I need to ask for some advice.
I am currently a WW2 1/35 scale armor/softskin builder. My main love is German armor.
I have lately however been wanting to build an aircraft kit or two. I would like to start out with a German fighter or bomber. Like a Me109 or Ju88.
I would ideally like to keep my aircraft in 1/35 so they would match up with my other kits. But from what I have found...there just isnt many aircraft kits in 1/35....or even 1/32 for that matter. So down the road......if I pick a scale that dosnt have many choices....I wont be able to expand my collection.
So does anyone have any advice in what scale I should pick? Am I wrong about there not being many choices in 1/35 and 1/32?
I would just like to know what some of you have decided to do. I really dont want to build some in one scale and others in another scale. I would like to keep it all in one scale.
Thanks.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Help me pick a scale for aircraft
raccoonrough
Joined: December 31, 2012
KitMaker: 239 posts
Armorama: 61 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 06:12 AM UTC
ericadeane
Joined: October 28, 2002
KitMaker: 4,021 posts
Armorama: 3,947 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 06:21 AM UTC
1/32 is growing in popularity -- but I think if you want to fulfill your a/c itch, then I'd recommend a decent 1/48 Tamiya or Hasegawa kit (kind of like if a friend asked you to propose a first AFV kit -- do you tell him a Bronco kilo-part kit or tell him to get the Tamiya Churchill?)
1/48 is a good mix of detail and canvas size for the paint scheme. Tamiya & Hasegawa build easily, are easy to find, and has good options. How about Tamiya FW-190A3 by Tamiya or a Hasegawa Bf-109? Plenty of them for $10 at your next hobby show or at your LHS' consignment table. Heck, just ask at your next club mtg -- you'll get lots of guys who will sell one to you cheap.
Even if it's not the latest and greatest, without a single flaw kit of the Bf-109G6, so what? In the end you'll have a fun model, built and painted on your shelf.
1/48 is a good mix of detail and canvas size for the paint scheme. Tamiya & Hasegawa build easily, are easy to find, and has good options. How about Tamiya FW-190A3 by Tamiya or a Hasegawa Bf-109? Plenty of them for $10 at your next hobby show or at your LHS' consignment table. Heck, just ask at your next club mtg -- you'll get lots of guys who will sell one to you cheap.
Even if it's not the latest and greatest, without a single flaw kit of the Bf-109G6, so what? In the end you'll have a fun model, built and painted on your shelf.
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 06:30 AM UTC
Tristar did a very nice Fiesler Storch in 1/35th. I have seen some of the kits on the resale market. Otherwise 99% of the large scale aircraft are in 1/32nd scale.
Tojo72
Joined: June 06, 2006
KitMaker: 4,691 posts
Armorama: 3,509 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 06:33 AM UTC
1/48 not too big,not too small
md72
#439
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
Armorama: 289 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 06:48 AM UTC
Well I'm very invested in 1/72 a/c, but I think the best answer to your quest is 1/48. There's plenty of choices there now. Today more new subjects are being in 1/48 than in any other scale. For the moment the 1/32 kits that are being released are very expensive.
raccoonrough
Joined: December 31, 2012
KitMaker: 239 posts
Armorama: 61 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 06:49 AM UTC
Okay,
Thanks for all the responses so far. Please keep the advice coming.
How do the Revell 1/48 kits build? As far as detail and ease.
How do the Revell 1/48 compare to the Tamiya 1/48?
Thanks for all the responses so far. Please keep the advice coming.
How do the Revell 1/48 kits build? As far as detail and ease.
How do the Revell 1/48 compare to the Tamiya 1/48?
Littorio
Joined: September 15, 2004
KitMaker: 4,728 posts
Armorama: 504 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 06:49 AM UTC
Hi Spence,
Why not come over to Aeroscale part of the Kitmaker group and ask this question, Top left of your screen is a button marked 'Browse Sites!' click this and then Aeroscale, guess what, we build aircraft!
As for scale, there are many 1/32 aircraft kits including Revell of Germany's recent Ju-88 and He-111 which are both good kits but be warned 1/32 aircraft are big. The He-111 has a wingspan of 70cm or 28".
The better options are either 1/72 or 1/48 both are very well catered for with nearly every aircraft available in most versions and these two scales are also the most covered ones by the AM companies. However if you intend to build the big bombers unless you are not restricted for space then go the 1/72 route but if you intend to build mainly fighters with a few multi engined aircraft go the 1/48 route.
I hope that helps some and look forward to seeing your builds in Aeroscale.
Why not come over to Aeroscale part of the Kitmaker group and ask this question, Top left of your screen is a button marked 'Browse Sites!' click this and then Aeroscale, guess what, we build aircraft!
As for scale, there are many 1/32 aircraft kits including Revell of Germany's recent Ju-88 and He-111 which are both good kits but be warned 1/32 aircraft are big. The He-111 has a wingspan of 70cm or 28".
The better options are either 1/72 or 1/48 both are very well catered for with nearly every aircraft available in most versions and these two scales are also the most covered ones by the AM companies. However if you intend to build the big bombers unless you are not restricted for space then go the 1/72 route but if you intend to build mainly fighters with a few multi engined aircraft go the 1/48 route.
I hope that helps some and look forward to seeing your builds in Aeroscale.
raccoonrough
Joined: December 31, 2012
KitMaker: 239 posts
Armorama: 61 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 06:58 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Spence,
Why not come over to Aeroscale part of the Kitmaker group and ask this question, Top left of your screen is a button marked 'Browse Sites!' click this and then Aeroscale, guess what, we build aircraft!
As for scale, there are many 1/32 aircraft kits including Revell of Germany's recent Ju-88 and He-111 which are both good kits but be warned 1/32 aircraft are big. The He-111 has a wingspan of 70cm or 28".
The better options are either 1/72 or 1/48 both are very well catered for with nearly every aircraft available in most versions and these two scales are also the most covered ones by the AM companies. However if you intend to build the big bombers unless you are not restricted for space then go the 1/72 route but if you intend to build mainly fighters with a few multi engined aircraft go the 1/48 route.
I hope that helps some and look forward to seeing your builds in Aeroscale.
Thanks........LOL... I must say...I never even noticed the Aeroscale site.....I will certainly have a browse and ask a few questions.
Also, Thanks for the advice. It seems that 1/48 might be the way to go. I did have a browse at the wonderful Revell 1/32 He111 and Ju88 bombers.....wow.so nice. But as you pointed out. Having a place to display something so big...and keeping it out of the dust... would be very difficult. Thanks
LeftyDan
Joined: November 03, 2013
KitMaker: 77 posts
Armorama: 76 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 06:58 AM UTC
Just Like Luciano said, 1/32nd scale aircraft are huge. I would lean more towards 1/48th scale for aircraft, it tends to be the most balanced of size vs. detail. I also think you're more likely to find a kit you like in 1/48th. Tamiya tends to be my favorite for building aircraft.
corsutton
Joined: June 17, 2005
KitMaker: 544 posts
Armorama: 511 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 07:34 AM UTC
I'm not basing this on science or anything, but I believe there are more selections in 1/48 than 1/32. Not only the basic aircraft but also a bunch of aftermarket stuff too! I would choose 1/48 as they are big enough to be able to detail up beautifully but not too big to take up all your shelf space.
Biggles2
Joined: January 01, 2004
KitMaker: 7,600 posts
Armorama: 6,110 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 08:43 AM UTC
Quoted Text
For the moment the 1/32 kits that are being released are very expensive.
Depends on the manufacturer. Dragon's latest Bf 109E retails for around $50 CAN - 1/2 - 1/3 the cost of a comparable Tamiya kit, actually much cheaper than DML's armor kits. But I agree, in this case, if you want to combine military vehicles with aircraft, 1/48 is the scale to go. Of course, you could also do 1/72 - 1/76 combinations as well.
Grauwolf
#084
Joined: September 14, 2005
KitMaker: 2,485 posts
Armorama: 743 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 09:33 AM UTC
Hi Spence,
Since you are a 1:35 armor builder and I assume that you have many kits in that scale, in your stash, then your best bet is to build 1:32 scale aircraft and there many to choose from both basic to Hi end (reasonably priced to expensive).
Let your wallet govern the decision.
1:35 is not a common aircraft scale, you will find some helicopters
and a few aircraft.
The standard scale is 1:32 and to put both in the same dio, for example:
a 1:35 kubelwagen and a 1:32 BF 109, the size and scale
difference is not that far off so visually, you will get
away with it.
That said, though, if you were to add figures to the scene,
I would suggest 1:35 figures....as there are virtually no
support figures available in 1:32 other than pilots by
different manufacturers.
So, in the end, unless you want to completely change to a different scale,
this is a good compromise.
Cheers,
Joe
Since you are a 1:35 armor builder and I assume that you have many kits in that scale, in your stash, then your best bet is to build 1:32 scale aircraft and there many to choose from both basic to Hi end (reasonably priced to expensive).
Let your wallet govern the decision.
1:35 is not a common aircraft scale, you will find some helicopters
and a few aircraft.
The standard scale is 1:32 and to put both in the same dio, for example:
a 1:35 kubelwagen and a 1:32 BF 109, the size and scale
difference is not that far off so visually, you will get
away with it.
That said, though, if you were to add figures to the scene,
I would suggest 1:35 figures....as there are virtually no
support figures available in 1:32 other than pilots by
different manufacturers.
So, in the end, unless you want to completely change to a different scale,
this is a good compromise.
Cheers,
Joe
raccoonrough
Joined: December 31, 2012
KitMaker: 239 posts
Armorama: 61 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 10:38 AM UTC
Everyone who has responded.....Thank you very much.
After reading your input and further web searching. I think I have decided to go with 1/48.
I dont plan on doing any dioramas with my builds.....so cross over with all my 1/35 armor is not really a factor I suppose.
I know I will prob end up building a 1/32 Heinkel He111 and a Junkers Ju88 eventually just because I am a big Battle of Britan fan. I dont seem to find a Dornier Do17 in 1/32?
But for all my other aircraft fixes......I believe I will go with 1/48 scale. Mostly because of space to display and variety and selection.
I think I will start with some German mainstay fighters.
Thanks to all.
Spence
After reading your input and further web searching. I think I have decided to go with 1/48.
I dont plan on doing any dioramas with my builds.....so cross over with all my 1/35 armor is not really a factor I suppose.
I know I will prob end up building a 1/32 Heinkel He111 and a Junkers Ju88 eventually just because I am a big Battle of Britan fan. I dont seem to find a Dornier Do17 in 1/32?
But for all my other aircraft fixes......I believe I will go with 1/48 scale. Mostly because of space to display and variety and selection.
I think I will start with some German mainstay fighters.
Thanks to all.
Spence
raccoonrough
Joined: December 31, 2012
KitMaker: 239 posts
Armorama: 61 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 10:40 AM UTC
Oh,
I know a few of you have suggested I start with Tamiya and Hasegawa 1/48 kits. So I will do so.
But I was wondering. After looking at whats available out there.
How do Revell 1/48 and 1/32 kits fair?
How are the airfix kits?
Thanks
I know a few of you have suggested I start with Tamiya and Hasegawa 1/48 kits. So I will do so.
But I was wondering. After looking at whats available out there.
How do Revell 1/48 and 1/32 kits fair?
How are the airfix kits?
Thanks
Littorio
Joined: September 15, 2004
KitMaker: 4,728 posts
Armorama: 504 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2014 - 12:11 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I dont seem to find a Dornier Do17 in 1/32?
Spence
You'll be lucky, we are only just getting one in 1/48 from a small main stream manufacture (ICM) and a new tool in 1/72 from Airfix.
With regard to Revell, the Revell US kits tend to be reboxes of Monogram kits but can also be reboxes of Revell Germany (RoG) as a whole Revell tend to be a mixed bag, the older kits can with work be built into nice models but may have raised panel lines. RoG have released some very nice kits which in some cases rival or even surpass Tamigawa but they have also re-released some very old kits. My advise would be to ask on the Aeroscale forum or check the reviews first for any subject you are looking at.
On the other hand if you want a late variant B-25 or a B-26 then you only have the Revell options.
Also be aware that with aircraft some manufactures share their moulds with other companies. I don't think this happens much with armour.
The older 1/48 Airfix kits are buildable but can lack detail however with a little work can come out very nice, the recent releases are very good.
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