[Shamrock]

The forthcoming range of 1/48 Corgi joining the Carousel models is very welcome. There is one thing that puzzles me though. Why not 1/72? The experience that Corgi have gained in doing the superb Swordfish & Gladiator regarding rigging, struts, and all the tooling issues regarding biplanes would surely auger well for the 1/72 scale.

The mouth watering array of aircraft at a reasonable price plus the space issues would have made this a winner IMHO. I understand that the detail is superior in the 1/48 scale but with over 95% of my 200+ collection 1/72 it will difficult to find room for a larger scale.

[chiefs70]

Shamrock I suspect it is mostly likely because the single seat WWI fighters are simply too small to render successfully in 1/72. I have the Carousel 1/48 DR1 and it is the same size as the Swordfish it sits beside. The WWI aircraft were tiny when compared to modern aircraft and - IMHO - 1/48 is a fantastic scale for them.

[Captain Eddie]

I fully agree, Chiefs. Although I primarily collect WW II in 1:72, and for that reason would like my WW I in the same scale, 1:72 WW I aircraft are just too darn small. For that reason, I MUCH prefer 1:48 for them!

[Migmauler]

Sham,
I agree, I would be in for 1/72 WWI aircraft. Model Power makes an Albatross and a Dr7 in 1/70 and they are perfectly acceptable replicas. They aren't too small at all. In that scale you wouldn't even need to mess about with rigging either. 1/70 is close enough that I've considered adding each of those MPs to my collection.

[Louie]

I agree with all of you. I would like to have 1/72 but now having WWI in about 4 different scales find 1/48 to be the perfect scale(for me) as the rigging makes a heap of difference AND because Carousel1 uses photo-etched detailing especially on it's Fokker machine guns which if it matters makes them even more mouth wateringly beautiful. That said, I have all the smaller Model Power WW1 planes and scattered among my 1/72 post WW1 aircraft they are a huge addition and make you appreciate their delicateness and colorfulness. For me I can never turn back. As soon as I get the planes I want in 1/48 I will pass my smaller WW1 stuff on to my son.

[leeG]

The Model Power WW 1 aircraft are roughly 1/70 scale. Revell did a series of 1/72 plastic kits a long while back that were nicely detailed. But I guess the cost of putting bracing wires on models that small would not be cost effective, except for planes like the Fokker Dr.1, D VII and D VIII which didn't use them. Golly, how small would the wire need to be? something like 4 mils?

Size is an interesting issue. I used to keep three 1/72 scale models on my desk when I was an active aerospace engineer. A Sopwith Camel, F4U Corsair, and a F-14 Tomcat. Aside from illustrating aerodynamic, propulsion, construction and armament differences between the three eras of aircraft, I found it interesting that the distance from the nose of the pilot to the nose of the airplane was about the same for both the Corsair and Tomcat. Of course the entire Camel fit within that length. And at the pilot's nose the F-14 was just getting started.

[Nimrod48]

From a personal collecting point I have made the mid 1930s the cut off point in aircraft & vehicle history IMHO it was an era when the first truly modern designs appeared both in aviation & auto engineering, I could certainly not dismiss the historical significance of the WW1 craft but I simply can not "connect" with this era.

[Shamrock]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. From what you all say I'm going to buy some new shelving or find some other way of fitting in 1/48. I do remember many years ago making those excellent (but tiny) 1/72 WW1 Revell kits. The Nieuport 17 stands out with the overwing Lewis gun.

I will be guided by the comments on the Carousel aircraft and have visions of a Visa card in further meltdown when the Corgi 1/48s arrive along with the Halifax (2) and JU-52 (2) and don't mention Hobbymaster and Gemini!!

[Epapazian]

I too have a varied collection of WWI diecast fighters in at least five scales, when a really large Camel is included. In general I prefer 1:48 for size and detailing reasons as cited in other posts. However, if diecast makers were ever to branch out and do WWI bombers, which I would really like, 1:72 would be perfectly acceptable.

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by Shamrock

Thanks for all the feedback guys. From what you all say I'm going to buy some new shelving or find some other way of fitting in 1/48.

Hey Shamrock... as Chiefs pointed out, the C1 1:48 biplanes are not that big; they really do not take up more shelf space than many of my 1:72 models and in the case of some, they take up less space. C1's biplanes are pricey, but man o man are they purrrrrrrty! They are outstanding models. Check out the good deals section and you will find a link for a real good deal for C1's models.