A question of scale

[rumacara]

I´ve voted for 1/50 because i think its the average scale. Not so big for 28mm and not so small for 30mm (figure sizes).

First buying item - our eyes.
Just like food.

[6milPhil]

However, with aircraft I would go with 1:72. I know it's wildly out, but planes look way too big on the table to me if they're accurately scaled - I know that's damn stupid, but I can't help it!

Me too, as it's typically just a representation isn't it? Kits are also easier to find, cheaper, and like you say bigger ones end up with one wing tip your end, and t'other the enemies end.

This works just fine as far as I'm concerned:

[tin shed gamer]

 it looks fine to me,In 28mm it take up a fair chunk of your table.Its what I was trying to say earlier on there is no perfect scale we take the bits we like no matter what scale it says on the box and stick it on our tables because it works for us,We pretend things are to a scale we have rimfire weapons at 24"which to the actual scaling of a 28mm figure,would be the range of an air rifle.
For me the way you've posted the glider is way I like to see Military modeling scales used in a gaming context.Or this 1/50 toy car works well with my figures.Just a great way to pass on ideas when using model kits/ toy cars to cross over into gaming a use they weren't designed for.
As I said before Nasty can of worms.and some one will always tell you your wrong!

[Westfalia Chris]

Me too, as it's typically just a representation isn't it? Kits are also easier to find, cheaper, and like you say bigger ones end up with one wing tip your end, and t'other the enemies end.

This works just fine as far as I'm concerned:

That's a good point, and a lovely glider model, btw. These days, for 28 and 15mm, I'll agree that for "flying" planes a smaller scale is better (hence, 1/72 for 28s and 1/144 or 1/200 for 15s). Still, for stuff that is in direct interaction, like a helicopter to pick up a commando team, I'd prefer the closest scale possible.

I'm fudging that occasionally, though. Still looking at getting that old 1/80 Canberra bomber by Revell for my ImagiNations collection, since it would be a whopper in 1/72nd, but AFAIK there isn't a proper 1/144 Canberra to be found.

[rumacara]

Westfalia Chris, do try to find a resin model of a canberra from the 80´s.
I´m almost sure it was in 1/144 but i cant remember wich manufacturer.
I came across one when i worked on a modelling shop some years ago.
If i do find it i will pm you.

[Daeothar]

I'm fudging that occasionally, though. Still looking at getting that old 1/80 Canberra bomber by Revell for my ImagiNations collection, since it would be a whopper in 1/72nd, but AFAIK there isn't a proper 1/144 Canberra to be found.

Here's one...

And here some more... 

[FramFramson]

Even though I say 1:48/1:50 for most things, I think I would use 1:56 aircraft on the table. They're so much larger that you really wouldn't notice that they're a bit undersized and you'd get a bit of table space back.

Of course the problem is that no one makes aircraft models in 1:56.

[tin shed gamer]

I've started to add a couple of 28mm planes to the 1st Corps WW1 range purely for the reasons people have mentioned.Your talking roof attacks on a WW1 game,so same size plane seemed right.Plus the trench raiders aren't really that big wing spans about the same size of the 28mm tanks.
The first two were made in 2008-9 just because everyone said you couldn't make 28mm resin planes practical.So I made a two part sopwith.(four if you count the prop and pilot).There are few post war ,SCW. planes out there most are C.A.D's kits.But your right it in 28mm planes do get to big the nearer you get to the present day to leave room on your table to actually game.
So if your using crossover kits the smaller is the way to go.

[FramFramson]

My holy grail is still the same as it was before, which is a 1:56 Pulp corrugated metal Trimotor of some ilk (Fokker, Ford, etc.).

I'll probably have to scratchbuild it, but I'm no good at forming aeroplane shapes.

[tin shed gamer]

I've no Idea what that is lolBut PMor post me a picture of one and I'll let you know how easy it would be to build or I'll build one and talk you through it.It takes bit longer that way as I'll have do it in stages between commissions.As you know I've done other projects with forum members so its not an empty offer.

[FramFramson]

I've no Idea what that is lolBut PMor post me a picture of one and I'll let you know how easy it would be to build or I'll build one and talk you through it.It takes bit longer that way as I'll have do it in stages between commissions.As you know I've done other projects with forum members so its not an empty offer.

Haha, I seriously doubt I have the money to spare to commission a plane right now. In any case it's on the "nice to have" list (albeit the VERY nice to have list) rather than the must-have list. But here they are:

Corrugated Triplanes were really the first major common-design commercial airliner. They arose in the late 20's and served in major countries until the early 30's. They had some pretty serious safety issues (especially Fokker, which was tied to a couple of notorious air disasters) and the 30's were a time of breakneck speed in aircraft development, so by the mid-30's they had fallen out of favour with major airlines in Western Europe and the US, but that didn't mean they disappeared, and you could still use them for a ground objective in any interwar/pulp/SCW/VBCW game from the mid-to-late-20's right-up to and including early WWII (maybe even mid-WWII, if you were doing a desperate escape skirmish type of scenario). Also, the raised wing means you don't lose much in terms of playable board area.

Fokker F.VII:







Ford Trimotor:







There are some 1:72 piggybank models people have used in games, but the size is just too small for me - it's obvious nobody would really fit inside and the figures don't really fit under the wings (some do, some don't - it's borderline, depending on what figures you use and I'm using larger 32mm on average so a lot of my figures wouldn't fit underneath).

The fuselage shape is actually straightforward enough that I think I could build it myself, but forming wings is a bit beyond me.

[tin shed gamer]

 Wow I didn't mean highjack the topic .I didn't offer a commission slot.I ment I build my own and figure out how to do it then email you pictures and a how to,at each stage
Have a quick look at Brayns Small boat topic in the Great War section,to see what I mean.

[OSHIROmodels]

Wow I didn't mean highjack the topic .

Highjack away. Learning  new things is always good in my book 

cheers

James

[tin shed gamer]

  Okay if your sure.
I had another look at the pictures I can figure a guide for you to build one in 16-20 hour working on you having little to no skill base.
The only fly is no corrugated effect.(Just for skill base so theres no need to match seam's).
Total cost in material is estimated at.
Begger All.
As you can make a very close likeness to the plane with only slight detail changes(No one will be going what is it?).
All you'll require is breakfast cereal packets,cocktail sticks,and your normal modeling tools and paints.As for glues PVA,your normal super glue (if you use it )If you have it UHU,as it dries faster and stronger than the other two,it can also double as a filler.But you can still do without uhu it just takes a little longer to dry.

[Constable Bertrand]

Oh do share you tease!!! I've almost bid on a number of 1/72 tri motors myself.. and watched a number of 1/48 Ju-52's!