Is there much difference between 1/72 and 1/76

It can be noticeable yes. If the two vehicles were of the same type, you would notice it. But if you were to put a Tiger and Panther next to each other, one in each scale, then i doubt you would.

I use 72nd figures for my aircraft Dio's and i also have some Airfix figures. Though they state they are 72nd, i do believe they are 76th. I try not to use the Aifix ones in a position where it would stand out, such as having one of each scale standing next to each other. But if i have an Aifix figure thats kneeling, or maybe further away from other figures, then it works.

Hi,

There is a difference between  the two scales and is significant to the trained eye. If I recall correctly  1/76 (1 inch = 6.4 inches)  while 1/72 (1 inch  = 6 inches). perhaps someone will chime in if I'm wrong. Inaccuracies vary  from manufacture to manufacture  including the individual vehicle kits they make.  Some 1/76 kits scale up to 1/72, Nitto's 1/76 Sturmgeschutz III is a good example. and the reverse  can also happen. The detail of 1/76 tends to be inferior to its larger brother but that is not necessarily always the case.  Will you be combining the two scales?

Combining no - just sitting on a shelf beside each other potentially

In that case, you'd be okay. As stated earlier, many older kits were not designed with as much attention to scale as they are today. I think a few of Nitto's kits were scaled down copies of Bandai's 1/48 scale armor.Something slightly oversized in 1/48 may have carried that error into the 1/76 scale model.

Additionally, a couple of companies (Airfix and Revell) have released 1/76 scale kits as 1/72 scale kits just because that scale was more popular at the time of reissue. Many of Airfix's 1/76 scale kits came out as 1/72 scale when Revell and Dragon repopularized the scale. Likewise, Revell reboxed 1/76 scale Matchbox kits in order to make their new 1/72 scale line appear larger than it initially was.

I mix and match 1/72 and 1/76 figures on my bases regularly but not the vehicles themselves. There are noticeable scale differences if compared closely.

In saying that, I have both scales side by side on differing bases in my display cabinet and they look fine.

I believe- that as long as you are happy- and you are not going for a showstopper- its ok.

Just be careful with the figure-mixing. Some of the older figures are way out of scale--more like 1/65, especially like, the Matchbox figures. Big heads and hands, etc.

say I want to do a very large 1/76 HO scale train display. I have all the cars, people, houses, accessories, roads, etc in 1/76 scale. For me it’s very hard to find aircraft of most type, boats, and military vehicals/figurines/the whole 9 yards in 1:76 scale. So say I used 1/72 aircraft, boats, and military, do you think it Would mix well? I wish to have an airport and large military base, and maybe a boat dock, incase you were wondering. Lol thanks and I hope you reply! 

HO train scale is 1/87, so there is hardly any train stuff in 1/72 or 76.

Dear Newbie22 !

    As the Vice -President of the new Braunfels Railroad Club and Nuseum I have to stand firm in this correction . H.O. scale is 1/87 scale , Not 1/76 . Now that said . ! What are you planning to set up ? The reason I ask is this , have you ever heard of Forced Perspective ?

    As you know when you view something normally the further from you , the smaller an object appears . In Model railroading and some Shadow Box modeling this is especially true . If you only have say four feet and you need five hundred yards of detail .You do this .You put the largest at the front and the tiniest at the furthest point from that In The Back . This way you get the effect of distance in a limited space .

 To even better the effect , the object furthest from your view is also at a higher point in relation to the object in front . This slant from front to back enhances the depth the eye sees . When I want to model say a heavier 6x6 in a dio I will have two near each other .The smaller scale one is the standard model and the larger the heavier duty one .Remember many vehicles were just bigger copies of the run of the mill ones !

 All I just told you is easy to do .That way if you only have a depth of four inches to do this you Can and Will succeed . Why ? because that's what modelers do , Find What Works ! .Good Modeling . T.B. 

Newbie22

say I want to do a very large 1/76 HO scale train display. I have all the cars, people, houses, accessories, roads, etc in 1/76 scale. For me it’s very hard to find aircraft of most type, boats, and military vehicals/figurines/the whole 9 yards in 1:76 scale. So say I used 1/72 aircraft, boats, and military, do you think it Would mix well? I wish to have an airport and large military base, and maybe a boat dock, incase you were wondering. Lol thanks and I hope you reply! 

You want Roco and Herpa miniscale military vehicles and accessories, not 1/72 or 1/76 scale model kits. There is a fairly comprehensive line of modern and WW2 military vehicles.

http://www.smallscalehobbies.com/minitanks-herpa-roco/

1/76 scale is OO. I don't see a problem using 1/72 vehicles.

BTW, Newbie is replying to "the doog"!

"Bout fell out of my chair there. Still, reasonable question.

Airfix did make a series of 1/76 (OO) armor at some point. I used their prime mover and 88 gun in a transport aircraft diorama (1/72) and it was fine background.