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Modeling in General: Advice on...
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Why is it...
gunnerk19
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Maine, United States
Member Since: December 25, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 08:04 AM UTC
that most good armor and figure kits come in 1/35 but aircraft (from what I've seen) is only available in either 1/32 or 1/48 for close scale... I'd like to do a dio with armor AND aircraft in the same scene (i.e., WWII mech. infantry coming across a crashed RAF glider or similar) but the scales don't mesh well... What gives?
Sabot
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Posted: Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 11:46 AM UTC
Back in the 70s, Bandai made an awesome (for the time) set of 1/48 scale WW2 armor. Fairly decent interiors, with engines, crewmen and supporting infantry. I don't know why they didn't catch on. Aurora did a decent set of 1/48 scale armor in the 60s and early 70s, but they went under. I cut my armor teeth on these kits.

In the late 70s, Monogram re-released two of the Aurora armor kits along with their own aircraft in a diorama base. The Fw-190 was released with the M4A3E8 and called "Ground Attack". The P-51B was released with the Panther and called "Tank Hunter". Aurora's line included: S-tank, Panther, Tiger, King Tiger(?), M46 Patton, Long Tom and 8" howitzer (towed), High Speed Cargo Tractor, MBT70, M109 (long and short barrel), Centurion, Stalin, Japanese Medium Tank. May have missed one or two. I have four of the MBT70s, both M109 variants and two of the Long Toms.

Frog/Fuman re-released the Bandai kits with peel-n-stick stickers instead of decals in the 90s. Academy also released some of the Bandai kits. I had first bought a T-34/76 when I was stationed at Ft. Knox. I was impressed and since then have grabbed reasonably priced ones like the M4A3 (and Eduard PE set), the M-12 (in an Academy box), and most recently an Opal Maultier half-track. I have seen the Willy Jeep and Sherman variants go for over $30 each.

Avoid the recent Zhengdefu 1/48 armor kits that have been released by Academy as well. These are modern armor kits with a common motorized chassis that doe not represent any real tank. The same running gear, tracks and lower hull are used for all kits (M2A2, M1A1, T-90, M60A3, Challenger, etc.).
Marty
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Posted: Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 11:59 AM UTC
Gunnerk19, I feel the same way as you do. I am glad that at least there are a few 1:35 scale helicopters available.
Plasticbattle
#003
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Posted: Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 12:03 PM UTC
I guess the best scale for including all aspects of the hobby would be 1/72. There seems to be quite a growing range of vehicles and figures for this range all the time. Actually some very cool models....... wish some of them were in 1/35. The big advantage is that a dio wouldn´t be "that big" if vehicles and planes were included!
gunnerk19
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Posted: Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 01:32 PM UTC
Ooops, my bad... I meant to say that I was hoping to find 1/35 aircraft to go with my armor kits, not the other way around...

P.S... don't like 1/48... too oinkin' small for me...
CharlesLatham
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Posted: Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 01:43 PM UTC
Pend Oreille has a 1/35 Bf.109 G-6. Ironside does a 1/35 Piper Cub with U.S. and Free French Markings.

http://www.greatmodels.com/

Look through the reviews at some of the aircraft sites. You might find some 1/32 that are undersized and closer to 1/35.
Grifter
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Posted: Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 05:26 AM UTC
P.S... don't like 1/48... too oinkin' small for me...

There's your answer. 48th scale is too small for the majority of armor people who are used to the detail level of 35th. For practical purposes, 1/35 aircraft would be too large for most people, and would be expensive when compared to standard scales I'm sure. Didn't the aircraft scales evolve from the old box-scale kits becoming standardized to what would fit in the box? My question is why not just make armor in 1/32? Makes one wonder, doesn't it......
Greg
Bodeen
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Posted: Monday, February 17, 2003 - 02:23 AM UTC
Monogram used to do 1:32 scale armor..it was kind of a mixture between 1:32 and 1:35. There is not that much difference betwwen the scales and actually 1:35 scale figures look very natural with 1:32 scale aircraft. I just bought the Hasegawa 1:32 Bf 109G-6 and it looks to be almost 1:35 scale. The figure that comes with it is pretty close to 1:35 and done pretty well for a large scale aircraft kit. Don't be shy about mixing the aircraft and armor scales...it actually looks pretty good. Jeff
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