Hello fellow modelers. I am a historian who works for the Navy and "new" to the hobby. I built military models and painted military miniatures until I went to college in 1975, and through this magazine, re-entered the hobby several years ago. It was like gong from black and white to color in Alice in Wonderland, owing to the level of detail of the kits, the ability to shop around the world from your very own home via the Internet, and the vast increase in modelling accessories, such as photoetch, resin, and other aftermarket parts. I am a member of the Northern Virginia chapter of the IPMS and am close to getting my certificate for 1/48th scale aircraft.
My question is this: why is there a relative paucity of 1/48th kits other than airplanes? Tamiya, for example, have recently released Afrika Korps vehicles and figures and 8th Army vehicles, but no desert Tommies. I would also love to see 1/48th scale figures and vehicles. With all the wonderful airplane kits in this scale, it's a mystery to me why there are relatively few figures and vehicles. Is it simply a matter of economics--1/48th other than planes just doesn't sell, or is the industry slow or unwilling to gamble? I am a fan of World War I aircraft, and would love to see more Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and Italian kits. It would also be a dream come true if Wingnuts Wings would do 1/48th scale kits. Any thoughts on these matters?
Sincerely,
Bob Schneller