Scale of preference for aircraft

I have for years enjoyed 1/72nd scale for my Modern Military Aircraft collection. Mainly for space concerns and the variety of subjects available. I’ve noticed that for the most part, we aircraft guys tend to gravitate towards 1/48th scale. I have to admit, when I built 1/48th scale aircraft years ago…(early 90’s) the fit was better, there were more aftermarket sets available and the level of detail was more acurate and far superior to 1/72nd scale. I’m thinking of switching after nearly 10 years, and I’m very excited! Using this topic as a barometer, I’d like to get your opinions on what scale you prefer for aircraft…the pros and cons, and anything in-between. Some of the most impresive aircraft models I’ve seen has been in 1/48th scale or larger, however…some of the most ambitious have been in 1/72nd. Ahhhh decisons, decisions… Whats your preference?

I actually like 1/285 and 1/144. At the last IPMS convention, there was an excellent display of entire collections in 1/144. The shear quantity that you can disply in a small display case is impressive. Sorry if my preference doesn’t help your decision making process. I like 1/72 and larger only for special centre-piece type projects. So I guess:

1/72 smaller, price?
1/48 larger, theoretically has more detail, better for large attention grabbing displays
1/144 full formation displays and dogfight dioramas are a blast!
1/285 Like 1/144 or even more so-- a con would be availability and material (they’re usually cast in white metal)

1/72 and 1/200. I like cramming as much detail into small kits!

1/72scale Standard for modern jets, cargo aircraft and Vip transports, ETC…
and
1/48thscale Modern Jets!!! cause of great Detail and for display on shelf with landing gear down, and remove before flight flags attached!!!

The first 1/32scale model and only model I tried to build was the testors f-22 raptor!!! I was a somewhat failure cause I had problems whn It came to painting the fuselage and the different colors on top! I had trouble keeping overspray from one color going onto the other right next to it!!! I’ll still have it but need to know how to remove the paint properly without the thinner making the plastic go soft!!! That has been a tough time for me!!! It happend with the first models I had ever built with an airbrush!!! I might dump my aztek for a passhe when I start building my Ufo Diorama this thanksgiving!

Who makes a better airbrush and what model of the airbrush is it!!! I would like it to be a double-action Kit!!! I Plan on keeping my Aztek though for a back up!!! can anybody help me with my problems!!! I plan to give the F-22 another go for the money I had spent on it!!!

Erik, check out the *Painting and Airbrushing Forum, they’ll get you on the right path with regard to airbrushing. That is a FAQ that will yield good information in selecting and using your next airbrush.

I must admit to a preference to 72 scale. 1:48 is great for detail but the finished item is somewhat space consuming and as has already been mentioned before the range in 1:72 is large especially for aircraft.
Besides what amI going to do with all the 72 scale junk I have so patiently and lovingly accumulated over the years?

Cheers , Pete.

I build in 1/48 scale exclusively, i don’t even own a 1/72 or 1/32 scale A/C, personal preferance i guess[tup]

I built 1/72 scale too. The main reasons are 1) price 2) space requirements. I can´t imagine how could I place e.g 1/48 B-29 into my tinny room. But I´m sure that 1/48 scale has it´s own advantages

I build 1/72 also. In 1/48 I do only Biplanes… The biplane kits in 1/48 are much more detailed and look much better completed, not to mention they’re much easier to build and rig than 1/72…

Hi all,

I recently looked at my 1/48 P-38 waiting to be built, and thought the whole thing looks monstrous, oversized, and awkward. A shift in perspective, because the last three kits I’ve worked on have been 1/72 scale.

It is so difficult to talk in generalities because of the wide variety of kits and aftermarket accessories available in the different scales.

I get a little grumpy when people say that 1/48 scale kits are more detailed than 1/72 scale kits. More detailed in what way? The Roden WWI fighter kits I have are far more detailed than the Monogram 1/48 scale WWII fighter kits I have.

I also don’t think Roden’s 1/48 scale kits are more detailed than their 1/72 scale kits – both are very nicely and finely detailed. The same can often be said of other manufacturers with the same subject in both scales.

My approach is to build what I like and keep some variety in my modeling hobby. I started out building only 1/48 scale kits, but I’ve been increasingly drawn to 1/72 scale kits. I like the fine detail and the challenge of working with the tiny parts.

There is an ethic in this hobby, practiced by some, to only build kits in one scale. The idea is that when they are all displayed together, one can really understand how the different planes, ships, etc. relate to one another. I like that too, so I try to display my kits of the same scale together with other kits of the same scale – on a different shell, for instance.

In any event, I advocate building kits in different scales, building out of the box, using photo etched and resin parts, scratch building with styrene, carving fuselages out of wood, vacuum forming, and anything else that catches your fancy.

It’s a hobby for most of us, not a job, so set your own rules.

Regards,

I prefer 1/72-for size mostly. I think smaller is better. However I’m suprised that smaller is not really cheaper.

heeelllloooo fellow hoosier![^] I prefer 1/48 scale. The price is usually pretty reasonable, compared to some 1/32 modern aircraft, the detail is usually pretty good(depending on the model of course), and they are small enough to be displayed and big enough to see all the detail and work htat went into it. I think people tend to start working in one scale or another because the first plane they bought was that scale and they want them to be proportional to each other… or I could just be out of my mind [;)]

1/72, for space considerations and I like detailing small kits.

I prefer 1/48 scale, even though the finished kits take up a lot more space than 1/72 kits. I have a hard enough time working with (and seeing!) itty-bitty parts that go into the cockpit and the bomb sway braces. I can’t imagine them in 1/72 scale!

My preference is for 1/48. I tried a 1/32 kit, and while it was very nice and easy to build, it’s just too darn big. I’ve also tried 1/72 which made my eyes hurt. Like Goldilocks 1/48 is just right!

i prefer 1/48 scale. i mostly build WW2 so the fighters are not too big when compared to the modern jets. but to spice things up i have a few 1/72 and 1/32 scale kits in the stash

I build

1/350 scale SHips full of aircraft

1/72 Bombers and transports–the big guys.

1/48 Modern military fighters

1/32 WW II Aircraft-- the detail really pops out

Don’t know what scale I would go for with the WW I Aircraft, these avee recently began to catch my eye so…

Ric

[2c]

I build mostly 1:48, as it is easier to see the detail work. I have some 1:72 stuff, mostly those a/c that are only available in that scale (B-66, B-57B). Given a preference, I would exclusively build 1:32, but the price and the size are prohibitive. BTW, I exclusively build aircraft, mostly WWII and early era jets (although I do have a 1:48 B-One in the stack!).

Brian [C):-)]

So far for me in aircraft, 1/72 scale is it because of space considerations. And to me, this scale seems HUGE considering my last two efforts were 1/700 ship models - you want tiny photoetch, try painting a person so small that a dozen of them could easily fit on your thumbnail. Next to that, scratchbuilding cockpit details for a B-25B Doolittle Raider just feels so … big, somehow!

1/72 – storage space is this issue…