I am strictly a 1/48 and up (larger the better) modeler. I wouldn’t touch 1/72 for any reason, and I am just curious why it is popular (other than the ease of display and relative low cost). 1//72 kits look like toys to me (unless you have a giant subject, like b-36). In particular, I don’t understand 1/72 WWI and WW2 single engine fighter subjects. This scale seems to be more popular in Europe (smaller houses?)
You just answered your own question. Size. It takes less space to display than the larger sizes. One hundred models of WW ll aircraft will take us much less space than one hundred of the same models in 1/48. Also for many years, the smaller kits had the only releases of many subjects.
I also build in 1/48 and 1/32 scale, but the smaller 1/72 scale subjects have their place in the industry also.
The Japanese likes to miniaturize things. In Japan, resources are expensive, space are expensive, and people have small hands. [:D]
I have to say that I find some of this insulting. It takes more care to model and detail 1/72. Plus if you’ve seen some of the 1/72 models in some osprey books that are more detailed than most larger scale builds, you’d realize how easy you have it doing 1/48 or bigger. So please, no more “little scale” remarks.
I build both scales and they each offer their own challanges and rewards. Space is a primary consideration for me with 1/72, which is why it outnumbers the quarter-inch kits in my collection by about 8:1.
Why the heck not? It’s a cool scale and very easy to figure out. One inch equals six feet. If you have figures with your model, it’s very easy for somebody viewing the model to understand the true scale of the plane or tank, or whatever.
Of course, having a figure helps with any scale, but I, at least, find it easier to think of one inch being the height of a man than one inch being two-thirds the height of a man. 
Anyway, there’s some exceptionally well done models in all scales. I don’t think there’s any overall best scale, just the scale I like best for each kit.
Regards,
-Drew
Have a look at the variety of subjects available in 1/72 and you can see why it’s so popular…there are things you can build that would never be built in 1/48 or larger - plus, can you imagine the tooling costs for Monogram (or Tamiya!!) to tool up for an ENTIRE 1/48 scale B-17 family (as per Academy) ???
Personally, I prefer 1/48 scale, but gaze wistfully at the variety of subjects on the 1/72 scale shelves that I know will never be molded in 1/48 scale.
Cheers
LeeTree
It is a great scale for apartment dwellers or others with limited space, it has good detail for low cost, it makes excellent gifts, it is cheaper to tool for (if it’s a popular subject the company can tool for a larger kit, the research is done) it’s good for children/beginners (low cost) and experianced modelers can make great kits out of them.
hey dont make fun of 1/72nd scale!! its so much funner to build than 1/48th!
Hi lplanch,
To a certain extent I agree with you: 1:48 makes a great scale. I started out building helicopters and civil fixed wing planes only in 1:48 scale but after some time had to shift to 1:72 because I had just about modelled everything there is in 1:48!
Believe me: if you haven’t started 1:72 yet, a whole new world is still waiting for you![;)]
Gertjan
Yes, smaller scales are deffinitely more popular in Europe than in the US. Not just for airplanes, but it’s also very obvious in AFVs. Why? I don’t really know. Airfix anf Frog flooded the market with kits of that scale several decades ago, and I guess people just kept getting smaller scales to have a continuity in their collection… Why Frog and Airfix started with the 1/72, I do not know.
Things are changing a little nowadays but that quite recent and it’s probably due to the fact that many more larger ‘streamline’ kits (rather than vacuform) are available nowadays.
One interesting thing is that in AFVs, the UK favours 1/76 while the rest of the European continent favours 1/72…
The original 1/72 was called 1/6 (1ft = 6 ft) in ww2 when large no.s of recognition models were made and distributed to the armed forces and civilian observers. as to the validity of the scale today, and why do some build in it…It’s not only cost or size…I have all the space I need for display purposes, and can afford to buy what I really want to build…but…
- there are more subjects available in 1/72
- it is more of a challenge to build and detail
- the large bombers (like b-36, b-52) only come in that scale
- if, like me, you like the display to show off the model and show its relative size to other aircraft from different eras etc then it is the scale to build in.
- its fun to work in 1/72
For me it’s a combination of things:
- Variety
- Size- until I bought my first home a few years ago, I was an apartment dweller…
- Cost–yep…I’m cheap! Actually, if I had the $$ for some of the top line stuff I’d be all over it…but sadly, I don’t. I can find stuff I like in 1/72nd that doesn’t break the bank
- I’m still learning…until I feel more confident in my detailing abilities, I’m shying away from the larger kits. I’ve got a 1/48 B=25 that I’m itching to build, but I want to get a few skills polished up first…and those are being polished on my 1/72 Mig, Warhawk, Hellcat and so on.
I like all scales, and just recently built my first 1/72nd tank (Italeri King tiger) and loved it. I think I’m hooked on armor in 1/72nd now!
Try to start a 1/48 bomber collection with limited space and see how far you get.
I have a 1/72 Bocks Car B29 still in the box waiting for space.
I think my 1/48 Herc will be a legacy unless I get more space.
I would love the 99Sqn RAF C17 but could not display it anywhere.
For me it is simple. I build 1:48 WWII and find myself building 1:72 modern. I just finished an F14 and F18 in 1:72 and they fit very nicely on my shelf with the WWII birds. Granted, I love realism, but size is an issue. That is why I am getting into 1:700 waterline ships, space and the more in the space, the better.
numbers, space, money, challenge… How could you build an A-7A without having an A-7B, A-7D, and an A-7E, Then there’s the F/A-18A, TF-18A, CF-18B, F/A-18C, F/A-18D, F/A-18E… and what about all the variations of the FW-190 etc. Do it right and you can see the difference between versions right in front of you. Try that in 1/48 and still have money and space to sleep. I sometimes like to build multiples of the save versions for different markings.
LMBO!!!
I’d also like to point out that Paul Boyer’s entire collection is in 1/72 scale.
And I don’t even have small hands (well, they’re not big, either).
To me the beauty of 1/72 scale is the variety and the ability to concentrate on finish and markings. Most of my models are closed-canopy, with just enough detail inside to look good. I’m more interested in the markings and the history than I am in dial-counting or landing-gear-bay plumbing. Yes, you can do that in 1/48 scale, and you almost HAVE TO in 1/32 scale to make the model look right.
Besides, a model display (to me) should be in one scale. A mixed scale public display really irks me no end. Put 'em all in one scale, please, and if you’re want to show the big and the small, 1/72 scale is the only way to go.
Like the others, the primary consideration for me was space. Since then, however, the kit manufacturing technology has improved tremendously and some 1/72nd offerings will rival 1/48th or 1/35th samples. Revell Germany’s new 72nd scale AFVs like the M-1A1, the Fuchs and the PzH2000 are examples. The Hase 72nd aircraft line are of course well-known for detail.
With reference materials, some creativity and a very patient pair of eyes you can build a masterpiece out of a 1/72nd kit. You save space and money without compromising detail.
Check out tamiya’s 1/72 corsair, P-51, spitfire, FW-190. The detail for the scale is astounding. Puts Hasegawa to shame in my book. Don’t get the 1/72 Tamiya jets though as they are reboxed Italieri junk.