"1/200 / Armaments In Miniature " Topic

Several years ago I sold an extensive collection of painted 1/285 (and 1/300) aircraft models. I was looking for a larger scale that would allow detailed painting but still retain a small footprint on the gaming table.

I experimented with 1/144 and enjoyed the construction / painting since I have a scale modeling background but still felt the footprint was too large – especially with multi-engine models.

I felt that 1/200 would be the perfect scale but plastic models were expensive and die-cast prohibitively so.

Then I discovered the Armaments in Miniature (AIM) 1/200 range produced by Dave Schmidt; excellent resin castings, quality flight stands, good prices and an extensive range of WWII and post-WWII aircraft. I have no connection to AIM – just a satisfied customer.

In our group I 'provide' the aerial games and am happy to do so. However, it's easy to feel like your working in a 'vacuum' so I'm curious if other members are working / gaming with 1/200 and what your experience is with this scale.

Comments – ?

Joe,
I am waiting on planes from Dave for the Pacific Theater in 1/200th, and from Shapeways for the Spanish Civil War. Thanks to the book I picked up from you a couple months ago, I have plenty of SCW painting reference.

In 1/200 I have used both Skytrex (link) and Wings Of Glory and are very happy with both.

Skytrex are reasonably priced for metal miniatures and Wings of Glory are a bargin if you want ready-painted.

WoG Hurricane vs Skytrex Dornier…

Three Skytrex Blenheims crossing the English coast…

My solitary objection to 1/200 scale is the single source for cheap and excellent castings. Until AIM gets around to making every last plane ever produced, there are just going to be some planes missing from the scale. Other than that, I love the AIM planes, and if I were starting over in dogfight gaming, AIM would have a drain tube installed directly into my wallet.

I really wish somebody (preferably AIM) would get around to casting all the huge 4-engine WWII planes in resin in 1/300. I prefer the big planes to be a scale (or two!) below the fighters so they fit in the hexes, and I really really really want them in resin. Metal planes on tall sticks have a nasty tendency to become a falling-domnio disaster.

- Ix

I like the AIM planes but I get the 1/100 scale.

Nick: glad the book was useful!

Keith: good looking models! Is that the gaming mat you use or – ?

YA: that's a tall order but I understand your point. AIM has all the major aircraft covered-I hope sales continue to allow for new releases of the more esoteric types.

DJ: I just finished several of the 1/100 scale models for a friend-quality and very easy to work with.

Thanks again for reminding me how far behind I am on painting his models. I still think Dave releases models faster than I can paint them.

Kevin: I agree, my unfinished pile is pretty high too!

R'/Joe