Can anyone explain why the model manufacturers have chosen a scale of 1/35 or 11/32" for their models when 1/32 or 3/8" scale would agree with some manufacturers of large scale railroad models. Yes I know the large scale railroad manufacturers are also using other scales but that is another story.
Amphib
This question gets asked often. The bottom line answer is that Tamiya started using the csale for motorized models in the early '70s. They continued the scale with static models since they already had the molds and it took off from there. Other companies used the same scale so their kits would be the same scale.
Monogram’s use of 1/35 scale pre-dates Tamiya’s use of 1/35 scale. Many now-defunct Japanese model companies copied Monogram kits and motorized them. Because of this, 1/35 scale was the established scale in Japan for motorized tank kits and Tamiya chose that scale because of the size required to house the motorization and batteries.
Tamiya did not begin manufacturing plastic models until 1959. By then, Monogram models already had a line of 1/35 scale military models that included the M48 Patton tank, M3A1 halftrack, M16 Halftrack (really a 2x.50 cal M13), M29 Amphibious Weasel, M34 2 1/2 ton truck, Infantry troops and a Jeep with 37mm anti-tank gun as early as 1956-58.
By the 1970s, Monogram switched to 1/32 scale to match the Renwal kits and the new Airfix 1/32 scale armor kits (probably the best 1/32 scale armor kits of the era were the 1976 Airfix kits). The kits released in 1/32 scale were the M4 Hedgehog, M4A1 Calliope, Panzer IV, Flakpanzer, Sturmpanzer, Jagdpanzer IV, M8 Greyhound, Sd.Kfz 232, M3 Grant and M3 Lee. Many of Monogram’s previous 1/35 scale kits were reissued magically as 1/32 scale.
By the late 70s, Tamiya became the premier armor model manufacturer as the US and UK stopped making new military models in the 1/32-1/35 scale range. The Italian companies Italeri and Esci continued to develop the 1/35 scale line as well. Italeri’s armor line still contains 1/35 scale armor kits from some of those now-defunct Japanese model companies.
About this time, Academy showed up and began releasing pirated copies of Tamiya’s armor kits.
As to why Monogram originally chose 1/35, I haven’t been able to find the answer to that question.
I never questioned the story about Tamiya and 1/35. Your Mongram timeline busts that myth Rob.
Learned something new today!
Rob
Thanks for your explanation. It also clears up another mystery. Recently I picked up a kit for my grandson for a halftrack. It was a “shake the box” type kit that comes with a screw driver to assemble it. The box (which I no longer have) indicates that it is 1/32. But comparing it withe the Italeri halftrack it is clearly 1/35. Must be the old Monogram kit or some variant of it.
Amphib
And YOU trust Wikipedia ???
Reminds me of the Allstate commercial with the French model, bonjour!
Rob - The internet never lies… LMAO
Rounds Complete!!
I have always found it strange that Revell (the original Venice, Calif company) chose 1/40 scale for their military vehicles and Monogram chose 1/35 with Aurora chosing 1/48 and Renwal using 1/32. Yet the two companies that chose established aircraft scales (Aurora & Renwal) both went under but Revell-Monogram still exists.
There was probably a perfectly good reason why those scales were chosen. Perhaps that scale made the unassembled kit fit the companies’ respective standard sized boxes or that scale was the limit of that companies’ technological abilities. Might even have been random.
I’ve collected a few of the motorized copies of kits based heavily on early Monogram armor kits. They were rather interesting.
60’s 70’s Monogram was 1/32. don’t know what it is now? thought it was picked up by Revel ? don’t buy anything that’s not upper class kits T’HB’D’T’B’AFV’ crap that’s almost everything lol
Clay
If you read my first post, Monogram started with 1/35 scale kits (before Tamiya ever made a plastic model kit) then they switched to 1/32 scale. Revell and Monogram merged into Revell-Monogram (now just Revell) but remains located in Monogram’s original location.
If you look at Revell’s online store ( www.hobbyshipper.com/…/wsr600p ) you’ll see three original Monogram armor kits labeled as their correct scale; the M48A2 in 1/35, SdKfz 232 in 1/32 scale and the M4 Hedge Hog in 1/32. Since Monogram used both scales, many modelers think all their kits are just one scale or the other, usually assuming the older kits are 1/32 scale like their later 1970s kits.
Also listed are two of the Renwal armor kits Revell obtained in the early 1980s.
Thanks guys, interesting read!
Going to store away HO/00 = 2’ narrow gauge in 1/35 in my noggin.
Great info all around----much education to be had here for the scale modeler!
I’m just glad they didn’t pick a bigger scale—god only knows where I’d store all my built models!
If you’ve ever seen any of the old Revell 1/40 scale stuff, that scale is probably a better scale size-wise. It’s larger than 1/48th but smaller than 1/35.
To be honest, the mainstream armor modelers will be 1/35th scale for the duration of the hobby’s existence.
This bloody site needs a like button like Facebook. Well said Rob.
Some very interesting info has been presented here on the history of scale. [Y]
There is one scenario I can think of that could change the scales we build in, and that would be 3D printing. In that situation, the kit is “printed out” in the scale desired by the buyer - of course size would be limited by the capacity of the printer. From what I understand though, this technology has a ways to go before reaching the quality we see in many of today’s kits.
regards,
Jack
As a child, the first tank kits I built were the Aurora 1/48 scale ones. I’ve always had a fondness for it. When I entered the Army in 1987, I discovered 1/48 scale Bandai kits and loved them. I’ve bought almost every Tamiya, Skybow, AFV Club and Hobby Boss 1/48 scale armor kit. My 1/72 scale armor collection is extensive, well into the hundreds of kits.
But I know the standard scale for armor modeling will forever be 1/35th.
When I started modeling back in the late fifties, I didn’t buy kits based on the scale. I just built what I liked, which was everything. Really , everything. My paper route and Ice cream cart business paid well. LOL. By the early seventies I decided I liked the new Tamiya armor kits best.
The early Bandai 1/48 kits were cool as well. However as more and more Tamiya became available I became more discriminating and came the conclusion that 1/48 and 1/72 scale tank tracks just didn’t look right, and I liked the options 1/35th offered. I still have a large stash of Bandai kits. I have slowly been selling selected ones to friend who likes that scale and sometimes does a great job of converting some of them. Some of them are the original ones with the swastika on the boxes, before Bandai took them off. I think I paid under five bucks apiece for them back in the early seventies. I also still have a small stash, pun intended, of 72 scale kits. I build them off and on for fun.
Doug
“From what I understand though, this technology has a ways to go before reaching the quality we see in many of today’s kits.”
Ummmm no. Have a look here:
Hotchkiss suspension replacements:
Detail parts for M4 Shermans & variants: