" 1/56th scale aircraft" Topic

Hi all. I want to use aircraft for a western desert scenario . LRDG attacking a German airfield that sort of thing in 28mm . I wonder which scale aircraft do others use 1/72 or 1/48? I know neither are right but which looks best (or right)? thanks Martin

As they are part of the terrain, I'd use 1/72 (cheaper and easier to get)

I'd used 1/48th if I only needed one or a few. Aircraft are BIG things. Just wait 'til what you want goes on sale at Squadron or some other online shop and pounce on it.

Doug

At some point, I'ld like to do a Lysander spy plane for a scenario. My current thought is leaning towards scaling a paper model to 1/56.

There are a few 1/72s that look just, or nearly, right with 28mm. One such is the Henschel Hs 126 made by Oxford Aviation. Currently it's only available in SCW Condor Legion colours. Perhaps, miniMo, it might do for your spy-plane – the allies did sometimes use captured Axis aircraft for clandestine missions, famously including the Heinkel He 115 floatplane.

If it were me, and this may well tempt me into such a thing, I would do 1/48 if the planes will be on the ground. I think in the air 1/72 would look good though. Goodness this sounds kind of fun! Hmmmmm…..

The problem is that planes are big.

I'd be willing to put 1/48 planes on the ground for objectives or transports, but most 1/48 model kits are kinda pricey, even for the 'cheap' makers.

For planes in the air, I'd go with 1/72.

I have a game I run with 5 Me-109, a Stuka and Macci 200. I did them all in 1/48 to go with my 28mm figures.

I got an award for table terrain/figures at the convention I ran it at. The aircraft are impressive at 1/48.

we did just that using 1/48th scale planes

Mainly bought 2nd hand from here as they were cheap

kingkit.co.uk

Our Italian/German airstrip has 1 CR42, 1 ME109 and 3 SM79's

We are planning on adding a JU87 and another CR42 with Rommels Fiesler Storch as an optional extra

A downed B-17/B-24 with crew would be a great objective or on a smaller game used a P-51 or ME-109 with a pilot figure…

Another vote for 1/48th. Before all the 1/56 scale goodies we currently have came out, I used to mix in 1/48th scale models with no problem and still do.

Thanks to all .I think 1/48 for a greater visual impact. Although how big is a 1/48 JU52? It may just come down to the cost factor. Cheers Martin

Like Goldilocks, I think 1/72nd / 1/64th is too small and 1/48th is too large. So there is a nice fellow on eBay that carves nice planes from basswood and paints them. I bought a 1/100th Japanese Float plan from him and then he made a set of custom six DFS 230 German Gliders for me in 1/56th scale. This was just right! Plus they came painted and were very inexpensive.

Here is a link to his eBay store: auction

Normal disclaimers – no connections but as happy customer.

Wow, thanks for that link! I'll send him a price request for the Lysander.

Just to set expectations, his models have the general shape of the aircraft, but do not have the same level of detail as a plastic model. He paints them and does the markings by hand. I will post a shot of my fleet of gliders with some Fallschirmjager for reference.

Sure would be nice if somebody made some 1/56 scale Gliders.

Fiddlers Green has paper models of the DFS, Horsa, Waco, and Colditz escape glider! These can be scaled up to 1/56 link

Grand Manner has a 28mm (unspecified actual scale) resin Horsa
link

A word on paper models. Plan on doing several of them before you settle on a final model. You will find that doing several models in paper will give you the experience in getting it right. Creating the appropriate shapes takes time on task and repetition. The more you do it, the sooner you will master the process. After realizing how much work was needed with paper, I chose to go with 1:48 plastic aircraft.

Thanks for the link, gotta try one of these….