Forum: Scale Models - F-16, F-35, F/A-22, F-2

Hi, I would like to know what the scale sizes on a model kit means. For example: 1/48 or 1/72. And also, what scale is the best to work on? Thanks.

F-16.net Sponsor

it's pretty simple really...
1/48 means it's 48 times smaller than the actual aicraft. 72 is 72 times smaller, 32 is 32 times smaller, etc.... So a 48 foot wingspan for example is only one foot long in 1/48 scale. A 72 foot long winspan in only one foot long in 1/72 scale...and so on.

But what you have to remember is that the smaller the number, the larger the scale.....
For example a 1/32 scale F-16 is bigger than a 1/48 scale F-16, which is bigger than a 1/72 scale F-16.

As for what scale it's best to work in? Well, that depends entirely on you. Do you have a lot of room? Do you like to build fast? How mudh detail do you want?

For me, 1/48 is the best, because:
a)it's a nice medium size, not as big as 1/32 so it doesn't take up too much space.
b)it has more detail than 1/72.
c)it doesn't take that long to build, compared to 1/32, although 1/72 usually takes less time.

1/48 is the most popular scale in the US, and there have been many new kits in that scale, however, the more diverse scale is 1/72, with vastly more types of aircraft available. There aren't to many 1/32 scale kits out there.

So for me it's the median, 1/48 works best for me.
Hope that helps....feel free to ask more questions, if you have them. Wink

Thanks for the reply, Habu! The next question is, does the brand name really matter? What brand name do you recommend?

Yes and no.....

There are some brands that are synonymous with quality. Some brands produce some good kits, and some not so good kits. And nothing is everything to everyone.

Brands? Well I've been a lifelong, and diehard builder of Tamiya models. They're the best model maker in the world, bar none. A close second, is Hasegawa. In fact the best kit of the F-16 is made by Hasegawa. You pretty much can't go wrong with either of those.

Next up is Revell/Monogram. They used to be seperate companies, but have since merged. Their kits are good for the most part, and about the best for a beginner.

Others include:

Academy
Hobbycraft
Fujimi
AMT/Ertl
Testors
Italeri

Ok thanks, I will ask more questions in the future when I encounter problems on anything. Thanks again!

welcome

Forum: Scale Models - F-16, F-35, F/A-22, F-2

Scale sizes