"Airfix vs Revell 1:72 scale problem" Topic

So as a newbie in the world of 1/72 wargaming I recently went down to my local model shop and purchased a set of Airfix 1:72 WW2 German infantry and a Revell 1:72 PaK 40…

…the only problem is they're not the same scale! The Revell models are slightly larger, enough to make the Airfix infantry look comically tiny by comparison (and make me wonder if they are really just 1:76)! I did an idiot check to make sure the scale advertised on the boxes was the same of 1:72 and it is.

My question is if this is a common theme in WW2 miniatures for the scale to vary between manufacturers? Has anyone else had this issue with Airfix/ Revell or is it unique to the PaK 40 model?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Some manufacturers use 1/72 and 1/76 scales interchangeably, so many models are mismarked.

The differences in size between the two can be rather shocking when viewed side by side.

I suggest inquiring here, or reading on-line reviews before purchasing, whenever possible, and to avoid mixing figures and models whenever possible as well.

Here is a site where you can check out most manufacturers kit before purchase so you can make a more informed decision.
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Airfix figures, artillery, and tanks are all 1:76 (same as OO module railroads). Except, of course for the 1/32 (#1 Gauge) stuff. Their airplanes are 1:72.

Over the years Airfix have mislabeled some of their figures as 1/72 though they are in fact 1/76. Revell, on the other hand, are largish 1/72 scale miniatures so I'm not surprised you find them much bigger.

I often use the two in the same units and don't really have a problem with the size as humans are of different sizes too. Others find the difference too much.

Most 1/72 stuff is more or less 1/72.

Airfix figures and vehicles are actually 1/76 branded as 1/72.

The reason, as others have said, goes back to the olden days….

1/72 was originally an aircraft scale. Several companies made planes in this scale, including Airfix. Airfix still produce a lot of these kits. This became a very popular scale in Europe and new European manufacturers started producing figures and vehicles and stuff in this scale. Today, there is tons of 1/72 available.

1/76 scale figures and vehicles were originally popularised by Airfix in the sixties and seventies. I believe they chose 1/76 because it fitted with model railways, which they also made. For years their figures were marked as OO/HO, a model railway reference.

With the rise of 1/72 as the dominant scale in this field, the Airfix range became stuck out on a limb. The cheap marketing solution was just to change the packaging to read 1/72.

Simples…

Revell had their own line of 1/72 figures. When they acquired the old matchbox sculpts both vehicles and figures for a time were released as 1/72 even though they were 1/76. very annoying.

And then there are the Valiant scale figs.

Here are sites/photos that will help…in the future:

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I tend not to worry and mix manufacturers. Airfix soft plastic figures were always on the spindly side with infantry in suspiciously tight trousers. I'm shameless and will have all kinds of kit labelled 1:72 but of varying degrees within that in my collection.

I think you'll find heft more important than height. I believe it was in Stargrunt where Jon from Gzg talked about disguising height differences with figures. He suggested using modelling clay, paste, whatever to increase the height of shorter figs. I do this all the time with my 1/35 scale figs so they fit in with my 1/32 and 60mm WWII figs. Heft really makes more of a difference.

Thanks,

John

Haven't purchased Airfix figure in ages, but back in the day quite a few of their older figures were HO (1/87) scale in those boxes marked HO/OO.

When they reworked the Afrika Korp and other lines they
did them in 1/76 (OO).

Airfix vehicles and their newer figures worked quite well with Fujimi and Matchbox 1/76.

Revell and Esci were the odd ones.

Haven't purchased Airfix figure in ages, but back in the day quite a few of their older figures were HO (1/87) scale in those boxes marked HO/OO.

I don't think so. Airfix is a British company. Their figures were designed to fit with model railway buildings also made in Britain. Model railways in Britain were always OO (1/76) and never HO (1/87). The reason for this is that the model railway manufacturers could not fit electric motors into British outline locomotives at 1/87 – they were just too small, so they introduced the larger OO (1/76) scale. European model railways were built to HO (1/87).

The "OO/HO" scale arose from the fact that both OO scale and HO scale trains ran on the same track with a gauge of 16.5mm.

We got in a stock of 1/72 from several companies the other day. Interesting assortment in WW@, Modern, and Zombies.

Dalt220, as has been mentioned, Airfix is the worst culprit. Their kits were originally done to 1/76, and labeled either 1/76 or OO/HO (though too big to be HO scale). later, again as mentioned, they took to labeling some kits 1/72, though now, they are pretty much past that.

To give them credit, new releases are top notch, and to correct scale, as labeled. The difference between their old 1/76 Jeep kit (which was one of those that during it's life, was labeled 1/72 for a while) and their new 1/72 Jeep are like night and day.

If you are getting into modeling in this scale (well, any scale), a good resource is scalemates:

scalemates.com/kits

Searching out a kit, you will find any timeline about the kit, links to reviews, if any, and additional info.

If you are getting into wargaming, well… Hope the variations in height/size of figures labeled as same size doesn't shock you. :)

Jim F

Hey guys,

It isn't just with scale where Airfix take plenty of liberties. Take the example of their 'US' halftrack (another 1/76 parading as 1/72 in this version). Ok, most of us will know there are many issues with this kit (lack of interior, c'wealth mudguards on a supposedly US vehicle, based on a lend-lease ex-AA vehicle, etc, etc) but check out the way Airfix neatly changed the headlamps on this particular version of box-art to the late pattern demountables – of course no resemblance to those that come inside the box, which have never changed:

link

Well, Airfix may have intended everything to be OO, but those boxes of original British and German infantry Ii bought in the 70s were filled with Ho scale figures. Very noticeable next to their actual OO scale reissues and new issues.

f they didn't intend them to be Ho they did it by accident. Worked well with Rocco HO Minitanks.

Pity they are 250 miles away or I'd measure them up.

Somewhat late to the game, but yes, there is a good deal of variation of figure and vehicle size between smaller scale plastic figure manufacturers, sometimes even in the same box (yes, I mean you HaT).

I prefer smaller stuff, 1/76th in '20mm', but I'll happily use Revell, Italieri, ESCI, Emhar and HaT stuff with Airfix (as well as SHQ, FAA and Platoon 20). The great big monsters are Fujimi who produce some really huge stuff, and don't get me started on Valiant…. I even painted a platoon of those suckers in the vain hope they'd somehow fit in with everything else.

There is just as much variation in the output of metal manufacturers, and resin, in all scales.

You can cheat a little bit by using slightly bigger bases for your smaller figures and vice versa.

<q.I think you'll find heft more important than height.>>> Heft really makes more of a difference.

John has hit the nail right on the (oversized) head here: soldiers do vary in height and creative basing can take care of that if it really bothers you that much. Heft is a deal breaker (at least for me) as so many figures look like everweight middle aged reenactors that fit young men in their late teens and early twenties of the post depression era, used to short rations and harsh outdoor life.*

I happily mix Airfix, Caesar, Pegasus and Imex figures that are all compatible, along with some Revell and Italeri – the newer sculpts from them tend to be both taller and bigger all round.

I don't use PSC figures at all because they weigh in at the larger end of the scale (like the new Italeri stuff) and look really odd compared to the majority of figures in my collection. YMMV

*As an overweight, over the hill reenactor myself, I am qualified to make that statement