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Post by Ralphonso on Jan 18, 2015 21:17:44 GMT -5
Over the past few months I've been looking at the 1/48 subforum at Armorama and Missing-Lynx, along with the track48 forum, and there hasn't been much to see. I know 1/48 is a niche group and all, but it seems 50 1/35 scale modelers will post a whole lot more in a span of time than 50 1/48 modelers.
What gives?
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calum
glue setter
Posts: 65
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Post by calum on Jan 19, 2015 3:28:15 GMT -5
Are there even 50 of us that make 1/48 armour  |
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Post by biggles on Jan 19, 2015 12:14:54 GMT -5
1/48 armor modelling is stagnating. 1/72 and 1/35 are the established scales. Tamiya didn't do the scale any favors when they made 'toy-like' models with the die-cast hulls. I think it's mostly because of that, that no one takes this scale seriously. It's sort of too bad because 1/48 aircraft are a standard scale, and well respected as such. Most major model companies are not willing to take the financial risk (cost of research, development, and production as opposed to actual sales) of developing an extensive line in 1/48. Tamiya could because their big bucks come from large scale RC models, and ALL of their plastic models are, more or less, a side line, and, as I understand, their 1/48 line was developed for the younger modellers.
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Post by biggles on Jan 19, 2015 12:29:26 GMT -5
Over the past few months I've been looking at the 1/48 subforum at Armorama and Missing-Lynx, along with the track48 forum, and there hasn't been much to see. I know 1/48 is a niche group and all, but it seems 50 1/35 scale modelers will post a whole lot more in a span of time than 50 1/48 modelers. What gives? There's almost a dozen plastic companies releasing outstanding (usually) models in 1/35. Almost every day there's an announcement for a new release from one of those companies. Always something new to discuss or complain about. In the case of dio builders, there is more aftermarket and accessories available in 1/35; especially in the case of plastic figures - 1/48 has only the choice of smallish (!) Tamiya figs, or much more expensive resin figs. Some 1/48 resin figures are the same price as larger 1/35 resin figures! It's a no-brainer! 1/35 will always have a much bigger choice of everything resulting in more to talk about. |
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Post by Ralphonso on Jan 19, 2015 15:07:48 GMT -5
Are there even 50 of us that make 1/48 armour Ha! Maybe not. |
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Post by kyle on Jan 19, 2015 19:56:17 GMT -5
for me (so maybe others) i prefer actual armor to softskins or utility vehicles italeri doesnt make an armor i dont think, the airfix announcements are utility, tamiya has been doing mostly utility and sofskins lately not to mention doing away with the hetzer, stug variants, cromwell, jagdpanther, panzer iii ausf l(all of which i wanted to build but failed to purchase in time  ) and most importantly the panzer iv!! (of which i did get to build a few luckily) so maybe this is part of the reason for the dwindling a "younger modeler" would perhaps be more enticed in a store (or online) seeing a fearsome tank rather than an airplane refueler the others definitely have a place and i enjoy building some of those too but maybe if tamiya (or the others) get back to armor things will pick up again i know i would be good for 5 purchases (as mentioned above) right out of the gate! |
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Post by Ralphonso on Jan 19, 2015 21:03:10 GMT -5
Well they've got a 38t on the horizon. And I believe AFV Club is doing the easy eight Sherman (HB repop?) So there is some hope for this year. If the Sherman is marketed as a Fury tie-in, it could generate some sales. If not, I'll go buy another Tasca kit, and delight in it  |
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Post by biggles on Jan 20, 2015 12:25:02 GMT -5
Well they've got a 38t on the horizon. And I believe AFV Club is doing the easy eight Sherman (HB repop?) So there is some hope for this year. If the Sherman is marketed as a Fury tie-in, it could generate some sales. If not, I'll go buy another Tasca kit, and delight in it Are we talking 1/35 or1/48 here? |
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Post by Ralphonso on Jan 20, 2015 12:36:47 GMT -5
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Post by malcolm48 on Jan 20, 2015 13:22:26 GMT -5
Last year there was a "census" of the people that posted regularly on Track 48, and the result was almost 60 members that participated on a frequent basis. I'm sure the membership is more than that, counting infrequent posters and lurkers. 1/48 really doesn't have that many vocal diehard proponents on the western culture forums, but there are probably a great many builders in Asia that don't participate in our forums. It would be nice to tempt them into joining us and becoming visible somehow, but I don't know how to reach them.
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Post by biggles on Jan 20, 2015 17:11:50 GMT -5
Seeing as the Sherman is from AFV Club, I hope it's an original new tool! The Hobby Boss one is not bad, but could be improved! |
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Post by shavebeard on Feb 5, 2015 20:58:41 GMT -5
good one calum ! gave me a chuckle !,maybe 51-2ish
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Post by Ralphonso on Feb 10, 2015 11:50:05 GMT -5
Maybe we need a forum flare-up. That got people talking on Track 48 for a few days. |
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Post by biggles on Feb 11, 2015 11:58:58 GMT -5
 There's not enough of us here to start a fight!
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Post by kii908 on Jun 29, 2015 18:25:11 GMT -5
There's not enough of us here to start a fight! Count me in that fight. I want what does not seem to be available or talked about - viet nam era tracks |
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jimf
sprue nipper
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Post by jimf on Nov 27, 2015 5:52:14 GMT -5
I think there has been a overall slowdown in all modeling interests, this past year. I've noticed it on the model rail forums I am on, and I have read similar comments on other armor modeling forums. My wife has noted the same on doll house forums. Not as many new folks, of any age, are getting into scale modeling anymore.
Kyle, your interest may be more armor that softskins, but reading other forums, softskin vehicle modes have been something many modelers have been clamoring for, for years. So I don't find it surprising that many mfrs are releasing more.
kii, Viet Nam is not thought of as a 'armor war', which is why, I think, it is not a big subject. There were conversions and adaptations of existing vehicles, but no really new developments created for it. The US Army had no intentions at all of deploying armor in country. But someone forgot to tell the Marine Corp., and when 3rd batt. landed in '65, they brought their armor with them. It proved it's worth, leading the Army to deploy armor as well.
Jim F
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Post by mogdog on Nov 28, 2015 16:08:43 GMT -5
I love to build models because it allowed me to be part of a history that will never be seen again. Since I could not afford a real Sherman a Bandai M4 was the next best thing. I love listening to 40's music while working on a kit and getting a book about the vehicle and the crews that fought with them. Modeling has been a part of my life since I was seven or eight and a much better escape from reality than electronics, TV, and other vices. I was always an aircraft buff and the only tank kit I built was the Monogram LEE tank back in 75 after watching Bogie in "Sahara" when I was nine. I did not have any interest in armor kits until a few years later when I found the Bandai pinpoint series. They are still my favorite Sherman kits. I picked up a bunch of the Hobby Boss M4A3E8's on a Squadron sale and started retro fitting my Bandai M4's with the HB HVSS. I love the interior and the detail Bandai used and dream of the day that 3D printers can make an even more detailed interior. After building a few M4's and some German armor I read the book Ernie Pyle wrote "Brave Men" and really got into the European theater. Chapter 29 "Street Fighting" deals with a M4 crew that was involved in the retaking of Cherbourg, France. After that I started reading everything I could on the subject and built the U.S and German kits to go with it. But I ended up getting into the tank operations in the Korean war. Particularly the British armor and the USMC tankers, there are some brilliant books out there on a subject that is extremely interesting and sadly ignored. So now I am focused on the armor of the late 40s and early 50's. I have heard Tamiya is coming out with a 1/48 Humber Armored car and I cant wait to put a few of those together. Still hoping for that Centurion MKIII and some M24's to add to my collection. What kits are on your Christmas list? I am going to get a Duce and a half and the Red Cross Clubmobile from CMK and enjoy every minute of it while listening to the Christmas music of the 40's Keep calm and model on.
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jimf
sprue nipper
Posts: 11
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Post by jimf on Dec 12, 2015 13:47:20 GMT -5
Myself, I'm still bouncing back and forth, trying to decide on which scale to go with. My focus is US and UK WWII stuff, D-Day and after.
I went off and looked more at the smaller scales, and am between a rock and a hard place with that. In 1/76, I could get just about every vehicle I would need for my plans, in resin, from a single mfr., but at a very high cost per item. And the figures from that maker plus one other are excellent. For 1/72, I could get most, but not all, in plastic kit form, at a lower per item cost. Yes, I know I can mix the 2, to a degree, but would rather not, if I can avoid it.
So I'm looking at 1/48 scale more closely, but not sure I will find all the vehicles I need in this scale, either. The Bandai kits are getting rarer and rarer.
Hopefully, I'll get some actual modeling done, in the new year, as opposed to wandering all the sites, trying to find what I want.
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Post by kyle on Dec 12, 2015 15:12:40 GMT -5
aaah mogdog we are definitely in exact frame of mind with models and the ww2 era i too listen to 40s music while modeling and i also like to read, research pics and watch ww2 films to help travel back in time i also try and match up books/films with whatever model or battle era i am working on and i also try to build models "in season" (as building normandy stuff in june and bulge stuff in winter and whatnot) so i guess im not the only dorkey one out there  it certainly does give another dimension and realness to the hobby its nice to hear someone else enjoys it the way i do and i too am currently enjoying the christmas hits of the 40s certainly a golden era for music! another nice thing to do is listen to 40s radio shows (christmas or otherwise) there are many available on youtube as for jimf hope you try and like 1/48 its the perfect size |
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jimf
sprue nipper
Posts: 11
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Post by jimf on Dec 12, 2015 17:21:43 GMT -5
Kyle, you and mogdog are way more into it all than me LOL
Much as I also like the music of the 40's, I much prefer quiet while I work at my desk. Not sure why, guess when I started many years ago, I worked in a fairly noisy environment, so model time was my quiet time, as well.
More exploring of 1/48, but just not finding the vehicles I need, or want, very readily available. We'll see.
Oh, and I'll thank you here, for the tip on brush painting that you posted in my intro thread. I had meant to do so before now. Do you find any particular brands of paint better than others for brush work?
Jim F
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) and most importantly the panzer iv!! (of which i did get to build a few luckily) 
There's not enough of us here to start a fight!
