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Why few 1:35 scale airplanes?


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I don't know for certain but I would assume its just due to historically accepted "norms" for various types of models. Usually the only 1/35 scale subjects are those that would interface with armor and/or soldiers, i.e. helicopters and/or crew carrying craft. I agree though it would be nice to see more manufacturers break that norm and do more common scale items. Curious what other's thoughts are on this subject.

 

Bill

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Armour was typical of most model subjects in the early days, every company had their own size they seemed to like, although Monogram had both 1/32 and 1/35th scale kits in the late 50s. 1/32 seemed to be fairly common, with Airfix, Monogram and Revell all doing kits in that size (1/40th wasn't unusual either, but never caught on), but it was Tamiya that shifted the game into 1/35th scale when they started producing their motorized tanks (story goes they used that scale as it fitted the motor size they adopted. Being a metric country likely also was a factor).
They rapidly produced a lot of different kits, swamping other companies like Bandai whose 1/48th kits were actually better in many ways. Soon everyone has to adapt to 1/35 or be left on the shelves.

Meanwhile, 1/32 stayed a standard scale for aircraft kits as it had been a popular scale since the early days, and nobody saw a need to change it.

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Like others have said there are a few 1/35th aircraft but they have been mostly helicopters. Makes sense for the armour guys as it fits with the figures. Only a handful of aircraft with wings and the only one that comes to mind is the Storch. This would be perfect in a desert diorama with Rommel and his tanks.

As for Tamiya in its early days, I remember having a couple of 1/30th scale Russian armour by them. Pretty plain and with motors of course. That would be more the metric scale. Yeah Tamiya really changed the armour scale to 1/35th for the world and here we are today.

Never knew Monogram did any armour in 1/35 as I thought all of their armour kits were 1/32nd.

Edited by skyhawk174
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Monogram did quite a few 1/35:

Image result for Monogram 1/35

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Image result for Monogram 1/35

 

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Image result for Monogram 1/35

 

Image result for Monogram 1/35

 

These are just the ones off the top of my head. I know they did a Willy's Jeep and trailer and possibly a Sherman as well (not the Screaming Mimi as that's 1/32). Oddly their German stuff is 1/32 which I always found strange because you'd think they'd keep their U.S. and German vehicles the same scale. Revell also did 1/35 subjects, including boats. Both the Monogram and Revell kits were o.k. for the day but have been surpassed by Tamiya, Dragon, Meng, Takom etc etc examples.

 

I build 1/35 because that's what I started building back in the 70's. I like the 1/48 stuff that's out now but its pretty much the same price as comparable 1/35 vehicles so for me there's no incentive to switch scales at this stage in the game.

 

Regards,

Don

 

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23 minutes ago, Don said:

Monogram did quite a few 1/35:

 

These are just the ones off the top of my head. I know they did a Willy's Jeep and trailer and possibly a Sherman as well (not the Screaming Mimi as that's 1/32). Oddly their German stuff is 1/32 which I always found strange because you'd think they'd keep their U.S. and German vehicles the same scale. Revell also did 1/35 subjects, including boats. Both the Monogram and Revell kits were o.k. for the day but have been surpassed by Tamiya, Dragon, Meng, Takom etc etc examples.

 

I build 1/35 because that's what I started building back in the 70's. I like the 1/48 stuff that's out now but its pretty much the same price as comparable 1/35 vehicles so for me there's no incentive to switch scales at this stage in the game.

 

Regards,

Don

 

 

Oh okay, forgot about those and for some reason I thought they were 1/32nd. Maybe I was thinking of the Panzer IV and the Sherman.

 

I have several of the 1/48th Tamiya kits and they are great. Amazing detail and it makes me wonder how the 1/72nd guys do it as some of the parts are freaking small.

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Just now, skyhawk174 said:

 

Oh okay, forgot about those and for some reason I thought they were 1/32nd. Maybe I was thinking of the Panzer IV and the Sherman.

 

I have several of the 1/48th Tamiya kits and they are great. Amazing detail and it makes me wonder how the 1/72nd guys do it as some of the parts are freaking small.

Yeah you really have to watch with Monogram and Revell armor to make sure you're getting 1/35 or 1/32. But honestly, I think they are more collectors items now since so many other model companies have produced newer, more accurate, and much better detailed kits of the same subjects in 1/35.

 

My son builds 1/48 and 1/100 (war gaming scale) armor and loves it. Talk about small! He and I play "Tanks" (not my photo)...

Image result for tanks tabletop game

... and "Flames of War" (not my photo)...

Image result for flames of war starter set

...and he builds the models (I admit that I too enjoy helping with the building). We also play "X-Wing" but those models are pre-painted and its way off topic...:whistle:...LOL!

 

Regards,

Don

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In addition to Revell's 1/48 PCF, I know of HB's LCM, Trumpeter's Type VII U-boot, and Merit's early and late Elco 80' PTs.

 

In 1/35 I know of Italeri's Elco 80' PT, S-38 and S-100 S-boots, and Vosper MTB, Tamiy's PBR31, Trumpeter's LCM, Bronco's Type XXIII U-boot, and Andrea Miniature's Type VII U-boot.

 

 

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On ‎10‎/‎10‎/‎2018 at 9:56 AM, Alvis 3.1 said:

Armour was typical of most model subjects in the early days, every company had their own size they seemed to like, although Monogram had both 1/32 and 1/35th scale kits in the late 50s. 1/32 seemed to be fairly common, with Airfix, Monogram and Revell all doing kits in that size (1/40th wasn't unusual either, but never caught on), but it was Tamiya that shifted the game into 1/35th scale when they started producing their motorized tanks (story goes they used that scale as it fitted the motor size they adopted. Being a metric country likely also was a factor).
They rapidly produced a lot of different kits, swamping other companies like Bandai whose 1/48th kits were actually better in many ways. Soon everyone has to adapt to 1/35 or be left on the shelves.

Meanwhile, 1/32 stayed a standard scale for aircraft kits as it had been a popular scale since the early days, and nobody saw a need to change it.

 

Thanks for that. I always wondered why armor and aircraft didn't have the same scales. Same goes with large scale helicopters in 1/35.

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