hello fellow modelmaniaks.

the salesman in my favorite store told me that the 1:48 scale is very popular in the USA. so i am thinking of trying a few kits.
he is offering me 2 kits for 24 euro ( give or take 32 dollar ).
my question is :
is this a fare price?
is what he told me the truth?
does enybody have some advice for me?
these are the kits i am talking about



thanks for reading
john

Well, in European terms, it isn't a bad price.

However, here's the first set from Lucky Model in HK:

http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=TA%2032530

The second:

http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=TA%2032513

Total price (plus postage) around €10....

So, with reservations. it isn't THAT good a price...

Secondly (I presume your asking about quality?) they aren't bad. A bit thin and not brilliantly detailed. However, there IS a real shortage of plastic figures in 48th scale, so..

They're downscaled from Tamiya's 1/35th scale figures (which are outdated, poorly detailed and scale-out like Smurfs)...

As a postscript to all the above comments, 48th scale is probably more popular in Japan than anywhere else. It ISN'T all that succesful in Europe or the States. Prices are frankly high for 48th (compared to 1/35th).

It's a pity actually, as it has a LOT of potential and some great models (HobbyBoss' T34s for example).

Modelers haven't embraced the scale as they could have done unfortunately - perhaps too conservative?

thank you Jim for the tip.i am thinking of ordering the kits
i wil keep you posted.

john

To second what Jim says; not a great price and I wish 1/48 were more popular in the US. 1/35 scale is still pretty much the 800 pound gorilla. There is a lot of in the way of kit integration that can happen in 1/48th, new kits, new molds, new marketing with Aircraft, new and better diorama accessories.

thanks for responding scott
i have read your scale comparison. in fact your article has made me wanting to try the 1:48 scale.
my question to you is are there more allied kits ( i dont realy like to build german stuff ).

regards
john