I’m doing a long-distance move soon, and seriously thinking about getting rid of most of my current builds and starting over in 1/72nd aircraft and armor when I arrive in my new locale.
So, I’m wondering how 72nd kits compare these days to their larger counterparts. How does, say, cockpit and interior detail stack up compared to 48th? What about figure availability–can you get aftermarket crew, etc. for 72nd kits easily? Any major downsides to dropping down to 72nd? The prices of most 72nd kits seem very appealing, as well. For the detail I see in them these days, it seems like a no-brainer.
New molding technology has given a big boost to 1:72. Airfix in particular has recently released some new kits with astounding cockpit detail yet quite reasonable prices. Their P-51 and their A4 are really great. Tamiya has a beautiful Zero out.
72nd scale has certainly improved in the last few years. As with anything else it varies, but generally from the top brands the detail is more than passable and if you want to add more there is plenty of it. I build diorama’s and figures are vital. This is one are where it really depends on what you building. I mainly build WW2 German and this is the area that is covered the best, but even there are shortcomings particularly in ground crew. There are some good modern US sets, especially from Hasegawa. I never dropped down so its hard for me to say. I did recently build my first 32nd kit and while that was nice, going back to a 72nd was like coming home. Yes, parts are smaller, but for me its what I am used to. For those dropping down I guess its just a case of adjusting.
I would certainly give 1/72 aircraft a try. I’ve been a fan for a long time. I happen to like big aircraft alot, probably because I was an airline brat. To the point where I sometimes consider 1/144. But I am not a WW2 fighter fan.
So if B-17s or English Electric Canberras are your thing, 1/72 is great. But a bf-109 would probably be a disappointment to you.
i suggest going to the Group builds forum and looking for the 2015 OTS GB and the 2014 Braille Scale GB. Full disclosure i host both of them but you will see some of the kits available and recognize some names of those who build in other scales as well. there are some 1/72 RR builds in the RR GB too.
i got into it a bit over 2 years ago because there was some JGSDF and Bundeswehr vehicles and the russian SS-25 ICBM not done in 1/35 and i like doing RR stuff. as Bish mentioned, figures are an issue. the only styrene ones i have seen are the gun crews for the Toxso cannon. fortunately my friend doesn’t do figures so i get his. i have done well at local and regional contetsts with my OTS builds.
I’m mostly a 1/48 and 1/32 aircraft and 1/35 armor builder but recently I have accidentally started dealing in some 1/72 scale subjects and have made me a true believer that great details are not limited to larger scales. Take the Hasegawa 1/48 Tomcats as an example. They have outstanding details but then, so does their 1/72 cats and are basically scaled down versions of their bigger 1/48 brother.
I still like the larger scales but once in a while, a 1/72 scale plane comes along that is simply outstanding.
As for armor, I stay at 1/35 as a personal prefference.
I switched (generally speaking) to 1/72 and have no regrets.
1/48 seems HUGE now, and I have very little desire to tap back into the 48th stash.
As with all scales/manufacturers…detail/quality is hit-r-miss. Most of the newer stuff from Tamiya, Revell, Airfix is great and consistant…Hobby Boss seems to have different design teams on their kits, some great with great detail…others are just completely lacking. A little Googling will give you all you need to know when picking a particular subject(same as it ever was!!!)
Replace the 7 with a 3. 1/32. Never look back. It’s been awesome for me. Better detail, more presence, bigger more satisfying projects. How can you loose?
How many built models do you have? I have lots, probably fifty or sixty, and maybe a dozen ships. That is why I am going to 1:72 and 1:144 aircraft, 1:700 ships. Yeah, I love building big 1:32 or even 1:24 aircraft. But I now have no place to put them when I am finished.
For some time I preferred 48th and 32nd, but for anything I might like to keep? 72nd. That scale is so much more compact for display, can be detailed to a very pleasing degree, the newer kits are really well produced, accurate and cost friendly.
I agree with others, it is really a good representation of the actual aircraft allowing sufficient details, while requiring far less space for both building and “showing off.”
I agree. Modern aircraft are bigger than those of ww2. Kitts are better and space is an issue. Some aftermarket figures like PJ Productions are very good.
After about 5 years back in the hobby I’ve got about 20 completed.
I don’t really measure success in output. I like more complex and involved builds. Id rather dedicate shelf space to 1 all out 1/32 F-14 than 10 1/72 builds that are thrown together. Presence always wins for me.
My 72nd kits are hopefully considered reasonably well built, as opposed to “thrown together.” How 'bout the rest of you 72nd builders, do you just “throw” yours together?
Really, Tomcat, that’s a rather wholesale dismissal of the preferred scale, and skills, of other members.
Well, kits are only thrown together if the builder chooses to and that could happen in any scale. Of course people can choose which ever scale they wish, and its nice to see kits of all scales colours and type. I often see comments on here by people who say they can’t believe a kit is 1/72nd scale. And on other occasions i have seen kits where the poster did not give all the kit details and i often have to ask what scale it is. In pics, it is usually hard to tell what scale a build is without a point of referance.
Of course, on the shelf, its a bit differant. But i do think somtimes people are dismissive of 72nd without appreciating the effort and detail that can go into them. My longest aircrfat build was 3 months, i would not call that thrown together as i don’t consider myself a slow builder by any means.
Sure, there are great 1/72 builds out there, but most are pretty uninspiring in my experience. The “I can’t believe it’s 1/72” comments are almost always hollow attaboys.
And I think referring to 1/72 as “the one true scale” is pretty dismissive and condescending.
The same could be said about kits of any scale. What makes a build inspiring is not the kit but what the builder puts into it. I would not say those comments are holow, bt i have never understood them because as i said before, without a point of referance there is often no way on knowing from pics of the completed build alone.
That is generally a tounge in check comment and i will wager that most if not all who use it, myself included, build in other scales as well.
Well it’s obvious that TGuy is not too impressed by the smaller scale and that is perfectly fine. We all have our preferences but please do not say that 1/72 scale models don’t pack the same detail as the larger scales. I have seen some 1/72 scale builds that are works of art and yes, it’s hard to believe it’s 1/72 scale because of the incredible tiny details packed into the model.
My 1/144 Type VII/C has as many details as the same U Boat in a larger scale. It has extensive brass pe parts including metal barrels, periscopes, railings and tons of details on the deck gun and bridge.
Like Bish said, it’s up to the individual builder to make or break the details.
And none of my 1/72 builds are thrown together by the way.
