechanic sets just to get the figures, then they need to be altered which is very time consuming. Don't model manufacturers e.g Trumpeter, Tamiya and Airfix think it would be prudent to even release a small range of pilots and ground crew since they are probably one of the biggest champions of 1/24? So what does everyone else think/

scott

[Gern]

Scott,

I gotta agree there aren't nearly enough figures to go with large scale aircraft. The lack of pilot figures is annoying as it forces you to build your 'planes sitting on the deck! Even some kits with pilot figures have them standing! I expect most folks want to show off the wheels and bays 'cos there's usually lots of nice fiddly detail, which is probably why the manufacturers realise they can get away without supplying figures, but it would be nice to have the choice.

There's surely a market for them and I wonder why some of the specialist figure companies like Preiser and ICM don't make them. I appreciate they're not going to be the most popular range, and will therefore be more expensive. But if someone's just paid out £100 for a large 'plane and another £50 for aftermarket resin, PE and masks etc, another £5 for a pilot doesn't seem excessive.

Gern

[stona]

I think Gern has hit the nail on the head. Large scale aircraft are generally posed as a model alone. Cockpits are left open to show off the incredibly expensive and fiddly resin/photoetch extras. Wheels are down and well open for more of the same. There are some very nice figures in 1/32 scale but not usually posed to sit in the cockpit where they would hide all those goodies. I'm not saying this is right or wrong but if you were to enter an inflight model (obviously closed up with a pilot aboard) I expect you would get short shrift from the judges who would assume that you were either lazy or trying to hide something. It doesn't bother me,I've made a few "flying" large scale models and I never compete!

I do agree that it's a shame that suitable figures aren't more readily available.

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

The single thing that I get miffed over is the 1/35scale for generally any thing millitary, then the moment it civilian transport its 1/24 and aircraft are 1/32.

I just cant see why they cant work together and agree a common scale. I am very pleased to se that 1/48 is really taking a hold and you can actually get transport that fits with air craft. just look at that nice little sceen in the last Group Build. An aircraft, a truck and a car. Also figures. Its just so logical I cant understand why it has taken so long. We should be thankfull for that, but just think of the fun you could have if you could get aircraft in 1/35 to go with the oceans of millitary stuff there is out there..... OK dioramas would start to get silly big but the you would just do fewer of them....( yer right).

Prehaps John will see the light and get hold of any thing and every thing he can in 1/48 scale.

Gripe over.

Ian M

[Guest]

Sadly a some of the Tamiya figures are under scale coming in at an average 5'6" for most figures.

Now just hang on a minute, i'm about 5'6", are you being sizeist Graham??????

[Guest]

Not that much taller myself Mike, and about the same around the waist lol. Nope, it is just that a scale figure is usually gauged on a six foot person. Totally unrealistic but it just became a standard (unofficial? I don't know)

[Guest]

I partially agree with stona in that if you were entering the kit closed up with pilot inside it would not go down well in a competition but how many of us actually enter our kits ino said cometitions that is not what was meant sorry if i was slightly unclear, iam currently working on trumpeters 1/24 ME 109 G10 which will be opened up but the only figures that are available are the fujimi and tamiya 1/24 rally mechanic set which i will have to alter. Now iam aware that most folks don't have the room for many 1/24 kits but the people who buy them go to lengths to spend money on extras like resin cockpits and photoetch parts which can cost almost as much as the kit to make their kits more authentic, so why not add pilots in different poses and ground crew like we do with the smaller scale. Now again i hear you say that the market is much smaller for larger kits but tamiya already manufacture 1/24 figures for their cars so why not do a small selection for aircraft.

scott