Choices!!

For pure space-saving, 1/72 is the way to go. But you do have to factor in how good your eyesight is, too. . .

You also have t0 figure in finger dextarity as will. I built 32 48 & 72 scale myself and hang most from my model room celling. 48 and 32 are my first choices. I find WW1 fighters in 72 scale very fustrating to build. I've never tried 144 scale.

Depends on if you like fighters or bombers. 48th fighters don't take up much room and have the detail you want, while the bombers will take up a lot of space. Another consideration is the scope of models you want to build. 72nd offers a wider range of selections to chose from. After a while it becomes a personal preference and like paulnchamp said, eyesight will eventually play a part

Well,

I started out building 1/48 scale, but now I'm finding that I really enjoy 1/72 scale. I've seen some exceptionally detailed planes in 1/72 scale too, so you're not limiting yourself regarding detail.

A lot of folks don't specialize; there's no rule saying each kit in your collection has to be the same scale.

Regards,

-Drew

I almost exclusively do 1/72. But a friend of mine says that he like to do WWII in 1/48 (because at that scale they're not too big) and modern jets in 1/72.

What I tend to do is most in 1/72 and special cases get 1/48 treatment. I of course did break down and get the Tamiya 1/32 F-4J.

Taskforcell
First, welcome to the forum. I too have a similar problem as you are having. Many today 1/72 WWII fighters models have rather good details. I would recommand the Tamiya 1/72 series(e.g P-51, Spitfire, Me-109 etc) They have good mold and best of all, they are the down scale version of their 1/48 version. Therefore the detail of the cockpit is as good as 1/48. I always consider a cockpit is good if it has what I call Basic Five(i.e. Basic five pieces: Floor/tub, seat, control stick, instrumental panel and back armour plate) or more. I believe all Tamiya 1/72 has the Basic Five. Hasegawa 1/72 planes designed after mid 80's are also very good. For Academy, try to focus on models designed after mid 90's. I've tried their P-40N Warhawk and the detail is excellent(by just looking at the instruction, you may think it's a 1/48 model). Airfix, Matchbox and Heller should be you second choice, yet they offer a cheaper deal. Since I haven't built ProModel, Revell and Edmurd, can anyone give some comment on these?

[img=right]http://www.ryanahern.net/The_Fleet/B29Top2.jpg[/img=right]Well, I'm a strong promoter of 1/48 scale, but they can take up a lot of room if you plan on building a lot. Also, I have large hands and fingers for this hobby so 1/72 was just too incredibly frustrating for me.

Out of around 180 different planes used by the US in WWII, I have identified 68 planes available to model at the 1/48 scale. There are a few more at the 1/72 scale, not sure exactly, but I think it's near 100 for US WWII planes.

Here's a top view of my B-29 (cutaway). If you are building WWII planes at 1/48 this is about as large as they get.

Quagmyre,

Your B-29 looks great from what I can see. How about some more photos! I had one I started on years ago and was doing the same thing except my gunners area cut out is on the opposite side as yours. I was making removable panels for them.

[img=right]http://www.ryanahern.net/The_Fleet/B29Wide.jpg[/img=right]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Melgyver Quagmyre, Your B-29 looks great from what I can see. How about some more photos! I had one I started on years ago and was doing the same thing except my gunners area cut out is on the opposite side as yours. I was making removable panels for them.

OK, Thanks. I've always wanted to go [img=right]http://www.ryanahern.net/The_Fleet/B29Side.jpg[/img=right]back and detail and weather it a bit more since this was my first model in 20-some years, but I need a little more practice at that. A few parts are falling off here and there like the nose cone you can see in the pic to the right and below, since it's been in and out of storage. Yes, perhaps I'll find time for a necessary overhaul in the future.

I went with an interesting paint scheme [img=right]http://www.ryanahern.net/The_Fleet/B29Cockpit.jpg[/img=right]on this. Heard from a friend of a friend that some of the B-29s actually were painted a funky Aircraft Grey that looks more mint green than anything else. He swears by this paint scheme though, so I'll trust him. He was alive then I wasn't. I also put the "Thumper" nose art on the starboard side (inaccurate side) rather than the port side (appropriate side) cuz I cut away the left side, then then later realized that's [img=right]http://www.ryanahern.net/The_Fleet/B29Tail.jpg[/img=right]where the "Thumper" nose art goes. DOH!!!!! One of the windows on the starboard side is cut out for a crewman to stick his head out. That crewman is now deceased thanks to a bad kitty (see page 3 of the following post ---> http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13110). Think I'll use Revell-Monogram's part replacement program to replace him!

Sorry the pics are kinda blurry. Borrowed digital camera with a ton of bells and whistles and these were taken in the attic under low light conditions. Most of the details are so-so. Not bad for a first attempt and having a toothpick as my most accurate painting tool. Just had to go with the cutaways after [img=right]http://www.ryanahern.net/The_Fleet/B29Quarters.jpg[/img=right]
spending so much time on the interior. If I were to do another (not likely) non-cutaway I wouldn't even bother painting much of the interior.

All-in-all, I'm glad I did it. Not sure it was the best way to get back in the game. Would rather be building it now, now that I know now, what I did not know then. Follow that?

Hey Quag!
Doesn't look that shabby for your first build after coming back into the game.
Look's very impressive.

Randie

Sure looks good for her "age"! At least you finished yours. Mine is still in pieces and now some of the stuff I detailed is broken. I scratch built a radar station in the rear area in place of two of the bunks. I'll have to figure out out to post pictures one of these days. Was debating on doing the flaps down but then I'll never finish if for sure. Thanks for posting the pictures. Maybe it will motivate me a little!