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Armor/AFV: Braille Scale
1/72 and 1/76 Scale Armor and AFVs.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Anybody take Braille Scale seriously?
braxat2000
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Ashdod, Israel
Joined: January 27, 2005
KitMaker: 4 posts
Armorama: 3 posts
Posted: Friday, August 08, 2008 - 02:24 AM UTC
Hi,
I personally takes 1/72 modelling very seriously. The apparent advantages of saving space, time and money are there of course, but to me it allow to build more subjects that to cover in 1:35 would take me a whole lot more time.

Also you can do dioramas of big scopes which would take less time to do, and are very aesthetic.

I started in the past with 1:72 modelling, then moved to 1:35, and a year ago switched back to 1:72. Really enjoying it, and I hope you give it a chance. Pick a couple of Dragon kits and have fun with them .

Eyal.
Braille
#135
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California, United States
Joined: August 05, 2007
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Posted: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 07:18 PM UTC

Quoted Text

We as small scale armour builders need to be more proactive I reckon and that includes posting comments to members finished build posts. Too many great builds are looked at with no comments.

Cheers, Mike


Yes, I agree with you Mike! I am at fault here too and like Brent will make an extra effort to post comments.

-Eddy
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 02:53 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

We as small scale armour builders need to be more proactive I reckon and that includes posting comments to members finished build posts. Too many great builds are looked at with no comments.

Cheers, Mike


Yes, I agree with you Mike! I am at fault here too and like Brent will make an extra effort to post comments.

-Eddy
one of the reasons for this is that the subject title of a Braille scale build often doesn't denote the scale. I'm not a German armor expert so I normally don't comment on many German armor builds. But if the title identifies it as a Braille scale kit, then I will open the thread and comment.
John_B
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Limburg, Netherlands
Joined: September 04, 2007
KitMaker: 430 posts
Armorama: 26 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 08:22 AM UTC
hello all

to me it does not realy matter in what scale i build.
i look at a kit and picture a scene in my mind. if it is a big picture i build in 1/72 or 1/76 scale. if it is a medium picture i buuild in 1/48 scale and a small picture in 1/35 scale.
however .... i have the same problem as you have.
when i post the pictures of a 1/72 build om whatever forum the respons is normaly a bit cold.
it seems that the smaller scales ar not so popular as the 1/35 scale.

it is my opinion that a modelbuilder must have fun in building regardles of the scale, and that every builder (good or bad) deserves respect.

greets and respect
john
DaGreatQueeg
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Napier, New Zealand
Joined: August 01, 2005
KitMaker: 1,049 posts
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Posted: Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 12:35 AM UTC

Quoted Text

one of the reasons for this is that the subject title of a Braille scale build often doesn't denote the scale. I'm not a German armor expert so I normally don't comment on many German armor builds. But if the title identifies it as a Braille scale kit, then I will open the thread and comment.


True but it also works the other way. I've actually stopped putting a note about the scale in the title ( and 35th guys dont have to "warn" others obout their scale) as I feel that many wouldnt even bother to look if warned of the scale. This way i figure they may look and get a surprise .....

However I also agree it shouldnt be about the scale - just the model / subject / effort put in. I model many different scales (just dont seem to have the time to do much 35th however) and genre's and am always keen to look at what others put forward ..........


cheers
Brent
sabredog
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: July 22, 2007
KitMaker: 607 posts
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Posted: Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 02:20 AM UTC
There are two things that will guarantee a low post count on a thread that is posted showing a great 1:72 model build. That would be an allied subject and 1:72 scale.

This is not always the case but common in the main.

Some threats have close to 250 viewings with only 3-5 replies which is most disappointing for the poster.

Feedback is so important to forums, else why do we post pics and details of our builds?

Cheers

Mike
FLiPSiDE
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Colorado, United States
Joined: October 08, 2007
KitMaker: 75 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - 08:08 AM UTC
I am personally a big fan of braille scale (the smaller scales in general really). I first started building stuff in Braille scale because of the excellent value when it comes price/quality. When I first came back to modeling I was intimidated by the 1/35 scale kits from the likes of Dragon and other manufacturers because of the high price tag and their massive parts count. I was afraid I'd mess one part up and then ruin the kit. $15 for a recently released high quality 1/72 kit is much better than $45 for a high quality 1/35 kit.

I agree that all of the Braille scale fans should all be doing their best to foster a continued interest in our preferred scale.
cap
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South Carolina, United States
Joined: July 29, 2005
KitMaker: 53 posts
Armorama: 22 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 30, 2008 - 01:25 AM UTC
Does anyone like the Italeri line of 1:72 armor? I noticed they have a line of 'fast builds' that contain relatively few parts and go together quickly... is the detail of those up to people's standards or do they require lots of scratchbuilding to be made to look good?
JONNY_LAU
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Beijing, China / 简体
Joined: August 24, 2008
KitMaker: 8 posts
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Posted: Saturday, August 30, 2008 - 02:03 AM UTC
I'm a 1/35 scale AFV builder,but I'm a 1/72 build fan,especially 1/72 scene.
sabredog
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: July 22, 2007
KitMaker: 607 posts
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Posted: Saturday, August 30, 2008 - 02:21 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Does anyone like the Italeri line of 1:72 armor? I noticed they have a line of 'fast builds' that contain relatively few parts and go together quickly... is the detail of those up to people's standards or do they require lots of scratchbuilding to be made to look good?


They are specifically designed for wargaming.

Cheers

Mike
marshaltito
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California, United States
Joined: December 02, 2007
KitMaker: 32 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 - 11:35 AM UTC
Just randomly found this old thread and figured I'd bump it and ask: this has changed much in the last two years? As someone trying to find his way into the hobby I'm starting out with 1/72 kits for simplicity, and my only contact with other modelers being on these forums, I feel pressure to get into the 1/35 scale builds, but that could be totally imagined...
ChaosXVI
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Metro Manila, Philippines
Joined: October 24, 2009
KitMaker: 128 posts
Armorama: 126 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 - 11:52 AM UTC
How seriously do I take 1/72nd and 1/76th scale? This much:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k255/spideymadcow/boxes005-1.jpg

I build (and obviously collect) only 1/72nd scale armor, figures and aircraft. There are a few Star Wars sets but also in 1/72nd. I have ships also in 1/72nd (except for 2 DML subs, a DML Tarawa and an Academy G. Washington). The only 1:35th kits I have are the ancient Academy Tiger I with interior. The M88 i just sold 3 weeks ago. The V-150 at the very top is a limited edition IPMS Philippines set with a 1m turret. I'm keeping it for posterity and may never be built. I have about 5 1/48th aircraft kits, most of will be sold off too. In the Kleenex box are 40 Matchbox kits. They are kept that high so in case a flood rips through our house it has the most likely chance of surviving

I have to admit this photo was taken last year. The number of kits have grown since then


I only know one other person in the Philippines who has more 1/72nd and 1/76th kits than I. Sadly, he's transitioned to ships and sold most of his stuff two years ago. I bought about 30% of his collection and are also in the photo
sabredog
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: July 22, 2007
KitMaker: 607 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 - 03:41 PM UTC
Certainly just as serious now (for me at least) as it was then.
PanzerAlexander
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Attica, Greece / Ελλάδα
Joined: February 17, 2010
KitMaker: 625 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 - 09:18 PM UTC
It's strickly 1/72 for me. Once I bought some 1/48 kits and started to build a HobbyBoss T34 with full interior. I left it half way a year and a half now .

The last years the aftermarket on 1/72 has grown up and covers pretty much everything a builder can desire for a diorama. I expect that it will grow even more.

After spending many hours online I now know where to get everything from figures to diorama parts etc.

Note that Dragon has released several figures in 1/72 that were firstly released in 1/35. This means that they can simply scale down their molds and give us everything they have in 1/35 in 1/72. Just imagine that.
Maybe new techniques will be developed and the limitations of plastic kits will be surpassed (3d printers etc)

I love Braille scale and I hope the companies will continue to invest in it.

P.A.



spongya
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
MODELGEEK
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Budapest, Hungary
Joined: February 01, 2005
KitMaker: 2,365 posts
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Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 01:18 AM UTC
I'm forced for small scale - I live in student housing again, far from my trusty compressor and spray booth; also space is an issue.
I found that there are several great advantages of this scale (apart from the price, of course, though lately the new issues of Dragon are quite expensive.)
They’re small, but quite detailed. If you want to build several versions of the same vehicle, doing it in 1/35 would really be expensive and time consuming. Not to mention the fact that you’re building essentially the same kit over and over again with a little bit of difference in each… (I’m building four different Famo versions, and planning as many as 9 sdk.fz 251 versions. It’d be a real pain in the neck to build these in 1/35, not to mention it would clean out my bank account.) Even if costs are not factored, you can build more stuff than in 1/35, and there are a lot of really interesting subjects out there only available in this scale. (Even if they’re pricy a bit.) So if you had enough Tigers, and want to build a mobile radar station, or a Russian ICBM, then 1/72 is your scale.
I’m also braver trying out new things – after all, if you mess up, it’s still not a big cut on your budget. (By the way, I’m looking for a cheap hobby boss T-34 to experiment on… )
The only problems for me are the accessories, foliage and the figures; I can't find too many AM things to put on my Famos, and figures most of the time look very toy-like.



Quoted Text

It's strickly 1/72 for me. Once I bought some 1/48 kits and started to build a HobbyBoss T34 with full interior. I left it half way a year and a half now .

The last years the aftermarket on 1/72 has grown up and covers pretty much everything a builder can desire for a diorama. I expect that it will grow even more.

After spending many hours online I now know where to get everything from figures to diorama parts etc.

Note that Dragon has released several figures in 1/72 that were firstly released in 1/35. This means that they can simply scale down their molds and give us everything they have in 1/35 in 1/72. Just imagine that.
Maybe new techniques will be developed and the limitations of plastic kits will be surpassed (3d printers etc)

I love Braille scale and I hope the companies will continue to invest in it.

P.A.



Kuno-Von-Dodenburg
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England - North, United Kingdom
Joined: February 20, 2007
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Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 03:24 AM UTC
Each to their own. I understand why some guys like braille scale (factors of price, space etc.) but it's not my scene. I build exclusively in 1/35.

Having said that, I have a couple of 1/72 aircraft in the stash that I fully intend to build for a "change of scenery", and my very first amour kits were the redoubtable Airfix tanks in 1/72 (or 1/76) back in the '70s.

- Steve
hedorah59
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California, United States
Joined: May 04, 2009
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Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 04:40 AM UTC
I actually like 1/72 better than 1/35 due to cost and space issues. However, my eyesight isn't what it used to be and worse, my hands aren't nearly as steady. Small parts in 1/35th scale are absolutely microscopic in 1/72, and mis-attaching a small part by 1/16th of an inch on a 1/35th scale kit isn't nearly as noticable as that same 1/16th of an inch on a 1/72nd scale kit.
arkhunter
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Illinois, United States
Joined: June 11, 2006
KitMaker: 116 posts
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Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 10:43 AM UTC
I don't know if I was around for the start of this thread, but I'd have to say that I find 1/72 to be a very opportunistic scale. I started building in 1/35, but as I started getting more serious into modeling, I progressed down in scale and do believe that I have pulled off some stuff that I don't think I could have in 1/35th.

Not to mention, the budget for 1/72 is more college convenient

Take care,
Austin
firstcircle
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England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: November 19, 2008
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Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 11:09 AM UTC
If you want to see a den of manic activity involving tiny pieces, check out the Braille Battlefield campaign thread; it's evened off a bit this week, but went into total hyperdrive for the last couple of weeks. PanzerAlexander posted a very nice completion on there today, and there's a few others already complete, but there's quite a lot of members, and everyone's got to build two!! Thanks to Jan for enthusiastically running it, and there's probably still time to get involved - the finish line is May.
arkhunter
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Illinois, United States
Joined: June 11, 2006
KitMaker: 116 posts
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Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 01:41 PM UTC
This thought just hit me, as I avoid my homework...

I will usually comment on braille scale builds that I have interest in. That would mean modern (post WWII) of any nationality. I'm just not interested in WWII, and I think there is that split at 1/35th as well. Now, say that split between modern and ww2 is 40/60 but the number of modelers that build non braille to braille is 80 to 20 (I have NO clue as to what it really is [read: I pulled that number out of my ***]) That would mean that if I looked at modern braille scale only, I would be interested in 8% (.4*.2=.008*100%=8%) of the population's models. Hopefully that makes sense

edit: that doesn't account for people who cross genres, scales, or post models more frequently... in other words, I'm assuming that people post the same volume of models in the same genre/scale... but it's still an idea to kick around
tigerproductions
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Tennessee, United States
Joined: November 13, 2006
KitMaker: 238 posts
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Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 02:08 PM UTC
I do.

Have you checked out http://www.tigerdio.com and looked under HQ72 Resin Products?

It is the largest resin line of buildings, structures, bunkers out there and the prices are great as well.

Cheers,

HQ72 Resin Products
vonHengest
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Texas, United States
Joined: June 29, 2010
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Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 05:32 PM UTC
I'm into all scales and all subject matter, I see no reason to put boundaries on my interests. I seriously love 1/72 armor as much as I love 1/48, 1/35, and 1/16.

However I understand your feelings about being left out. 1/72 and 1/76 armor seems to almost fall off the scales of visibility here in North America, while appearing to be king in many European countries.

When it comes down to it, it doesn't really matter what you're building as long as you are having fun Keep checking for resources because the industry for braille armor keeps growing every year.

Jose: Thanks for your link, I was totally unaware of Tiger Productions despite several attempts to locate braille scale resources in North America.
Spades
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California, United States
Joined: February 08, 2003
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Posted: Friday, January 21, 2011 - 06:16 AM UTC
Initially I only built 1/72 to try out new techniques. But since than, I have focused more on the tiny scale seriously. I still have my abundance of 1/35, which, I dare dream to buiild. Rencently their have been some really REALLY detailed 1/72 kits. Im loving it.

But I agree with most of you, cost & space are definitely a factor that I appreciate in this scale.
Braille
#135
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California, United States
Joined: August 05, 2007
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Posted: Friday, January 21, 2011 - 08:28 AM UTC
Still serious after all these years . . . My focus is 72nd scale but I recently been collecting 35th scale Armour. I happen to like some of the panzer IV tanks and all of the Tiger I and Tiger II tanks and their variants which I've been collecting and seriously plan to build and post here. But I won't give up putting together all things 72nd scale.

-Eddy
lukiftian
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: March 12, 2010
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Posted: Friday, January 21, 2011 - 09:10 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Just randomly found this old thread and figured I'd bump it and ask: this has changed much in the last two years? As someone trying to find his way into the hobby I'm starting out with 1/72 kits for simplicity, and my only contact with other modelers being on these forums, I feel pressure to get into the 1/35 scale builds, but that could be totally imagined...


I started off in 1:72 about 5 years ago because I was paid to build it, but I was pleasantly surprised not only by how much I enjoyed it, but also by the bags of awards I brought home from model contests. I really like 1:72, and while I don't have much, I will buy and build more.

You picked the right time to re-enter the hobby, this is the golden age right now. I'd highly recommend HobbyBoss for larger kits, Karl Morsers, K5s, etc. Outstanding kits.
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