Getting back into the collecting hobby after a 10 year absence. I was and still largely an airliner collector, namely the 1:400 scale. However, when I left the hobby, Gemini was rumored at adding a military line up, while I was intrigued, I never really followup on these. Fast forward 10 years, I see that several makers including the above mentioned GJ have entered this area. From the photos that I have seen here and elsewhere, I am very impressed. I am looking at adding to several military types to my collection.
So, what is the standard scale? I see that GJ's combat aircraft are at 1/72 scale. I am not going to ask as to who makes the best models, that is subjective? However I am wondering who is at the top of the heap, so to speak? I will continue to read through this section of DAC and get up too speed as to what is being produced. I am mainly interested in WWII (Pacific Theater) Korea, and Vietnam as well as both US (allies) and enemy aircraft (MiGs (15, 17, 21), Nakajima Ki-43 Oscars, Mitsubishi A6M, ect.....I am a photographer and would like to try my hand at some studio work having these engaged in dogfight scenarios
A good place to start is definitely Hobby Master 1:72 for military, especailly for vietnam. Their F-4 line is rather good and can be had for relatively cheap compared to your air comanders and xplus's of the world.
Hobby Master
Century Wings
Corgi
Dragon Warbirds (out of production... get 'em if you can)
Falcon Models
Witty Wings (about to go oob)
Gemini Aces - uses Witty molds, so future uncertain
Skymax (oob) some excellent PTO schemes
Matchbox (oob)
FOV
There's also Easy Model, but they are plastic, but well done in some cases.
Check out 1:200 diecast as well - Herpa, Hogan, Gulliver/World Aircraft Selection and many others do some unbelievable detail 1:200 fast air and other military types. Hundreds of different liveries and schemes as well.
You can get Phantoms, Starfighters, F5s, F2s, F14s, F15s, F16, F/A18s A to G, Prowlers, Vikings, Hawkeyes, Mirage 2000s, Rafales, Typhoons, B2, A10, Tornadoes, Mig21, 25, 29s, Su27 and Su30, Raptors, F35s, Chinooks, Mil8s, Global Hawks. Bigger stuff includes some awesome Hercs, C17s, Il76s/A50s, K1s, YS11, KC135, KC10, An22, An24, An124, An225, Tu95, B52, A400M plus military scheme versions of DC9, 727, 737, 747, various Airbuses etc.
There are some vintage models out there too - B17G, A6M, B24, various other Jap types etc.
Very cool. Cheaper than 1/72 or 1/48, can build huge fleets, but you get unbelievable detail.
Thanks for all of the tips and links, a lot to research.
TOGAselected, never considered 1:200, but your suggestion has intrigued me, I'll have to give this scale some serious consideration.
Thanks again guys,
Thomas
I bought a Hogan Rafale M out of the blue because I was bought a Hobby Master French Air Force A310-300 as a gift and thought it would look cool.
13 months since that day I now have:
16 F16s (Dutch, USAF, Polish, UAE, Israeli, Taiwanese AF, all the Aggressor schemes, Thunderbirds)
Both USAF F15s.
3 Tomcats.
14 F/A18s (USN, Marines, Canadian, Swiss, Aussie, Blue Angels)
USN E2C
USAF B2A, B52H, A10, Global Hawk, KC135, F117, F22, F35
Dutch KC10
20 Su27s & Su30s (Russian, Vietnamese, Angolan, Indonesian, Chinese Navy, Indian)
All the Mig29s made in the scale (Slovak, Russian, East German)
All the Mig21s made in the scale (Soviet, Czech, Bulgarian, Romanian, Hungarian, Polish, East German)
All the Tornadoes made in the scale (they are my favourite models of all time in 1:200)
8 x Phantoms (4 Luftwaffe, Turkish, JASDF, Blue Angels, USAF)
All three Rafales made in the scale.
7 x Mirage 2000s
6 x Typhoons (RAF, Luftwaffe x 2, Saudi, Spanish, Italian, Warton dev)
USAF 737-200
USN 727-200
USM DC9
Luftwaffe A319 and A343
2 x An22s (Czech and Russian AF)
Tu160 Blackjack
Il76
An50 Mainstay
C130s (USAF C130H, USCG, Blue Angels, JASDF, Belgian, Aussie)
C17s (RAF, USAF, UAE)
RAF Vulcan
Canadian AF Dash 8
New Zealand AF 757 and 727-100
Loads more besides. And they fit all in two (8 shelf) Detolfs once the new birds arrive.
Got another two A10s, a Herpa A400M, an RAF VC10, a Tu95 Bear, another Tonka and another three F16s coming before the end of the year, a couple a month.
I binned off my civil collection (am selling off the last of it as we speak) of what was at its peak 150+ models, and am keeping two Detolfs for my military stuff, nothing else.
Changing personal circumstances means I'm restricting my spending to US$100 per month, no more. Keeps it well under control.
Welcome aboard Big Shooter! Nice to see another fellow Houstonian in the forums. Your work is impressive! I hope you will decide to post your work here... I love the picture of the SWA 737. Looks like you've got great answers to your question... I look forward to seeing your dogfight pics.
on a side note, if you've been away for 10 years, you should see the 1/200 airliners.
__________________ No no no no no... Papoy..... Ahhh papoy!
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If you are interested in a variety of WW2 Pacific Theater warbirds 1:72nd is definitely the way to go. Here are a few options to consider, along with the name of the manufacturer/brand. I've only listed the better quality examples where there are the appropriate schemes:
USA:
USAAF:
P-38: Corgi, Witty
P-39: Hobby Master
P-40B: FOV
P-40 E: Corgi, Matchbox*
P-47: Dragon, Corgi
P-51D: Dragon, Witty
P-61: Air Force 1
A-20G: Hobby Master
B-17: Corgi
B-24: Corgi ( British markings )
B-25C and J: Corgi; B-25J: FOV
* Wheels up only, no pilot, spinners don't spin on the Oxfords; Wheels up only on the Matchbox models
I should note that all of the Oxford models are based on toolings made for the Atlas Editions subscription line and are fairly cheap, down and dirty models with new schemes. You may also find some that were released by Atlas on eBay. War Master has released a series of diecast models based on the original IXO toolings so, here, as well, you may find several Tonys or Franks which are identical, except for the schemes. As indicated, above, War Master also released a "Rufe" float plane fighter, but it is simply a standard Zero perched atop a float---which, of course is wrong. Amercom, another subscription series, also has a clipped wing Zero, if one is interested. This is a wheels-down only, no pilot, cheapie production.
If anyone wishes to add something I may have missed please feel free to do so. I think I've covered all the planes that are available, but a number of brands were not mentioned as their models are----in my humble opinion-----less desirable.
Thanks for the detailed list EPAP. Too bad the Oxfords have no spinning props, as I am looking for a KI-43 Oscar for a dogfight scene with a Flying Tiger P-40. Anyone else make an Oscar in this scale with a spinning prop?
Also meant to ask, are the missiles on the Vietnam era jets as well as other ordinance removable on most of these models?
Again, thanks for the great info, guys.
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Welcome aboard Big Shooter! Nice to see another fellow Houstonian in the forums. Your work is impressive! I hope you will decide to post your work here... I love the picture of the SWA 737. Looks like you've got great answers to your question... I look forward to seeing your dogfight pics.
on a side note, if you've been away for 10 years, you should see the 1/200 airliners.
Hello fellow Houstonian.
Thanks for the kind words. Most of those were shot on slide film back in the early '00s' before moving to digital. Doing a lot of research in Photoshop on how to mimic the gun/cannon blasts, tracers, smoke, so it might be a while and a lot of trial and error. Airliners are easy, this will be a project.
Looking at 1:200, very impressive but getting back at a very slow and measured pace. Sold most of my 2k piece collection in '08' (though held on to my beloved Braniffs) when like a lot of folks, faced some financial difficulties.
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I would certainly agree with the advice to find as many of the Dragon Warbirds as you can. You can often get them quite reasonably. I think Match Box, the Premiums, also did some wonderful WWII models with great detail. I have a couple of those. It pays to listen to the advice of many on the forum as certain manufacturers shine with certain molds. For example, Witty makes a great Mitsubishi Zero. All in all you will find yourself wanting for more space and more airplanes. Welcome back to the disease.
Thanks for the detailed list EPAP. Too bad the Oxfords have no spinning props, as I am looking for a KI-43 Oscar for a dogfight scene with a Flying Tiger P-40. Anyone else make an Oscar in this scale with a spinning prop?
Also meant to ask, are the missiles on the Vietnam era jets as well as other ordinance removable on most of these models?
Again, thanks for the great info, guys.
All of the IXO models have spinning props, however they also have a number of flaws. The Oscar was quite numerous on eBay and elsewhere but is not so easy to find these days. Here's a link to one currently offered by a British vendor:
Sorry, just had to jump in here. I too am getting back in the 1:72 diecast a/c pool after about 8 years absence. I HAD a decent WW2 collection going (mostly Dragon Warbirds), then I told the then wife I wanted a divorce. The carnage was impressive. Adler Tag had nothing on my scorned wife. So I swept up the mess and never looked back.
For awhile I was getting armor diecast, but I recent got tired of looking at the bit Dragon Armor Tiger I on my desk and decided to get back into aircraft. Last week it was two Falcon Models, an IDF Mirage IIIc and an IDF Kfir. Not bad models to my eye, but wanted something better. Monday I scored an HM F-16I Sufa and an HM Harrier Mk2. I suspect my free desk space is about to get filled up.
NooB (for Military models that is)
I suspect my free desk space is about to get filled up.
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