"correct" scale for new releases

[Straightliner59]

4 minutes ago, Pete J. said:

That is a quality control issue. Scale means nothing if the manufacture doesn't care. 

 

I was referring to the "box scale" comment. No quality control issue, at all. The models were made to fit certain, standard-sized boxes.

[Dragline]

This entire thread is academic. Buy and build what you like and you'll be happy. I'll wager that were you to put a copy of my main shelf [mostly newer builds] and say the guy who builds only 1/25 cars and ask the average person to come in and view them and then ask them which one was more "Entertaining, attractive, colorful, artful blah, blah blah.." mine would win a great deal. Why? Is it a measuring contest? Nope. It's an aesthetic thing. My shelf will tend to attract more eyes because of color, shape, and overall variety of subjects. I've recently said it and it bears repeating, I build what makes me happy. We are artists after a fashion all of us, and limiting yourself to one scale, subject or anything else for that matter is the enemy of expression. I've looked at a great many shelves of well built 1/25 scale cars and even as a car modeller at heart I find them often to be a bit tedious. With few exceptions it seems lifeless to me. I once stood in front of large shelves of impeccable 1/20 scale Tamiya F1 and came away with a sense of almost sadness as the entire experience left me a bit cold. So much precision and so little life in what I witnessed. My esteem was in the overall craftsmanship to be sure. As I viewed each model I was in awe of the execution and cleanliness. But when viewed as a whole it was less inviting.

Those that cannot build a subject because it's in 1/24 scale I say that I am sad for you whether you want me to be or not. What a pity that you limit yourself because of some seemingly arbitrary number. I am aware that those that are staunch seem to be OK with their decision to limit themselves. I suspect a deeper underlying resentment of having not been heard although the range of that scale would indicate otherwise. There are all types in this hobby, from rivet counters to obsessive compulsive's. It's the nature of such a precise and real world example type of subject that sticklers of realism and accuracy be a vocal and near militant group in their desire for what is plainly obvious to them. I build armor and am a member of Armorama. If there ever was a set of rivet counters to be witnessed look no further than there. But building a well made Dave Deal caricature is no less artful. It is rooted in reality since Mr Deal laid down the pencil, inks and watercolor that inspired the kit in the first place. That art exists in the world and is lauded as being not only well rendered, but as pop art at it's pinnacle. It's scale is irrelevant.

This type of thinking exists within the automobile, aviation and military modelers community almost exclusively. And I understand why it does. It's being able to render something you may lust after and wish to own. Or simple economics says you cannot have a garage full of Cobra's due to financial and spacial concerns [I'm looking at you Cobraman]. And that is as valid a reason as there needs to be. You are correct in wanting what you want, but know that the world doesn't always hear you. I want the latest funny car and top fuel cars in scale. Am I going to get them? Probably not. That we got the two that we did nearly ten years ago was a blessing I didn't take lightly. I embraced the Hawaiian and Chi Town cars as positives, built a few examples and have a few in the stash.

So, build what makes you happy. If it's sticking to 1:25 so be it. Know that you are limited to the subjects available, and don't belittle others who see their hobby through a larger lens. But I have been a bit guilty of this myself. I criticised Claude T's 1/16 scale Daytona as being downright ugly. To my eyes it is an ugly race car and said so. He didn't design the car, but he chose it as something he would use his considerable skills to create. Am I wrong in calling it ugly? Perhaps I should have kept it to myself? I think so. But I didn't and he was gracious enough to brush it off for what it was. My perspective and nothing more. Could I have been more tactful? Certainly.... Sorry Claude.

There, I've ranted some, made some sense and perhaps added to the conversation. I'm just a guy slinging glue and paint for enjoyment, nothing more.

[DiscoRover007]

Personally I prefer 1/24. Its the perfect small scale that maintains realistic proportions. Too often I see 1/25's that have that toy look because they are just a hair too small. Some 1/25's are perfectly fine though, you just have to research the kits individually. Going forward I would hope Revell commits to 1/24 full time.

[Brian Austin]

On 12/6/2020 at 12:13 PM, Matt Bacon said:

Although interestingly, never used in metric countries... Apart from Heller having a very brief flirtation with 1/125 airliners and 1/50 aircraft, “metric” scales have never been a thing in Europe or Asia. VEB Plasticart in East Germany did some 1/100 kits, but that was a very closed market. It’s always been 1/72, not 1/75; 1/48, not 1/50, and 1/144 not 1/150 for UK, French, and German kit companies. Ultimately, despite metrication everywhere else in Europe, scales are all 1” = some number of feet...

best,

M.

1:25 scale seems to be a standard scale for outdoor miniature displays in Europe, such as Madurodam in the Netherlands.  They even scratchbuild model trains and vehicles in that scale for those parks. 

[Brian Austin]

Model railroaders have had to put up with mixed scaling for generations.

 

You could have HO gauge track with trains scaled to 1:87 or 1:76 (or in between!), with scenery items "off scale".  How many HO layouts had Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars on their roads?  In O gauge you could buy locos and rolling stock scaled either to 1/4" (for convenience) or 17/64" to the foot (for accuracy).  I wouldn't be surprised if modelers ran a mix of both.  European 0 gauge scaling was different still. 

 

When it comes to model cars, If I see your cabinet full of finished builds, I won't complain if they're not all to the same scale.  One of my few finished models is a construction crane truck.  I won't have one of those in 1:25 or 1:24!  :-)

 

Just build!

 

:-)

[Straightliner59]

8 hours ago, Dragline said:

There, I've ranted some, made some sense and perhaps added to the conversation. I'm just a guy slinging glue and paint for enjoyment, nothing more.

I could not have said it better! And, I mean  all of it.

 

Edited December 10, 2020 by Straightliner59

[Tom Geiger]

Okay we are going to compromise! Moving forward kits will be 1/24.5 scale!   ?

[alan barton]

There's  always one!

 

[Bills72sj]

For me it is the subject matter period. For display purposes, sure the eye can see the difference, but isn't the fun supposed to be in the creation of the art in the first place?

Below is the local E-body MOPAR club visiting my workshop. Do scale differences really detract from the viewers enjoyment that much?

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

I mix parts from 1/25 and 1/24, I don't pay any attention to the scale. If it fits, it gets used.... My $.02 and my opinion is worth BOTH pennies. Model on (as Snake says).... -RRR

[Ramfins59]

I'm not a "scale snob" either.  In my 1950's car collection, I have an assortment of plastic kits and promos, resin kits and diecasts in 1/24, 1/25 and 1/26 scales because not every car was made in just one scale by all of the various mfgrs..  I take what is available for the cars that I want.  The differences in size are not offensive to me nor do they look all that terrible to my eye when lined up together.  To each, his own, and we can all agree to disagree.