mixing 1/35 armor and 1/?? aircraft for diorama. scale help needed.

I'm planning on 1/35 with a couple of 1/32 scale spits working over a german convoy and some GI's on a hill throwing in a few too? but I'm thinking with the different scales it'll have to be set up so the planes will appear to be closer than the convoy and also the GI's?

At least that's how I'm going to play it off?

HEY,
I dont have much experience in this but my impression would be to use the same scale for both, and if you cant get the same scale, use the next one down that you can get. It is always better for it to be a bit smaller and look a little awkward than for it to be to big for the diorama.

Randy

I do not really mind mixing 1/76 and 1/72 models... The difference is there, but most people will not notice and I think that using figures that are a tiny little bit smaller or larger actually add to the realism. Mixing 1/32 aircraft and 1/35 AFVs should not really make that much of an outcry... Many kits are actually not 100% accurate in terms of dimensions anyway.

This is a problem I have pondered as well. The answer to your question depends on whether whether you are build for the purists, or whether your prime emphasis is simple visual appeal.

Here are the scale dimensions for a hypothetical P-51 model. The 1:1 aircraft length is assumed to be 32.2 ft.

1/32 Scale - 12 1/16 in
1/35 Scale - 11 1/16 in
1/48 Scale - 8 1/16 in

It depends on how you intend to pose the aircraft with respect to the armor. If you plan to have a tank parked next to a aircraft, then the 1/32 scale would work best. Would most people notice the 1 inch difference in the aircraft length? I doubt it. For one thing, armor and aircraft are typically not found in close association, so most people don't have an innate appreciation for the 10% error between a 1/32 P-51 and a 1/35 Sherman, or an F-16 and an M1A1. If possible I would put the aircraft behind and perhaps slightly lower than the armor to visually minimize the this error.

On the other hand, if you plan to have the aircraft in flying position, such as Redleg's Spits working over the convoy, then you might be able to arrange the 1/48 scale aircraft to enhance the illusion of distance. This would work, for instance, if you had an F-16 coming from behind to attack an Iraqi T-72.

Forced perspective works well with larger dioramas. If you are using smaller scaled aircraft you can position the aircraft rolling or out from the scene pretty easily. Just think how quickly aircraft leave your immediate area at an airshow! Myself, I also consider the working altitude of the aircraft in the scene. I'd love to have an A-10 working over a T-72 or T-69 in the desert but the angle of attack would be so steep to get them both in the scene, the Hog would surely plow right into the deck. I've got a few helo's moving over a FARP position and even those are suspended 2 to 3 feet over the scene. I had the unpleasant experiance of being seated in a stadium when a slight of Apaches hovered over the stands. It was nearly impossible to breath with the rotor wash. That's my 2 cents worth. Good luck!