favorite scale to model in

For me the bigger the better...in my youth the best kits I built were the mpc 1:24 Stuka and P-51 and a 1:12 scale Corvette Stingray with real metal coil springs - amazingly realistic for the 70's.

Actually, my stash these days has: 1:32 for aircraft (even though I have plenty of 1:48 aircraft because of lack of variety in 1:32); 1:350 for ships; 1:35 for armor and 1:24/25 for autos.

The problem I have with most 1:48 aircraft is the lack of engine detail at least with most of the 1:48 kits in my stash.  Although, I bought a number of 1:32 Hasegawa Spitfires from ebay expecting to find engines and was very disapointed on delivery.

1:700 ships don't have realistic looking guns IMHO.

I like Tamiya's new trend toward making armor and aircraft in the same scale...I just wish that they had choosen 1:35 for that scale.

I know the larger scales prove to be a hassle in display, but currently I finish so few models that displaying them hasn't been an issue.

Just my take on things!

mikepowers wrote:

Warhorse has my numbers. 1/48th aircraft and armor and 1/700 for ships. Great balance for price, storage, selection and workablility. Mike

LOL! Cool! These area ll the reasons why 1/72 scale and 1/700 are my favorites! LOL! Awesome Mike! 

Plumline, thanks for the great Thread. I also want to see more replies. This is great.

Warhorse has my numbers.

1/48th aircraft and armor and 1/700 for ships.

Great balance for price, storage, selection and workablility.

Mike

you guys would hate my shelves, I have 1/35th mixed with 1/144 mixxed with 1/100 mixed with 1/60th, mixed with nonscale.

But I on the fence about what I like to build, 1/35th seems to small at times.  I have fun with my scifi in 1/100th, but they never seem to have enough small detail for me to be happy, the 1/60th are better but so expensive.

I am currently working on a MA.K (Maschinen Krieger ZbV 3000) in 1/20th scale, and I am quite enjoying it, it isn't to big that its hard to work with, but its large enough that the details are clean and alot easier to paint (I despise painting 1/35th figures)

  I've always been a 1/35 guy but now with the detail the new dragon 1/72 kits have I'm starting to go that route also.

For me

Autos: 1/24-1/25

Aircraft: 1/72

Ships: 1/700

Armor: 1/35

Since I'm no spring chicken and my eyes aren't what they used to be, I choose modelling subjects based on what I can see.  This is how I break it down in most cases.  WWI subjects, 1/32 scale, WWII subjects, 1/48 scale, current subjects, 1/72 scale.

Those are the trade-offs I make to eyes and subject availability and space availability.

Cheers

WG

lack of storage/display space is for me and probably for most of you here the deciding factor.

it goes like this

cars 1/24  1/25

armor 1/72 and 1/35   this new wave of 1/48 stuff just hasn't bit me

aircraft  single eng  any scale  multi eng  strickly 1/72

ships  1/500 to 1/700  although i have 2 1/350th destroyers in the wings  in that scale they are still reasonably small

off topic, but i had always wished that manufacturers had settled on 1/32 scale for armor as many dio builders that use 1/32 aircraft have quite a time matching a jeep or a supply truck to the aircraft

I started in 1/72 scale aircraft and used to wargame with them with a friend. From him I adopted the desire to maintain complete consistency in my scale and have become somewhat OCD about staying in 1/72 scale.  When another friend turned me on to 1/72 scale armor, I jumped at it, particularly since I was able to maintain my consistency of scale in both armor and aircraft. I love building 1/72 scale armor.

With ships, I tried to stay in 1/600 scale, but the model companies didn't cooperate by standardizing that scale. So, most all my ships are 1/700 scale, except the oldest aircraft carrie4rs and battleships. I'm not so OCD about my scale in ships when it comes to commercial/cruise ships and old sailing/paddlesteamers.

I agree with John, it's great building your own 'toys'!

Much of my earlier modeling was in the 1/24th automotive and 1/48th aircraft. I then picked up on HO railroading. Once I decided that was just too expensive for my blood, I got back into modelng 1/72 aircraft. Why? We use them for game pieces!

Love being able to make and play with your own toys

John

plumline wrote:

Ok you lost me on the lingo O.C.D. what does that mean ?

OCD= obsessive,compulsive,disorder.......it's an illness where everything thing has to be a certain way or a person cant rest or fous on anything.Much like Mr Monk on theTV series.

In my case all my 1/350 must be together,all my 1/48 seperate and my 1/35 on another shelf,DO NOT MIX SCALES !!!

Hans von Hammer wrote:

1/48th aircraft-1/35th Armor... Since I'm a diorama builder, there's cross-overs into 1/48th vehicles and 1/35-1/32 aircraft... Don't care at all for 1/72 scale anything (unless I'm doing forced-perspective shadow boxes), won't even pick up the box... Too small and I don't like to mix scales on my shelves, since I like to keep things relative in size...  A 1/48th Mustang looks ridiculous sitting near a 1/72nd B-29 or the like...

That's pretty funny,because I am kind of O.C.D when it comes to mixing my scales on the shelf,helps to know others have the same obsession

Well I'm mostly on the darkside, so for armor I build both 1/35 and 1/48. Never built 1/16 or 1/72.....yet.

As for aircraft, I don't build them so I have no preference.

Hans von Hammer wrote:

...I don't like to mix scales on my shelves, since I like to keep things relative in size...  A 1/48th Mustang looks ridiculous sitting near a 1/72nd B-29 or the like...

I know what you mean, but if you put them on different shelves, the effect isn't all that bad. My approach is actually to group kits by scale.

1/48th aircraft-1/35th Armor... Since I'm a diorama builder, there's cross-overs into 1/48th vehicles and 1/35-1/32 aircraft...

Don't care at all for 1/72 scale anything (unless I'm doing forced-perspective shadow boxes), won't even pick up the box... Too small and I don't like to mix scales on my shelves, since I like to keep things relative in size...  A 1/48th Mustang looks ridiculous sitting near a 1/72nd B-29 or the like...

I like 1/72 scale for aircraft. Don't believe the folks who say that there's more detail in 1/48 -- that's not necessarily true!

I like 1/72 scale on the Sherman tank kit I'm working on right now too. It's my first tank kit, but the plastic and PE detail is fantastic.

I haven't built any ships yet (or at least since I was a kid). The wooden ship model I'm working on is 1/64 scale.

Regards,