Do-Re-Mi...

[homechild]

Okay, just a bit of nonsense with this one.

I was reading the "non GB GB" (not saying a definite yes yet, don't know if I'll have the time) and I was wondering what the problem is with 1/72 scale models?

When I was making model planes (many years ago) it was always 1/72 models I made (mainly due to the fact that they were the cheaper option and I had limited pocket money).

For planes on their own (i.e. not part of a diorama) 1/72 would still be my scale of choice.

Is it just an age thing?

Are some of you having vision problems now that you've reached a certain stage in your lives and 1/48 and 1/35 are just easier to see?

[Ian M]

Could be an eye sight thing. It could also be that we can afford them. It could also be that there is a much larger choice of larger scale models these days.

I think I can safly say that 99% of us started on "pocket money" size kits. As the interest grows along with the skill sets, the larger scales give more scope for detail.

One other factor. When you live in your own house, it makes it a bit easier to have the things you want where and when you want them. But dont tell the wife I said that!!!

From the "reached a certain age" comment I can assume that you are still a person of few summers. just wait your time will come!!!

Ian M

[Guest]

LOL, love this post.

For me, its primarily because I was kits with more detail. OK, many of the 1/72 have more detail than the kits I used to make as a kid, but generaly 1/48 offers a new challenge. Also because my interest in mainly in US Navy size doesnt present too much problem (You cant fit a B-17G on an aircaft carrier). That being said my friend has a B-29 in 1/48 and Im in love mainly for its size, and Im tempted to save up $380 for the C-5 in 1/72 scale)

The other thing that works to my advantage is time. I just dont have have any. As a result my kits take so so much longer to make. If you put a time Vs Price value on my kits Im spending less now than I did as a kid.

Imagine this.

As a kid Id buy a 1/72 kit for £10 and perhaps needs 2 new paints @ about 50p (The price at the time roughly). Thats £11. Id spend a few hours after school building it and painting it and all weekend. Within a week Id finished it. Total cost of hobby £11 a week.

Now at 38, holding down a full time job, I buy a 1/48 kit at, lets say £50 (Its a good one), plus say 5 paints at £1.50 each, perhaps I treat myself to a £50 airbrush, plus a few bits and bobs like a new knife, sandpaper etc etc, say £5. Lets call that £120 all in.

I spend probably an hour a day (I work 6am till 3pm, eat, bit of TV and in bed by 8pm) during the week working on it, and perhaps 2-3 hours over the weekend (Im also heavily involved with football both as a spectator and a player). So, all in all it would probably take me 10-20 weeks to complete this kit (Lets call it 10 weeks for ease of Maths) (As an example, Im currently working on a B-25. Ive been working on it for about 3 weeks so far and I havent even finished the cockpit)

So, as a kid, even taking into account cheaper prices in the 80`s I could spend about £10 a week just for a kit

As an adult Im spending about £12 a week on a kit even if I bought an new airbrush with every kit (Which is mad I admit, but it proves my point)

Plus, another difference was that as a kid I would get the money by asking parents. These days I earn the money, but because I dont have a lot of spare cash I pop about £10 a week in a jar and my wants are only fulfilled if the jar is bigger than my desires.

I think that might be what you would call fuzzy logic, but it works for me.

[Guest]

Some good points raised there. I'm not as young as i want to be . But nowadays my choice of kit mainly comes down to price. Let me explain i would love to buy a large 1/24 1/32 kit but in this day and age finances do not stretch that far for me.

To me modelling is a hobby and set myself a monthly limit for kits paints and wotnots.. ( that way jabba the huts body double wont complain so much).

I love making 1/72 scale in fact i have 6 or 7 of them in the garage waiting for starting . If you are not fussy about brands, subject, age,. they can be purchased very cheaply indeed usually for under £6 .

Most people look at them as the budget end of the scale but lately take airfix for example they have got their game together and produce some kits that are very nicely detailed in my opinion.

Also what makes me laugh is when people say they are to small to detail or to fidelly to assemble . My advice is that if you can build a 1/72 to a good standard than larger kits are easier.

You don't need to go into such fine detailing with them. For one canopies can be a pain to mask but with practice not that big an issue.Then 1/48 canopies are a cinch.

To me 1/72 scale is still my favourite.

[Guest]

I personally like 1:48 for aircraft as they tend to have more parts and better detail and, to be honest, look better on the shelf than my attempts at 1:72. If you keep everything in scale, a brush mark on a 1:48 is minor compared to a brush mark on a 1:72. I don't think eyesight comes into it. Mine is not great and I need a magnifier headband for most builds and some of the smaller parts that detail a 1:48 are indeed smaller than some 1:72 parts.

I agree with Ian in that as you get older, you tend to have different priorities and resources. That is why many of the older modellers started off with 1:72 (not a great deal of choice when I started) then left the hobby for some years and returned to it with a different approach which included a greater choice of scales and opportunities to buy them. I personally have a strict monthly budget that I set myself and I get whatever is appropriate be it kits or materials each month.

I don't always go for the bigger scales just because I can, I tend to not go over 1:48 for aircraft and I love the current 1:48 armour. I do have a few 1:35 armour kits but they are specifically bought for a project where the 1:48 ones just don't exist. I have nothing at all against 1:72 but I have to admit, I have only really ever built Airfix 1:72, some of which are really good but most leave something to be desired. You can still get old Airfix kits where the cockpit interior does not exist at all, the pilot figure sits on a location rod going from one side of the fuselage to the other. I also have an Airfix Yak kit where the fuselage halves do not even match in length, the moulding is so poor. The cockpit opening just does not match up making the kit totally unbuildable.

I have seen some amazing builds of Tamiya and Acadamy 1:72 that show what can be done at this scale and even good old Airfix are producing some really crisp 1:72 kits as they re tool, the new Harriers are a great example as are the new Hawks.

But the main thing for me is the number of parts and the actual physical build of a kit that I enjoy. I consider myself to be a model kit builder, I have little interest in the kit after it is built so the more it has to work on and detail, the better it suits me personally.

[Guest]

Bought my first 1/72 spitfire off of John to take part in the nongb gb, i've got to admit after spending my first months in the hobby doing 1/35 it came as a bit of a shock when i opened the box to take a peek at what my hard earned had bought, i had to double check there wasn't a hole in the box and a couple sprues hadn't dropped out on to the shed floor. Don't get me wrong i'm going to enjoy building the plane but i agree with Graham once their built i'll take little pleasure from them sitting on a shelf in the dark corner of the shed (so you can't see the mistakes) so the more parts the better for me also. I know money is big factor in choice of kit but as i say to the other half, i don't drink or smoke so i've got to find a vice to spend it on!

[AlanG]

When i cameback into the hobby i bought a lot of 1/72 scale kits because i thought that was all my ability would allow me to do. Also it was the scale i was used to from when i was a kid. I have now been 'swapping' those 1/72 kits for 1/48 and 1/32 scale as my experience level has grown and my eyesight gotten worse. I am only going to have a few subjects in 1/32 (FW190, Bf109, Me262 and hopefully a Hurricane) and the rest will be 1/48. I am tempted to have a go at the 1/24 Mossie but i cannot afford it yet and also i would have to seriously improve my skillset.

I still think though that 1/72 is perfect for a modeller starting out and there are more detailed kits coming out each year as technology allows greater accuracy.

[Guest]

I for one have no problem with 1/72, quite the opposite. The main consideration for me at the moment is space - it's bad enough just trying to have somewhere to build the things at the moment, I don't really know where I'm going to put them once done !!

I'm a childminder, so if my early attempts come out ok, I think I'll have a few birthday presents sorted out!! But I have a few aviation collections planned which involve quite a few types, so 1/72 will allow me to keep things under control ( a little !). That's not to say the bigger scales won't get a look in, but for what I have planned, 1/72 fits the bill nicely.

One down side I've found is the size of the parts, both to handle and see, but that's down to me I think !!! Hopefully a bit of practice will sort that....

[Guest]

I don't know if anyone has noticed but Hasegawa has been building up a supply of kits in 1/72 but at nearer 1/48 scale prices. I have one of their 1/72 F-14B Tomcats to build, it has an unbelievable amount of detail over 200 parts, with recess panel lines and rivets. Cheers Derek

[Guest]

I had seen the growing collection that Hasegawa are doing but forgot to mention them. They do look really good from what I have seen online, thanks for mentioning them Derek.

[Guest]

I won't say that I will never drink from that well (1/48 or bigger, that is) but for now I am really excited about small scales. I am going for 1/72 and even 1/144 just for the challenge to add detail to such small subjects and to make them look good. I guess that after my learning curve takes a hike up the hill I will probably try the bigger beasts alright. Oh, yes, money also plays a role in it. I just got a 1/72 Academy P-51 for literally peanuts that is a jewel! Just can't wait to cover that with tin foil!

[stona]

I think the skills are exactly the same,whatever the scale. I have said half seriously that 1/72 is fiddly whereas infact a larger scale detailed cockpit or engine is much more so,and a lot more difficult to put together. The cockpit of Revell's 1/32 Ju87 has over 200 parts! If you can make a half decent model scale is not relevant.

For me it's bang for buck that moved me to larger scales. A 1/32 model alone on a shelf makes a bigger statement than an airforce of smaller models,particularly to the non-modeller.

I enjoy smaller models and I know the time and effort that goes into them is just the same.

Economics play a role for everyone. I don't actually get around to building as much as I would like but am fortunate that I can afford to buy the kits that I want to build when I can. This doesn't mean I don't keep my eyes open for a bargain,I haven't won the lottery......yet!

It may not always feel like it but this hobby of ours is actually a relatively economical pass time. I may have mentioned before that I have a friend who used to race hydroplanes,now that was expensive.

I think someone else mentioned,more and better kits are being produced in larger scales now. I can only assume that the manufacturers are responding to demand so this may reflect a trend towards building larger in the hobby.

Finally,surely the most important thing,whatever you are building,in whatever scale is to enjoy yourself. For me it's a welcome respite from the hurly burly of my work life and some quality time to myself,doing something I enjoy,even in those more "challenging" moments. You all know the ones I mean.

Cheers

Steve

[homechild]

Wow.

Well, I never thought that a post like this one would get so many replies!

I've never made any aircraft models larger than 1/72 (mainly due to being lost in the world of GW/Citadel miniatures for the last 20 years).

I do have plans to include one in a diorama however I have to admit that the thought of a 1/35 scale Huey does slightly scare me...won't be telling the wife about that plan just yet.

[Guest]

I really like the 1/48 scale for aircraft, for display and building it seems a good 'not too big not too small' scale. I'm in the same frame of mind for 1/12 scale motorcycles,big enough for a lot of expansion in add on details but not so big display space becomes an issue.just my .02

[Guest]

I think one or two have touched on the point but to me the detail is relative. We all have a limit to our abilities and that ability is applied to no matter what scale we are working in. If you are painting a 1/72nd pilot you are not going to try to paint his eyes but if you were painting a 1/6th scale bust you would be looking at painting eye brows but your ability with the brush is still the same.

To me it is all a question of relativity and not quite correct to think of larger models having 'more' detail. What I do find interesting is thinking about what you should be incorporating at what scale to make the model appear as realistic as possible. The paint chips, mud streaks and rust spots you would incorporate in a 1/35th tank would simply look wrong on a 1/600th warship so that's where the fascination is to me, deciding on how it should look at the scale you are working in.