The much-maligned scale of 1/48th was present at the Nuremberg show - not perhaps in the quantity of 1/35th but certainly in the qualitative sense. 2007 is going to see some VERY interesting material in 1/48th scale - all that's needed now, is to convince the 'nay-sayers'...

The initial announcement that Tamiya were moving into (or reviving) 1/48th scale left many (myself included) as cold as a penguin's lunch-box. However, as time went on and the quality of releases from, amongst others, Skybow became apparent, my attitude changed. Now, only the most hidebound would deny that 1/48th is here to stay. What of course has helped, is the support that the manufacturers have received from After-Market companies such as Eduard, Hauler or Aber and update/conversion sets from companies such as Propaganda Kompany and, in particular, MR Models. However at the base are the 'plastic' manufacturers who have now demonstrated that 48th is clearly here to stay. As I mentioned in the introduction, not a great deal was announced at Nuremberg, but what there was, was certainly interesting...

Beginning with the 're-animator' or Quarter-Scale: Tamiya, no less than SEVEN new subjects were on show:

32541 - Crusader Mk. 1/II

32548 - Pz.Kpw. III Ausf.N

32544 - Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind

32542 - Russian Field Car Gaz 67b

KV-1 'S' Ektranami

U.S. 2.5 ton Cargo Truck

WWI German Tank Crew/Field maintenance set

The most prolific were undoubtedly HobbyBoss with their KV series on show. The full report can be seen: HERE (LINK)

Hasegawa had one vehicle on show although of specific use to to Aviation modellers - a nicely done 'Follow-Me' Jeep.

Unusually, ICM had two new 48th scale subjects listed:

48121 - German Light Armored Vehicle Sd.Kfz. 222

48201 - Opel Admiral Staff car

Finally, as they seem to have taken over Skybow's moulds, AFV Club have announced three initial releases:

AF48002 - German Tiger I

AF48006 - German Sturmtiger

AF48007 - German Sd.Kfz 251/1 Ausf. C

Not a lot more (at least for the moment) although what was announced was very interesting indeed. There are already some major gaps in the market with a lack of variety in (styrene) figures, an awful lot of German subjects and no large indications (yet) that the scale is selling in large numbers although, with the (albeit tentative) steps by companies such as AFV Club, there are some very good indicators. The problem still remains that the price differential between 1/35th and 1/48th is low - particularly in the case of Tamiya although in the case of HobbyBoss they remain this year's bargain.

Who knows what 2007 will bring. iI would be nice to know if other companies (on the sidelines) may well be wondering if the market is sufficiently bouyant to enter....