So basically what is everyone's preferred modelling scale and why?

As I'm pretty much just starting out in the hobby the question of scale has been on my mind quite a bit.

I like 1/72 scale kits for their size but I worry I won't be able to detail them as much as a larger scale, plus a lot of the modern vehicles I like aren't available in that scale.

I haven't looked into 1/48 much because there doesn't seem to be much available.

1/35 has so much on offer but I can find the scale a little intimidating and a bit costly.

What's everyone else's opinion?

Hi,
1/35 for several reasons,#1 variety,you can get most anything you want. #2 size,the smaller stuff is tough on bad eyes.I still wear magnifiers with 1/25. Very few people can really detail braille scale IMHO.

Jake

My favorites are:

1/35 for armor-variety and level of detailing
1/48 got me started in armor,less complicated,accesories are increasing,but still limited,but very good to learn armor and those with room issues.

1/48 aircraft-for me just right in size

1/350 ships-cant see or handle 1/700

Hmmm definate lack of Irish input here.....

I go for 1/72 A/C, space is a problem for me. I don't superdetail, but I do like to add a little depth to the kit offering. Almost every plane I'm interested in is offered in 1/72.

Most of my armor is 1/35 just because of the selection.

Ships... I think I have more 1/700 than 1/350 but I haven't really developed a preference.

Hi Vertigo

For aircraft I usually stick with 1/72 for a number of reasons,
1)pretty much all of of my areas of interest are catered for,
2)they can be as detailed as much or as little as you wish and still look good,
3)1/72 kits are within my budget range
4) space considerations for completed kits(never going to get a 1/24 Mosquito then)
5) the eye's can still cope with all the little bits.

For vehicles/AFV's I go for 1/35 for much the same reasons as above.

As to 1/48 aircraft, as far as I can see most of the types kitted in 1/72
are available in the larger scale, although you may have to look
a bit harder to find them, particularly if they are oop.

Personally I like kits I would have built or seen as a kid so I can usually pick
up some of what I like second hand for reasonable amount of euro

Vincent

How come so many Americans are reading the Irish page?

I grew up modelling in 1/72- Airfix, matchbox and Esci armour, I made huge multi vehicle Dioramas all since gone to the tip

When I grew up enough to afford 1/35 I joined the Army and dewaling with the real life army stuff made me lose interest in modelling. I was a big fan of 1/32 scale Airfix multipose figures because of the ease of converting them. If there was a big range of 1/32 armour I'd work in that but 1/35 is my preferred scale because of the range available and because my eyesight can't cope with 1/72 anymore

Well, we all want to be Irish??.....

Vertigo posted while you guys were sleeping?....

I tend to switch scales for different genres.
1/35 for my main interest in modern armor because of teh range available.
1/32 for modern jets and helos because they don't come in 1/35
For sci-fi the scales can vary a lot. I've gone for all the Fine Molds 1/72 range of Star Wars (just not the Falcon yet) but resisted getting their newer 1/48 scale range. The Halcyon Aliens dropship is 1/72 and the APC is 1/35. Some other bits & pieces in 1/72, 1/48 and capitol space shipls in anything from 1/350 (Enterprise) to really tiny scales....
1/72 I reserve predominantly for WWII torpedo boats: Revell S-boot, PT & MTB, Airfix RAF Rescue & real MTB and a Gato sub. (U-boat * Airfix e-boat on the wish list) I think these all look good but disliked the lack of detail. However I recently got the White Ensign 1/72 scale white metal & PE 40mm Bofors AA gun to replace a broken one. I was amazed at a) the detail and b) I actually maged to build the really tiny parts:


I've saving 1/48 for the future for when I plan on doing a number of iconic WWII fighters....but that's a long way off.

Hi Vertigo,

Like a lot of other folks, I prefer different scales for different things...

1/35 is my preferred choice for armour, for several reasons. You can get kits for pretty much anything in 1/35, plus a huge range of after market stuff and huge selection of figures if you want to make dioramas. There's fantastic detail on 1/35 and both figures and vehicles are big enough to customise. It's pretty damn hard to change arms or heads off 1/72 figures! Granted it's much easier to store/display 1/35 vehicles than aircraft.

I find 1/76 or 1/72 vehicle kits just too damn fiddley with feck all detail on them. I found Airfix's 1/76 range of vehicles really poor, buildwise and detail wise. In terms of price, you can still get older 1/35 vehicle kits (like Tamiya) relatively cheaply and for around the same price as two 1/76 kits you get a far better model that you wouldn't be embarrassed to display.

I grew up with 1/72 aircraft kits (Matchbox and Revell) when they cost the same as a tin of humbrol enamel! I recently got Airfix's 1/72 Falklands set and was disappointed in the detail, but good to practice and make mistakes on. 1/48 is great for aircraft, usually decent detail and small enough to display a good few. I know a guy building a 1/24 Mossie but it's a case of good-bye coffee table!

Eoin

Hi Pat were all part of the modeling community,and it was a good subject

I'm just curious as to how you found the topic? Does it appear on your latest posts page?

Back on topic I recently bought the 1/24 Tasca Pzr II- no eyesight problems with that

Not in Armorama where I usually check 1st,but under the Kitmaker Posts is where this shows.

when i started modeling as a kid it was always 1/72 airfix airplane kits i can still remember my first kit it was airfix's 1/72 ww2 german komet rocket fighter but i always loved german armour so when i could afford the larger 1/35 german armour thats what i moved on to and have always stuck to1/35 its such a great scale to work with in my opinion

Mine was a 1/72 Frog Focke Wolf 190 I was about 8 and my dad bought to keep me occupied while he painted caravan he'd bought in Rush, I ended up painting the model with the same blue paint he was using

ah the 1/72 airfix kits always remind me of the real old newsagents they had here years ago the kits would be faded and dusty from sitting in the front window of shop the excitement and always reminds me of that terrible tube glue adrian moles nostalgia ha

Fortunately no Adrian Mole moments for me in the A&E[check it out]! I think my first was a Fw190 1/72- can't remember who made it though... Loads of Matchbow aircraft 1/72 after that- single engine fighters, Santa couldn't have afforded an ould 1/72 B-17 or anything like that!

Almost everything I build is in 1/35 ... not too strange when I build armor and dioramas. But for figures, I like them bigger. 1/16 scale is very nice ... pity the price is just as nice. Have been buying some 54mm figures this last while as well ... slightly better detailed than their 1/35 cousins!