28mm (1/55th- 1/56th scale airplanes)

[Poliorketes]

I have to agree with most comments.
Resin would be quite expensive and biplanes for example, would still be relatively fragile.

Perhaps 1/8th scale is preferable, since it would make kit bashing much simpler. 1/56th scale  seems a dead end.

Oddly enough most (kit) pilot figures in 1/48th scale are indeed SMALLER than some 28mm figures.
Let's not forget that most so-called 28mm figures are actually nearly 32mm and even bigger. Some companies distort the dimensions, especially the width of their figures, which makes them quite bulky. A Copplestone pilot would be hard pressed (pun intended) to fit in a 1/48th scale cockpit whereas a much better proportioned  Anglian figure is almost a perfect match.

Leaves us with availablity. With the exeption of the JU52 none of the planes mentioned is, to my knowledge, available in 1/48th scale.

Breguet XIX
Airco DH9
Westland Wapiti
SB-2
Hawker Audax
Handley Page 1500 and Hereford
Vickers Wellesly
DC2 or 3
Ford Trimotor
Fokker Trimotor
Fiesler Storch (not sure about that one)
Lysander
Piper L4
Dornier Wal
Junkers F13
Lockheed Orion
Interwar British two-seaters

So perhaps there's still some scope, but I doubt if any mainstream manufacturer will jump in. Which means that we're back where we started, namely the so- called 'cottage industry' and smaller manufacturers.
But since most, if not all, of these don't have any injection mould facilities we're also back with resin as an altenative.
Who said life was easy? :-)

Several of the US-fabricates you mentioned are available via Ebay in the ERTL-series WINGS OF TEXACO .

For an overview of inter-war-planes I recommend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Encyclopedia-Flight-John-Batchelor/dp/903661600X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198589182&sr=8-1
It's far from being complete and for my taste to centered on anglo-american planes, but it does include loads of french, german, italian and ohter models.

[Trencher]

Breguet XIX
Airco DH9
Westland Wapiti
SB-2
Hawker Audax
Handley Page 1500 and Hereford
Vickers Wellesly
DC2 or 3
Ford Trimotor
Fokker Trimotor
Fiesler Storch (not sure about that one)
Lysander
Piper L4
Dornier Wal
Junkers F13
Lockheed Orion
Interwar British two-seaters

At least these planes can be found in 1/48:
Lysander (>Gavia, Hawk)
Piper (>Academy, Hobbycraft)
DC3 (>Monogram)
Fieseler Storch (>Tamyia - WARNING!- expensive!)
should be available at 1/48, though some digging is required.
And don`t forget the beautiful race-planes done by Testors!

Several of the US-fabricates you mentioned are available via Ebay in the ERTL-series WINGS OF TEXACO .

For an overview of inter-war-planes I recommend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Encyclopedia-Flight-John-Batchelor/dp/903661600X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198589182&sr=8-1
It's far from being complete and for my taste to centered on anglo-american planes, but it does include loads of french, german, italian and ohter models.

Thanks for the Wings Of Texaco link. Yeah, the book is nice, I own it myself.

[brigadegames]

I agree with Brent. We could do it but without a prepay club to guarantee at least breaking even it would be a big gamble.

I too have looked for appropriate planes and either haven't found what I want or they are too big for 28mm figures.

Is anyone up for doing a prepay? If so, start a poll in my yahoo group giving the choices and we will see where it goes.

[WillieB]

Lon,

For what it is worth, I'm quite prepared to prepay for 3 Brequet XIX's.

Found a 1/72nd scale vacuform (Formaplane) but would love a 'proper' (ie. 1/56th or even  1/48th) scale model.

Trencher, Poliorketes Thanks for the info. I must have missed those.

[Durutti]

Hello Willie

You really want some planes don't you mate!!!

I'll have a word with a couple of my mates, see if I can get something sorted. I';m not sure about 1/56th scale, would probably go for 1/48th to match in with other stuff thats already out there.

Nigel H

[WillieB]

Does it show? :-)

Seriously, I feel that there's a lack of dedicated planes and would love to get my hands on some decent ones.

From the reactions on this and other forums, I get the impression I'm definitely not alone in this.

However, some very sensible things have been forwarded.

1/48th scale is favoured by almost all and that makes sense.
Prepaying for the items you want reduces the risk for the manufacturers to a certain degree.

Very  positive is that planes in a 'regular' scale, say 1/48 in this instance, will also without a doubt appeal to modellers,  collectors and not just wargamers.  Many more potential buyers as a result.

I've known modellers gladly buy so called 'short run' injection and resin kits  that were nothing but a crude basis. Been there, done it.
In fact some of these kits were so basic  that the finished model could almost be called a scratchbuild.

Yet, those same modellers often paid exorbitant prices for it. Can you imagine how they would react if high quality models such as we're used to from you (and a few other manufacturers) were available?

Several years ago at an international IPMS meet, there was a raffle with as the main prize an 'unavailable' model of a Lockheed Ventura in 1/72nd scale. The story goes that the mould from which this model came was destroyed in transit to Russia? and the model offered was one of the test shots made in the UK before the moulds were shipped.
All tickets were sold in less that half an hour and I'm sure that the winner needed a bodyguard afterwards.
Now, that was for a very crude 1960s' model that didn't even come in a box or anything.

[Geudens]

Willie,

If I would be able to fulfill to your wishes, would you be willing to trade for the unique MJ model in your collection? (...)  :wink:

Rudi

[WillieB]

Sorry Rudi. That's a one- off and absolutely irreplacable....

[Geudens]

Sorry Rudi. That's a one- off and absolutely irreplacable....

oelala... ::

[Poliorketes]

Just received a WINGS OF TEXACO Ford Tri-Motor I bought on Ebay. Sadly it's 1/72 in Scale (though a beautiful die cast model). It seems the WOT-series are in different scales, as some are clearly labeled 1/48.

[Cory]

I could have told you that. Or sold you the one I bought last year just to find out the same thing.

We should keep a list of the verified 1/56 scale die cast items to help I guess.