1/48 or 1/72

I prefer 1/72. Not only build aircraft but armor, space, ships and sci-fi in the same scale. Very interesting to see a X-wing next to a F-16 next to a M-1 Abrams, next to a Space Shuttle, next to a U-boat.
Plus it is easier to display all of them together without adding a new room onto the house.

My favorite models to build are World War Two fighter planes, and perhaps the occasional jet fighter, so 1:48 is my personal favorite. The problem I have with 1:72 is that areas like the landing gear and cockpit are woefully under-detailed, often with just a seat and an instrument panel with no detailing. I suppose there are resin kits and the like to make up for this, but painting and glueing such small pieces would be beyond my abilities, and it would be difficult to actually see such intricate work if I could do it anyway.

With 1:32 scale airplanes, small problems such as wings not fitting into the fuselage or warpage is grossly amplified, and can really stand out as flaws that would be less noticeable in a 1:48 scale model. I would also have difficulty fitting such a large model on my shelf anyway.

With modern aircraft, which are really a lot bigger than WWII planes, I could see 1:72 scale--that would put an F-16 as being about as large as an ME-109 or something, and would keep the same compromise of detail/flaws relatively well. Something in between might be better...1:60 or something?

I haven't done modern planes in a while, and don't plan to...it's nice to have a large collection of the same era. And there are hundreds more WWII fighters that I have yet to build!

For me it kind of depends on what it is I'm building, although I do like both. Currently I'm building a B-52 in 1/72 so that works just fine because it's such a large subject in and of itself. I couldn't imagine building that thing in 1/48, I barely have room as it is to do the 1/72. I'm also building an F-84E/G in 1/48 and it isn't too small but I'm not sure I'd do that in 1/72 or not. For smaller planes (like WW2 fighters) I prefer 1/48 but I have done several 1/72 and haven't had much problem with them. I prefer the detail of a 1/48 over that of a 1/72 but I've seen some very impressive detailed 1/72 models of smaller planes. Just kind of depends on what it is that you prefer.

Philp has an excellent point about the space of displaying models though. I should have thought about that before getting carried away with that B-52. Oh well, I'll find a place for it some where I'm sure.

i like 1/48 the best but have been chewing on the idea of trying a 1/32 to see just how detailed and big they are. i saw a 1/24 spitfire that i wouldnt mind try to. but my main scale is 1/48.

I'm a scale slut!!!!

I go where it works for me.

Currently i have a 1/48 Me262 on the bench, and beside that a 1/72 Me163.

The 163 is tiny and sits neatly in the palm of even my relatively small hands.There's one aircraft that I wished I had built in 1/48 or even 1/32.

So it al depends on the size of your subject/available display space.

Maybe someone should develop an equation to help define which scale to choose!!!!!

Karl

Small planes like Fighters and such, I think are better around 1/48th. Big planes like bombers I think are better at 1/72nd. But I think it should depend on the situation. I applaud anyone who can super detail a model at 1/72, but I would bet it would be a lot easier at 1/48.

Quarter scale


Gip Winecoff

Imagine full scale? Imagine the size of the box and the size of the sprues?
Imagine trying to get the capilary effect and then clamping the two pieces together.

1/48. Although I AM starting to run out of room.

1/48. 1/72 is just too small to work with. 1/48 provides enough opportunity for detail and at the same time enough opportunity to recover from mistakes.

1/72 for space and consistency. I also like doing armor and sci-fi. Also, if I don't feel like doing a cockpit, I don't have to, you won't see it unless the canopy's open.
I will do other scales for special items like the Tamiya F-4J, and F4U-1D, or Hasegawa F-14A and F-18D.

1/72! Mostly for space reasons. I just bought a 1/48 scale me-262 and am amazed at the detail (and the size).

I work almost exclusively in 1/72, again for space reasons.

Although, with a Space Shuttle. C-97A, Vulcan B2, EC135 ARIA and a B-36 in my collection (And hopefully a couple of Concordes on the way too!) it definitely looks like I'm going to have to build that extension on my house!

Cheers,

Rob M.

Most of my planes that I seek out are 1/144!! I'm rounding up Migs in 1/72 and aerobatic teams in 1/48. I like the little scales for a general collection and for the more specific themes I go bigger.

1/72: Cost, Wider Selection, and Space Conservation

although the availability of 1/72 is much better i prefer 1/48. i do like the detail.

I prefer 1/72 for the size factor and the amount of kits out there. But I also look for 1/48 for some kits, fighters and etc. for the detail. I get 1/144 for some of the larger subjects, like bombers and airliners. I see that there are alot more kits coming out in 1/32 and 1/24 maybe the trend is to the larger scales now, perhaps someday I'll try one.

1/72 for me but i do dabble in 1/48 occassionally

I like 1/48. I think that it is the best scale for me. The detail is very good and the size of the model is not too big like 1/32 and not too small like 1/72. I still like 1/32 and I do some 1/72. But in 1/32 you need to put in so much detail that you will choke to death by the end of the model.

The only scale I build is 1/48, and only WW II aircraft (with the exception of Eduard's Bell X-1). Some may call it predictable or "in a rut," but I prefer to call it "consistent."
My old eyes aren't good enough for 1/72, and I don't have the space for 1/32. 1/48 suits me fine.

I was a 72nd scaler for 20 years, with some 48th now and then. recently I bit the bullet and decided that I will be building 48th scale only. I build mostly WWII with a jet every now and then so 48th is not to bad in terms of size unless I decide to do a squadron of B-17 and B-24. JOHN

Well....

For me, the 1/48 scale aircraft are much easier to play with; I've had 1/72 airplanes slip out of my fingers during a particularly demanding "Split-S", and it seems I always manage to bang a wingtip into a door facing or something while "Barrel-Rolling" a 1/32nd, but haven't had any of those problems with the 48's.

VRoooooooooooom!!!!
Frank

1/48 always, i dont like small things neither too big, i just want the medium size

my best regards
Hector

It is all taste and space related......In 1/48 it is better for showing scratchbuilt and detail. 1/72 is good for increasing collections, fast builts, and also solves room constraints.

QUOTE: Originally posted by thyamis It is all taste and space related......In 1/48 it is better for showing scratchbuilt and detail. 1/72 is good for increasing collections, fast builts, and also solves room constraints.

The way my hands shake, 1/72 takes longer than 1/48. I'm working on a 1/48 Corsair and am astounded how much easier it is than 1/72. Unless you don't do much detailing...