The easiest answer is that they’re great for miniatures games. On another board, a fellow sent me some pictures of a whole bunch of models he made for the Blue Max WWI dogfighting game. They really looked spectacular.
I build a 1/144 card model of a Moraine N “Bullet” and even rigged it. It’s not bad looking, and it was fun to do. My next card model is going to be a Bristol F.2b “Biff” in the same scale. Why the heck not?
I’ve seen, on the web, some beautiful and nicely detailed models of an F-14, F/A-18, and A-10 in that scale.
I think it would be exceptionally cool to build a 1/144 scale aircraft carrier and populate it with figures and planes to match.
I guess lack of display room is a good reason for them too! However, even a 1/144 aircraft carrier would be quite big. Tamiya’s 1/350 Enterprise is around 3’ long so 1/144 would be quite large!!! [:D]
I started collecting in 1/144 when DML came out with a rush of kits during Desert Storm. Since then I can’t believe the number of kits available, especially the esoteric: 747 w/Space Shuttle, RB 36 “Ficon”, etc. As erush says, space is the consideration. I wanted to see and display as many different aircraft as possible in the same scale and 1/144 fits it perfectly. For sure, the detail is lacking, so if I want a detailed kit of something special I build bigger. Right now I’m nuts about German WWII experimentals. Most of those are in 1/72, so my German collection will be in that scale.
Once again, I’m going to plug this site : luft46.com. (How do I make this a hyperlink in this message box?)
Have any 1/144th kits that you don’t want because you think they are too small? Put them on Ebay (or call me first, he,he).
Hi everyone a 1/144 Enterprise may be too big but a 1/144 Ark Royal would be just right [8D]. Hi Stinger to do a hyperlink just type the site address in full . www.luft46.com . just remember to leave a space either side of it …Greg[8D]
Lufbery - I’d agree that space is a real big reason for 1/144. Just remember, the goal of a lot of modeller’s is to miniaturize the subject. So one of the goals would/could be exactly “how small can you make it?”. I have seen some 1/144 jets, that if not for a reference object, you really couldn’t tell what scale it was. Kinda shows off your skill.
Nungesser! Very cool!
Good choice for a namesake, also. Not too many people hip to that!
gregers - Thanks for the tip. I found that I can also do it with a copy/paste from my title bar to the message box, but I’ll try your suggetion next time.
Because size matters! Kidding, 144th scale is cost effective, doesn’t take up much room and you can do many mods with that scale and diorama options are endless!!
I buy these aircraft kits up and make mobiles out of them. It started when my children were young. I would hang them over their beds or crib. I have done them for friends and family. It is a great way to get people interested in aircraft and modeling.
That was pretty neat.