Scale 1/72 vs 1/48 pros and cons

Add me to the 1/72nd only bunch. I don't do 1/48 for three reasons,
Price, Size and they are still to toy like when finished. To my eye anyway 1/72 and huge scales like 1/32 and 1/24 look more realistic in scale effect. I also find 1/72 scale more challenging. 1/48 scale is a good scale for beginners or like someone else here said modellers with club hands. Much easier scale to work with.

Thanks for the comments,
I am surprised so many like 1/72 I thought I was going to be in the minority, I thought 1/48 was the more popular scale but I guess its just more visible.

I like to build in the same scale as much as possible because part of the fun for me is seeing the size differance between differant aircraft, like seeing most modern fighters are as big as a WW2 medium bomber, or currently I am building a P2 Neptune and an Allouette 3, it is hard to believe they are the same scale because the helo looks so tiny sitting next to the Neptune.

I didn't realize that 1/72 had more availablity, I thought it was just the kits I was looking for.

I got back into building aircraft to build some of the firefighting aircraft I've worked with but it has really developed an urge to start building military aircraft again and I was sort of waffling about whether to stick with 1/72 or bump up to 1/48. I think I'll stay with 1/72 until I have more room or get an urge to add a ton of detail, the Accurate Miniatures kits sound really nice though. At this time I'm more into collecting aircraft and just doing a decent job than pushing the building envelope to make something really spectacular.

Anyway, thanks for the comments it has been helpful.

I do both. OK. I am going to do both. 1/48 for fighters and 1/72 for bombers.

When I started out building 20 years ago, I didn't care what scale the kit was. Later as my interests narrowed I realized that 1/72 was the only scale many of the planes I was looking for were or had been made in. A fellow at the hobby shop I used to frequent said it best when he said, "If you can't find it in 1/72, you can't find it.". I build experimental and prototype fighters for the most part and 1/48 scale kits of these are nearly non-existent. If you factor in all the small injection mold, resin, and vac companies, there is very few if any planes that haven't been released in 1/72. Shelf space is a plus as is the price point of 1/72, but the availability of subject matter is what makes 1/72 the one true scale for me.

I prefer 1/48 scale for the reason that I have arthritis in both hands. My vision is still perfect (age 61), but after working on some small detail in 1/48, I feel my eyes are crossed. The larger scale allowes me to do some of the things I would not be able to do in smaller scales.

With the wide range of subjects now available in 1/48 scale, it also allowes me to model subjects that was once only available in 1/72. Space is no problem. I have a closet full of unbuilt kits.

If my hands get any worse, I may have to go with 1/32 scale.

Really depends on the kit. I tend to buy from Etamiya.com because their prices are far cheaper than squadrons 'suggested' price, though the shipping is expensive. I stock up on a few kits at a time since it's flat shipping up to 990grams or something so it works out.

I found that Tamiya makes a ton of modern aircraft in 1/72 scale, a few in 1/32 with insane detail and then their 1/48 are dominated by warbirds. So if I get into a warbird itch, I would likely migrate to 1/48 scale, but if I can choose, I like 1/72.

I've seen the Trumpeter A-10 with the really sweet cannon, and I've seen it inside the airplane(well, SEEN isn't the right word, because you can't see it). I've built a cheap 1/72 kit for 80 dollars less that from 3 feet away looks almost identical to the 1/32 Trumpeter makes.

I would however like to point out that the process in building the Trumpeter A-10 is probably leaps and bounds ahead of the cheaper 1/72 kits you can find as far as the fun of building it goes. Three sprues or 10 with 900 parts? Hmm guess it depends on if you're lazy or someone who likes instant gratification, hehe.

However, only the person building the kit and other afficiando's and/or contest judges are studying it 6 inches from their face. Looking at my display case full of 1/72s with a 1/32 in the mix will still look awesome from my Lazy-Boy regardless.

I lean towards 1/72 I guess(I just went on a 1/72 shopping spree at etamiya and when I get that package of 4 kits I'll salvitate -- were I to buy a single 1/32 from them it wouldn't feel like a shopping spree... four 1/72 kits or 1 1/32, tough choice!). But once in a while I wouldn't mind dropping the 100$ or so on those nice Tamiya 1/32 kits or the Trumpeters.

My preference is 1/48th for a number of reasons, but it boils down to
1.) it's a scale I use every day and therefore I very comfortable with it.
2.) detail is a bit easier (see 1 above)
3.) Handeling purposes
4.) Eyes and fingers. Club fisted hands only allow for so much delicasy
5.) Frustrated wall darts are much more spectacular upon impact

But I am not above getting a kit in 1/72nd if I can't find it 1/48th.

The only thing I can add to this discussion is the fact that I like to model rare subject aircraft. (Think Luft '46...) One advantage of 1:72 scale is that if a kit of a rare aircraft is made, it's usually-
-only made once, and not by many companies, and
-in 1:72 scale.

1:72 seems to be the go-to scale for limited run aircraft models. Then again, the shift to 1:48 in preferrence might change this. We shall see...

well let me first say i have only recently done anything in 1/72 again. but the detail was impressive. i usually do 1/48 and am just learning how to detail. besides i love the size. i want to get into the 1/32 but finances just dont allow it yet.

joe

I agree with Rik. 1/72 for multi-engined stuff (which is where i usually find myself) and 1/48 for fighters and the like... On the other hand, there are times when the thing you really want only comes in select scales (i.e. Accurate Miniatures makes kits ONLY in 1/48).

Then again, you can load a 1/72 Aircraft whit a LOT of detail if you work real hard at it. I'd like to share with you a 1/72 Huey my friend, Allan, built that is nothing short of spectacular (Hope you don't mind buddy! )
Besides, the model is even more impressive if you make something in 1/72 look like it was modeled in 1/48!

It depends on the subject really.

If there's only one game in town for a certain subject and you want it that bad, you have to take it in the scale it comes in.

If I want to go way out of the box with a model that everyone and their dog makes a kit of, I try to go 1/48. If I just want a decent replica of something I'll go with 1/72 usually.

I've been thinking about this one myself of late, mainly as a result of storage space constraints, and the conclusion I reached?

Focus mainly on 1/72, so in my case a collection of WWII Luftwaffe fighters & bombers in 1/72, with a few extra subjects in 1/48 such as my Polikarpov and my 262.

There is always going to be that kit which is not available in the scale you want, so I figure why stop myself owning one just because of scale. For me it will be a balance of storage space versus desperation to own a specific model.

As for the detail question, 1/72 models have come a very long way, and are often little more than scaled down 1/48 kits, as per Tamiya's new P47.

I probably haven't helped at all, but at least you know you're not alone!

Karl

QUOTE: Originally posted by leemitcheltree I prefer 1/48 scale because you can pump a lot of extra detail into the cockpit and airframe - they're quite spectacular ------- But 1/72 scale has an incredible variety and depth that 1/48 scale just doesn't have. Plus, you can fit WAY more 1/72 scale planes into a display case than you can 1/48 scale planes....... In short - I go for both - 1/48 for those "special projects" and 1/72 for everything else.

here hear.......... regardless of how far away Mr. LeeTree resides, his eloquence knows few bounds.......
1/72 multi-engine WW II.......
1/48 single-engine WW II.......

There are pros and cons with both and all you guys are right on the money. I build both. I'm slowly building up an WWII Allied aircraft collection in 72nd simply because of availability, and the number of types involved in that war. You'll find many kits in this scale that you'll never, ever find in another. I usually build these OOB except for decals. But don't be fooled that you can't put in loads of detail, it's just harder to see and sometimes harder to make. Just check out that SB2U in Great Scale Modelling 2004! So Break out that optivisor and go for it!
On the other hand, I build modern jets (anything with swept wings) in 48th. Most of the jets I'd like to build are available in this scale, even the gigantic B-1B (still waiting on that Vigilante though). These birds are sleek, beautiful, and just wicked bad looking, and they're impressive in 48th.
Got 15 or so old Revell 32nd kits in the stash too- saving those for when I get alot more time. See ya.

I generally prefer 1/48, mainly for my eyes sake, but I still do 1/72... got a couple in the pre-stack now in fact; AModel PZL Wilga and a Heller T-28 Fennec... thinking about setting those up somehow in diorama form. As was said, they're a lot easier to display.

Just won a Shorts Tucano T1in 1/72 scale off ebay last night... I wish it came in 1/48, but if not, the 72's will do.

Take care,
Frank

I prefer 1/48 scale because you can pump a lot of extra detail into the cockpit and airframe - they're quite spectacular -------
But 1/72 scale has an incredible variety and depth that 1/48 scale just doesn't have.
Plus, you can fit WAY more 1/72 scale planes into a display case than you can 1/48 scale planes.......
In short - I go for both - 1/48 for those "special projects" and 1/72 for everything else.

I prefer 1/72 because that's the scale I started with when I began modeling. Then as now space is a consideration and to a lesser degree price is as well. I don't want to pay for mind-blowing detail that I'll never see again once everything is closed up nor do I want to build floor to ceiling shelving. 1/72 has all the subjects I want so that's what I'll stick with.