Does anyone forsee a death coming to 1/35? I would think not, since most people say that other companies other than Tamiya are taking over. I personally like 1/35 so far. It is bigger than 1/48 and that's what I like about it right now. I don't want to kick up too much dust, so no need to get too heated on my account. :-)

I am one of those disappointed in Tamiya's entry into 1/48. I am terribly disappointed that the time and money and energy put into tooling a new 1/48 kit wasn't done in 1/35. However I am not about to go crazy over it. I will continue to protest with my wallet by simply not purchasing 1/48 kits. As long as they have descent 1/35 kits I will buy them. If not I will go to someone else like Dragon. If 1/35 goes away then perhaps 1/48 will be forced upon me. So long as I have a choice it will be 1/35.

Part of my problem is that my model collection is more or less a loose long term plan to build up a parts box, swap figures, collect weapons and equipment sets. I know that I have all sorts of accessories and extras available for future builds.

Going to 1/48 would negate decades of stashing pieces and parts or start from scratch with a new collection of pieces and parts.

No thank you 1/48. I'll continue to buy my 1/35.

Alan, your post is typical of the current views of many 1/35 modelers. As I've tried to point out on fthis forum over the last week, regardless of the cosmetic appeal a new quarterscale kit may have on you, that stash of 1/35 kits and parts, taking up so much room in your closet represents many years of accumulation. How can you start over after that ? It's similar to marrying a fat lady, and now you're stuck with her for the rest of your life.

I ahve to say as someone who has a HUGE stash of 1/35 stuff (closets and half a garage), I like the 1/48 stuff. My thought on it is that I build a subject, say tiger Tank or a KV-1, I like to do it in 1/48 as well as 1/35. I have aquired a good number of old Bandai kits and do just that build both scales.

Now I have no intenetion of stopping 1/35 and starting all over in 1/48, its just a change of pace and certainly takes up less space. I love 1/35 scale, 1/72 is just to small to work with and for the size not a good value for the money.

A couple of points:

1. The "new" 1/48 scale is not done for compatibility with Aircraft for diaoramas - come on how many pictures of tanks and planes together have you seen. 1/48 has been around a long time. The original Bandai line was very extensive (nice kits with interiors) with diverse subjects. Tamiya had a 1/48 line back in the 70s and early 80s (not as extensive as Bandai's). Recently 1/48 has made a comeback by euro resin makers.

2. Tamiya is not "diverting" resources asway from 1/35. For years Tamiya has been releasing 1-3 new kits a year. They are no where near as prolific as DML or Trumpeter. Tamiya kits tend to be VERY high quality though. If anything this is just some needed juice to fire up the industry and consumers. This could be something that is well received in Asia. Remember, the US is no where near the market for models compared to Asia and Europe. Tamiya releases kits for Japan first based on what the market there is demanding.

3. Tamiya like all other Japanese firms no longer have the cheap labor pool they did in the 60s and 70s. Chinese factories can produce kits cheaper very close to Tamiya quality. There is some cost saving to doing smaller scale subjects. If it helps get new kits out - great.

4. Dont view this as a death toll for the 1/35 scale. It is the gold standard and will continue to be the gold standard. A very large secondary business has grown around the scale in accessories and complimentary products. It is simply product diversification and adding to their already impressive catalog. Call it creating new market.

Hi,
I'm new here so hope this post works and also I dont want to upset anyone.

Just want to add my 2 cents worth to a discusion that some think has gone on too long but as a modeller and wargamer you gents may have overlooked another use for Tamiyas new 1:48 kits.

As one who has paid wayyyy to much for some of the old Bandai kits on E-Bay we have welcomed the new Tamiya stuff as providing a new range of cheap (relatively) vehicles and kits for wargaming use. They're suitable for use with both 28mm and 1:48scale metal wargaming figs and are far better than many of the resin or metal diecast alternatives many wargamers using these scales have had to turn to.

Any way - Happy modelling !!!
PS Have a look at some of the Stugs I've built for a local wargamer ........http://photos.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/7899

Welcome to the site. No problems in bringing up the old post, as long as there is something positive to add. I notice the old Bandai kits are selling like hotcakes on eBay, many for what I would consider bargin (under $20) prices.

I still remember my first Bandai 1/48 scale kit, a T-34/76 that I bought at the local hobby shop in Radcliff, KY when I was first stationed at Ft. Knox for my basic course back in 1987.

A very impressive model for the time.

And now my two cents since this post is back up.

Wasn't thrilled with the new scale, but I was never a huge fan of Tamiya. In other words, the announcement earlier this year (or was it last?) just got a shrug from my shoulders. You know, good ol' apathy.

But for the past five months I've been in a modeling slump. My wife had purchased me the StuG III for Fathers Day which was actually a pleasant surprise. Anywho, I could not get out of this slump until I cracked open the StuG and threw it together in pratically five or six hours (this included scratch wiring, clamps, etc).

The best part, I had a fun time doing it! Big enough to detail a bit, but not so big as that I fell victim to the AMS bug. While 35th scale will remain my fav, I will be getting more of these kits.

You are not the first to make that comment. On other sites devoted to 1/48 scale armour others have said the same. In the gallery section at Track48 (www.Track48.com) there are pics of models made OOB, or with a little detailing. Many have commented that the Tamiya kits were completed in an evening and that making a model was fun again. And yes, making 1/48 has pulled a few out of their slumps. These kits can be made quickly and easily and satisfactorily without sucumbing to AMS. There are several PE sets available for those who like a little more detail. However, for those who have AMS, go to Track48, click on the Links section and follow the first link (1.48.com--it is a French site)) and click on Gallery. You will be amazed at what can be accomplished in 1/48 (especially with some of the Bandai kits)

OK, so I'm not alone in feeling this way. I agree with both of you. Many times when you purchase a 1/35 scale kit, folks will tell you that you "need" the (Aber/TWS/Blast/Eduard/Caliber35) various aftermarket items to fully accurize the kit.

With 1/48 armor, there is very little available so you do not feel compelled to buy the AM stuff to build your kit. I do have the StuG III and did spring for the Lion Roar PE set (which includes a small aluminum barrel). Haven't built it yet, but will in time.

Tamiya's had this line out since 2004. I bought the 1/48 scale Afrika Korps Kubelwagen and Kettenkraftrad last year and recall seeing the Sherman and Tiger at my local hobby shop prior to leaving Massachusetts (I left there in Jan 05).

I think of the 1/48 scale kits as bringing fun back to the hobby. 1/35 scale is getting to be too much of a chore collecting up all the "necessary" AM items. See the Tamiya Leclerc thread about the need for aftermarket accessories!

All I can say is that I am have a gas building my 1/48 Stug. I started to paint one of my figs, its a tad bit more difficult than 1/35, but much easier than 1/72!

allycat,
Sorry, I didn't know that you wrote to me until today. You have a good question. Hmmm, maybe you're right their price may will be higher as they take a bigger slice of market. Or because of made in China (cheap labor), their price will remain low even if they take a bigger slice of market? We can wait and see. Yeah, I agree that another company will have Tamiya moulds under its name at lower price if Tamiya is out of business.

There is really no base to the "to big a 1/35 stash" argument. Just because you bought a quarter scale kit, doesn't mean you have to throw away those spare parts you've been collecting since before you can remember. Buy a kit, build it in an evening, paint it in the morning, and weather it by nightfall, and you would have completed an entire model in one weekend, while having a blast! Seriously, you'll be surprised how very fun they are. Build a couple kits, and you can make a nice display to py on your desk at work, or your mantle, if SWMBO allows it. (Just say they are small and cute, not the massive crawling death machines the real ones are :-) )

I'm on a binge (in my arithmetic) of building kits as gifts for others. I've completed 1/35 M7 Priest for a Korean War vet, I'll be completing an M4A3 76(w) as a Christmas present for my father in law (Vietnam war army doc), and I've started on an all resin Churchill Mk V for a British WW2 veteran of Africa and Italy. It's been a blast to not get caught up in building to my ridiculous AMS standards. I got the Tamiya 1/48 Tiger I and Sherman M4 and plan to build them up as gifts for two friends who wrote me very extensive recommendations for grad school. They'll be easy quick and clean builds and will allow me to practice some more weathering methods.

I love 'em.

If 1/35 and 1/72 have lived alongside each other all these years, I can't see any reason for all the hullabaloo about 1/48 seems very practical to me, in fact I don't understand why 1/48 went away in the first place. Did the aircraft modelers make this much fuss when the fairly recent trend towards 1/35 helicopters started up?

Now if you want a good question, heres one:

How come out of all the railroad guns that have been built over the years, none have been built in a railroading scale? We have had a 1/72 version for years and more recently a couple in 1/35. Um excuse me but what good is a railroad gun without a railroad? (HO = 1/87 or O = 1/48) #:-)

The original question was why Tamiya was coming out with 1/48 scale. But one must look back in modeling history and ask, "Why was 1/35 scale created",
In his book,"Master Modeler", Shunsaku Tamiya writes on page 63, "After the success of the Panther I thought it would be a good idea for us to produce other tanks from different countries at the same scale. I measured the Panther and it turned out to be about 1/35 of the size of the original. This size had been chosen simply because it could accomodate a couple of type B batteries. Tamiya's 1/35 scale series tanks eventually got to be known all around the world, but this is the slightly haphazard origin of their rather awkward scale."
I personally like 1/48 and have just gotten back into the hobby after a sabbatical of 30+ years. I look forward to making a model OTB without adding mega bucks worth of AM.

The question of 1:48th is certainly raising alot of conversation and discussion which must be seen as a positive thing for our hobby and I would like to add some more thoughts into the melting pot.

I have been interested that whilst the question of price is obviously a factor that I cannot argue against as they are I think exorbitantly high, although I keep hearing the excuse that this is so with Japanese manufacturers because of the world money exchange rates, rising cost of oil and transport..........ad infinitum.

However the suggestion that they are designed for beginners is frankly short sighted, as having been sitting musing on the Hauler PE addon set for the T34, a beginner or for that fact somebody withour quite a lot of experience, is less likely to want to start cutting holes in their kit. The parts for the engine grill screens are very delicate and I suspect will tax me more than a little.

Next and this is my own veiw based on my own experience after building the Tamiya Hetzer, you have to approach the whole question of painting and weathering something so much smaller than a 1:35 scale model in a totally different way. I have found that a much more delicate approach is required to achieve the same levels as I have reached with larger scales, particularly as they are certainly not lacking in detail.

For years some of us were moaning about lack of choice, something that is has been being addressed by the upsurge in model making and more manufacturers, but personally space is a premium sometimes and I can fit more on the display shelf so to speak.

Another point that I have found is that it is nice to have a different challenge sometimes as it helps to keep things sharp, much like trying a different subject like a car, aircraft sometimes and having a rest from my beloved armour.

These are my thoughts based on having a go and frankly enjoying building the little cousin to my normal choice.

John

PS Will this result in a dreaded red X

No red X, just a really nice Hetzer

I think that 1/48 scale is good because some tanks are too big in 1/35. Last week I bought Tamiya 1/48 Universal Carrier. This tank is right size in 1/35, but in 1/48 is too small - it is even smaller than 1/72 Panzerkampfwagen IV (for cca 2-3 mm). I bulided yesterday and it was really hard to do it. So I think 1/48 is good for really big tanks and 1/35 is good for normal and smaller tanks. That is my opinion.

Thompson

I agree. If you have tanks,planes and ect. in 1:48 scale you should have everything else to go with it as well.

I think someone should do something about this sad siduation.

Your right on all counts. The point you made about space being at a preium? I can relate on that on big time.

FlyingHigh