Scale

I believe 1/16 is actually pretty popular in the RC side of things, but those kits are $$$.

Personally, I'd love to see some larger-scale armor kits. Not sure I'd be down for 1/16 - only one I've ever seen in person is Trumpy's 1/16 T-34/76, and that thing is an absolute monster. Very few kits I'd spring for in that scale - maybe a Sherman 76mm, Jumbo or Easy Eight. 

But I'd be very interested in 1/24 armor, which would have the same scale relation to 1/35, more or less, as 1/32 does to 1/48 in aircraft (approx 50% larger). Kind of surprised nobody's gone there yet.

I happen to prefer the 1/25 or 1/24th scale armor as it is in the same scale as my car builds and the existing Academy Panther based kits are reasonable in price.

Would be nice if Academy enlarged their 1/35 Tiger with interior to 1/25th or 1/24th as the old Tamiya Tiger I kit is expensive and has numerous faults needing correction.

I notice some 1/24th scale armor models are being produced in resin but cost prohibits mainstream acceptance.

I used to build the old AURORA Armor in 1/48th, but the Tamiya 1/48th scale kits don't have a significant price advantage over 1/35th armor.

Armor in 1/72nd scale has some very nice kits

Armor in 1/16th is more practical for RC as the larger size allows for more powerful motors and larger battery packs. Not good for display due to size.

DoogsATX

But I'd be very interested in 1/24 armor, which would have the same scale relation to 1/35, more or less, as 1/32 does to 1/48 in aircraft (approx 50% larger). Kind of surprised nobody's gone there yet.

At one time, quite a few early armor kits were in 1/32- for example:

The Renwall Atomic Cannon ( which I just couldn't resist buying a Revell re-issue )

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/rm/kit_rm_7811.shtml

I don't know why manufacturers shifted to 1/35th scale.

Yep - Revell made a 1/32 Sherman that I still see languishing on the shelf at the local Hobbytown.

I honestly think 1/35 took off because companies starting making better kits that just happened to be in that scale, plus figures and all that, and so a whole ecosystem grew up, too.

As to getting a new scale off the ground, it's a murky combo of kit subjects and kit quality. From what I hear, the Trumpy T-34 is a marvel...but it's a T-34. I imagine the uptake of a Pz.IV or Tiger I or M4 Sherman would be MUCH greater.

You may be right about 1/35th. I have an old Squadron sale advert listing Nitto 1/40 armor as well Tamiya 1/35th- I never again heard of Nitto so perhaps 1/35th survived due to Tamiya surviving.

I agree re: a Pz.IV or Tiger I or M4 Sherman - if state of the art kits were produced, they'd sell well.

The Pzkw IV and M4 Shermans were the armor backbones of two armies.

I certainly would like to see both issued in 1/24th or 1/25th scale.

DoogsATX

Yep - Revell made a 1/32 Sherman that I still see languishing on the shelf at the local Hobbytown.

I honestly think 1/35 took off because companies starting making better kits that just happened to be in that scale, plus figures and all that, and so a whole ecosystem grew up, too.

As to getting a new scale off the ground, it's a murky combo of kit subjects and kit quality. From what I hear, the Trumpy T-34 is a marvel...but it's a T-34. I imagine the uptake of a Pz.IV or Tiger I or M4 Sherman would be MUCH greater.

Do not count 1/72 out as an aircraft scale, for multi engined bombers and more exotic types of aircraft it is still the number 1 scale.
And of course 1/144 for airliners. Airliners do not seem to be affected by the current large scale fad.

Monogram started 1/35 scale armor modeling. Many Japanese companies copied Monogram kits making them motorized. Japanese model companies start using 1/35 scale as their standard scale. Tamiya was just the one to take off as the others went under.

Peerless Max was another Japanese model company that also used 1/35 scale. They went under, but their kits survive today originally under the Italeri name (the WC Dodge series, M1A1 155mm gun, M3 White Scout Car, Bedford, Chevy Tractor to name a few). Several of these kits ended up in Revell of Germany, Testors, Bilek and Zvezda boxes.

Renwal used 1/32 scale and so did Airfix so Monogram stopped using 1/35 scale and switched to 1/32. They even relabeled their 1/35 scale kits and called them 1/32. Both old Renwal and old Monogram kits are now released under Revell's label. Monogram should have stuck with 1/35 instead of jumping to 1/32 scale, but in reality, they only made a handful of armor kits in 1/32. Most were 1/35.

Revell's original armor scale was 1/40. Tamiya Mokei originally used 1/50 scale (but was called 1/48 scale when Hawk released their kits stateside). Those kits were little more than motorized toys.

Personally, I see the larger scales (1/24 and up for armor and 1/32 and up for aircraft) as the manufacturers recognizing the aging modeling population with failing eyesight. They also know we have deeper pockets and would rather spend big bucks on a large scale high quality kit than on smaller scale, cheaper kits.

Rob Gronovius

Personally, I see the larger scales (1/24 and up for armor and 1/32 and up for aircraft) as the manufacturers recognizing the aging modeling population with failing eyesight. .........

Chuckle.....I wish they'd hurry up.

I'm not getting any younger.............

on the subject of the Larger scales

The first time I saw Dragons' large scale 37mm kit,,,,,,,I almost jumped ship to armor, and larger scale, both at once, lol

37mm anti tank gun with approximately 4 inch rubber tires,,,,,,,"GI Joe scale",,,,,1/6th?

there were a few other kits,,like a mortar, mg, or some such,,,,,,I didn't look at those much, the vendor let me open the AT gun's box,,,,so, I mostly just drooled inside there for a while, lol

Rex

Dragon's large 1/6th scale items were made in GI Joe scale (also called Battle Barbies) to go along with their own 1/6th scale action figure line. They just decided to release some of the unassembled display pieces as scale models to see if modelers would buy them as well.