1/48 vs 1/32 scales.

...........the older the eyes, the bigger the scale............

I'll also add that I couldn't imagine going smaller than 1/32 with biplanes.

And for smaller fighters (Lavochkins, Yaks, 109s, etc) I think 1/32 is my preferred working scale. Of course, a 1/48 Yak-3 isn't THAT far off from a 1/72 P-47...

Speaking of which...there need to be more VVS aircraft in 1/32. I know Trumpy makes the Mig-3, and there's an Il-2 out there. But the Yaks. The LaGG-3, La-5/5FN, La-7. They'll get there one day I guess.

DoogsATX

I do still plan to build in both scales, and the majority of my builds will probably still be in 1/48, but someone referred to 1/32 as the flagships, and I think that's definitely true, at least in my case.

Pretty much my building habit/style. And BTW, nice models as always Doogs.

Looks like I fit the standard story of coming back to the hobby in 1/48. And that's honestly where the bulk of my aircraft stash still resides.

BUT...

I LOVE 1/32 scale. It's not just the detail...the size gives the things a presence that 1/48 just can't match. And I would say the three 1/32 kits I've built are definitely the standouts of my collection:

My intention at first was...one or two...aircraft I REALLY loved. A P-47, maybe a Dauntless. Yeah. Now I've got two more 109s, two P-51s, a P-40, a Dauntless, an Ar 196, a Bearcat, another Pup, and three P-47s in 1/32. 

I do still plan to build in both scales, and the majority of my builds will probably still be in 1/48, but someone referred to 1/32 as the flagships, and I think that's definitely true, at least in my case.

Buy some 3-power readers and Charlie Mike...

I've never kept all the models I build.. I generally tear them down after I get tired of looking at them... If I'd kept all of them, I reckon I'd have about 1300-1500 models...

Old Dog

I too had decided to go with 1/48 when I became active in modeling again about five years ago with the exception being 1/72 for very large aircraft that were not available in 1/48. However I found after building several small planes like the Bf 109 and Yak-3 that not only did I have problems dealing with the small detail parts, PE and all but I was unhappy with the level of detail that I could obtain due to unsteady hands and gradually worsening eyesight so earlier this year I decided to go with 1/32 for any fighters I wanted to build. For twin engined and larger I will stick with 1/48.

That makes a lot of sense and I may be joining you soon...... except there's that growing stash of 1/48's I have.

I too had decided to go with 1/48 when I became active in modeling again about five years ago with the exception being 1/72 for very large aircraft that were not available in 1/48. However I found after building several small planes like the Bf 109 and Yak-3 that not only did I have problems dealing with the small detail parts, PE and all but I was unhappy with the level of detail that I could obtain due to unsteady hands and gradually worsening eyesight so earlier this year I decided to go with 1/32 for any fighters I wanted to build. For twin engined and larger I will stick with 1/48.

When I returned to the world of scale modeling, I too decided on concentrating on 1/48 planes.  One reason was that I wanted to see the various planes in the same scale in order to understanding and appreciate their relative sizes.  At the time(late '80s), there seemed like a greater selection of 1/48 scale aircraft available.  I've remained a 1/48 scale builder exclusively.   But, it seems to me that as so many scale modelers get older, with the diminished eye-sight that accompanies that evolution, not to mention perhaps, lessened motor skills as well (arthritic hands anyone?), the model companies are turning out more and more choices in 1/32 scale.   Know your customer base I guess.  One more factor for me is the aforementioned space issue.   Even with a new 40" display cabinet with four shelves, I don't think I've enough space to display all I'll eventually build.  Where the heck would I put them in any large scale?

Gary

  I started out doing 1/72, 1/32, and 1/48 scales, anything that caught my I. But then I thought (this was back in the mid-late '80's) "what scale would provide the optimal detail, reasonalbe pricing (at that time), and viewing satisfaction? 1/48 scale was the conclusion! Now 20-odd years later, I still basically hold to the same addige, but with this creavete, I'll go out of scale IF it really is of interest to me, and the likelihood of it appearing in 1/48 scale is slim to non-existant! Of course I HAVE been proven wrong at times-especially when it comes to Vacs. Like the old Monogram HU-16B Albatross kit thats been recently re-released as an SSP. Combat Models/Roberts Models has it in 1/48 scale as a vac!, As well as a C-46 Commando, C-123 Provider, and a number of others that have only been kitted in 1/72 scale, or smaller.

When I decided upon a "uniform" scale for my aircraft kits, it was 1/48. The detail, size, and selection were better than 1/72 (detail) and delection (1/32) And in size they could match either, depending on the subject matter. So for nearly 20 years it was 1/48 only. Then while I was on deployment and limited on modeling choices, I decided to try my hand on old 1/32 aircraft kits, mainly Revell, I had built as a kid. And boy was I taken in by those big planes! While the level of detail on those kits is for the most part below state of the art, they had room for improvement that was easily done with basic materials. I was leaving the finished builds behind so display space was not an issue.Since I came home I haveone project going and many more in the wings. But still display space has re asserted itself as a consideration. In any case I will continue to build mainly 1/48 in aircraft but still dabble on occasion in 1/32. They are too sweet to ignore.

Bish, I don't discriminate against 1/72. If display room is an issue, then 1/72 is a no brainer. Otherwise *to me* the cost plays a factor and considering that I have no display issues (so far), I prefer larger scales. Below you can see a common sample. It is a 1/72 Snap-Tite Hobby Boss Sabre for $10. If I want something better in that scale, I have either to get a more expensive option of the same subject or add some AM goodies to bring it up to the level of the Academy 1/48 OOB which cost only $30. At $30 bucks for the 1/48 I'm around $20 bucks more for the 1/32 Kinetic pictured below.

I've always liked 1/48 best but now I'm out of space with several unfinished builds and others not started so I went to 1/144.  Big jump but I like the veriety of military aircraft in the same scale as airline kits.  1/72 never really interested me much.  So if anyone is looking for some 1/48 started or unstarted, I'll trade you.

One good thing for me is I have a local museum that gladely accepts donated built kits if I need room on my shelf.  Makes me feel good for the fact they like my amatuer work.

Its a real shame so many people over look 72nd scale. Ok, it is small, and if you have dodgy hands the small parts can be tricky. But for me the advantages over the larger scales are alot. First the cost. Sure, you can pay alot of a 72nd scale kit, the most i have paid so far is just short of £60. But the same kit from the same maker in a larger scale would be alot more. The range, at least at the moment, is huge. Not sure how long it will alst with the rise of larger scales. Of course they take up less space, and as a dio builder thats even more important. Also as a dio builder, the range of accesories is very big as well, vehicles, figures, AM sets like engines etc.

If you started with a larger scale and moved down, i can see it might be awkward at first. But if you start out on 72nd, as i did, then you know no better. I am surprised at how amazed some people are at whats possable in this scale.

El Taino

If I had the room, I'd go 1/32 as much as I could. Indeed price is higher, but if I do the math, a 1/48th kit can be equally or more expensive with AM parts to make it look as good as a 1/32 OOB. Just MHO.

That's a good point.

the Baron

I am tempted by the 1/32 SBD that's out there, and isn't there also a 1/32 TBF? 

Yep, the TBF is what got me thinking about this.  I looked up a build of that kit and was amazed.

http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/us/tc/cleavertbf.htm

I am tempted by the 1/32 SBD that's out there, and isn't there also a 1/32 TBF?  Some other USN aircraft, too, old kits (Hasegawa's biplanes) and new (the F2A).

And for me, who likes figures with his machines, there is a whole world of 54mm - 1/32 figures out there to go with them.

If I had the room, I'd go 1/32 as much as I could. Indeed price is higher, but if I do the math, a 1/48th kit can be equally or more expensive with AM parts to make it look as good as a 1/32 OOB. My latest Hassy F18C did cost me more than my 1/32 Tamiya F4 Phantom off of Ebay.  I have built a 1/32 Tamiya F16 and got from my LHS the Hassy 1/32 for $60.00, again, cheaper than my last F18C also from Hasegawa and came with a Black Box resin cockpit. I build OOB for the most part, but if I want to indulge on some AM with X or Y kit, I look around for some 1/32 options that might cost probably no more than $20-30 bucks and the display impact is worth it. Paying 60-70 dollars plus aftermarket parts and decals for a 1/48 kit is not a good idea (*to me*).

I have a price set for models. I would never pay more than $20 for a 1/72 kit unless the subject warrants that scale, i.e bombers. From $20 to $45 (a Dragon, DML or Eduard Profipak) for 1/48 and $65 to $140 depending on the extra goodies and overall quality on the 1/32 kit. I've seen 1/72 scale aircraft at my LHS for $35-40 and I just say to myself 1 thing, WTH?

Just MHO.

I bought an Optivisor a couple of years ago, and immediately wished that I had done so even earlier

That's a good point Baron about seeing the detail.  I find the 1/48 is as small as I would want to go with my eyes and fingers.  I helped my son with a couple of 1/72 planes and was blind and all thumbs! 

I prefer 1/48 for aircraft dioramas, but I have  number of 1/32 as well.. I like to do a mix of armor and aircraft on some dioramas, and 1/32 is close enough to 35th for me...

I'm not jumping on the new 1/32 stuff though... Just too much money for a kit.. Revell's run 30-35.00, so I'll stick with them...  Plus, at times I can get them even cheaper on Ebay... Picked up a 1/32 Tony for 26.00 and shipping...

I like 1/48 kits for the balance of detail and size.  I thought that I wouldn't want to build any 1/32, because of the display space.  But I do find myself getting nostalgic for some 1/32 kits from my youth, even if they aren't necessarily as nice as a 1/32 $150-$200 kit from China.  I have the old Revell Wildcat in my stash-I bought it because the boxing had Bert Kinzey's D&S "US Navy Fighters"-and I have a copy of the old Monogram F3F, so I may yet start building some of the larger kits.  It will certainly be easier to see as I work, as I get older.

On the other hand, I thought I wouldn't mess with 1/72 scale, but I find myself adding more and more Braille scale kits, too.

1/32 scale kits are impressive.  They have more 'impact' merely due to size. On the flip side of that is cost. And, well size.

1/48 has always been the happy medium.

There are a lot of nice 1/32 kits out there, but I can't see how they can be better selling than equivalent 1/48 scale kits.

 I suspect the 1/32 kits are 'flagship' models where the 1/48 kits are the bread and butter. Kind of like cars. The Viper, Challenger, Camaro SS and Corvette are impressive, but Chrysler and GM don't sell many of them compared to other models on the lot.