Disclaimer: This is not meant to be a rant or a slam on 1/35th scale or the fantastic selection of 1/35 armor kits available. It's just meant to explain why I personally find increasing interest in 1/48 and decreasing interest in 1/35.

Just announced today at the Shizuoka Hobby Show:
DML 1/35 El Alamein Sherman M4A1 Early DV

This is the straw that has broken my back. I've been accumulating kit and after market parts to build this vehicle in 1/35th scale for several years. Just last fall I managed to swing a trade for the last parts I needed: a set of Tasca T-51 rubber block tracks from their M4A1 kit. I was going to use a Tamiya M4 early kit as a base. To go on it I have a Formations DV upper hull, M3 suspension, turret parts, lights, tools, LionMarc Barrel, TMD hatches, Archer transfers, OnTheMark PE details, Ultracast turret bin and Ultracast figures.

Now here comes DML releasing what will most likely be an awesome early M4A1 DV with everything needed in one box for a fraction of what I have invested in AM parts. Why should I now put myself through the time and work of patching together an M4A1 DV when I can just pull a complete one right off the shelf that will build easier and be just as accurate, if not more so?

Don’t misunderstand: I’m all for new releases in any scale. However, part of what turns me on in model building is the chase for that elusive, unique vehicle or version that’s not already in a kit. I love the research and accumulation of parts to make a truly accurate Early Mk IV A1 Shermpanzer. Or if it is in a kit, it’s a really lousy one that needs major overhaul to get into presentable shape. Konrad’s recent 222 build is a perfect example. His article makes that kit appealing to me! I know, I’m a little bit sick, but there it is.

There’s something about 1/48 that harkens back to the early days of 1/35. The releases were few and there was lots of room for full scratch builds, conversions and kit-bashing because you knew you’d probably never see a good early M4A1, Panzer IA, or Luchs in plastic. The hobby was just simpler back then. Now we have several of each of those vehicles in plastic kits. Bronco just announced a Land-Wasser-Schlepper, for goodness sake! Who would have thought we’d ever see that in plastic in ANY scale? These days, if you wait just a little bit, you’ll get a good 1/35 kit of what you want to build.

And so many of these new 1/35 kits are increasingly complex with large part counts. The complexity doesn’t frighten me, I just don’t have the time for every project to be a huge build any more. Looking at what Konrad just did, even correcting a kit like ICM’s 222 is less time consuming and less expensive than detailing Tamiya’s 1/35 scale 222 kit.

So it’s time to purge the stash again. Here’s what’s left of my once mighty 1/35th scale project list ($ = going on eBay):
Tristar Pz IV D (for a diorama)
Tristar Pz Ia Late (for a diorama)
Tamiya DAK Kubelwagen (for a diorama)
Monogram 232 (1/32) (for nostalgic reasons)
$ Tamiya Stug III G (with a ton of AM stuff)
Tamiya/DML SdKfz 250/9 (early) (kit-bash with some AM parts)
$ DML Pak40
DML Kettenkrad towing DML PzBusch AT gun (with AM parts)
Tamiya Hortch 1A with Flak38 (with AM parts)
$ Academy M3 Stuart “Honey” (with a bunch of AM parts)
$ Tamiya M4A1 DV conversion (ton of AM for this one)
$ Tamiya M4A3 conversion (ton of AM for this too)
Tamiya Jeep (w/ Verlinden SAS conversion)
Tamiya M8 (can’t really sell it – it’s ½ baked but it also has a bunch of AM parts)
DML M1A1 AIM (gotta’ build this - I served 3 years on one)

I suppose I should pitch the 250/9, Kettenkrad, Kubelwagen, and Jeep too (especially since Hauler makes an SAS conversion in 1/48). I bet a new DML early 250/9 is just a matter of time. I don’t know. Perhaps I just enjoy unique, underdog projects. Maybe I’m not happy unless I’m building something that needs a little TLC. I love the hunt for the unique project that’s not already available in a complete kit. I certainly feel better about buying a Tamiya 1/48 Sherman and a few AM detail parts than the latest DML, Tristar, or Tasca 1/35 masterpiece-in-a-box.

Ok, I’m done. Whew, that was cathartic. Anyone else feel like this?

Dave Clark

n/t

well except for wanting to make one off's ah, ok, I have totally different reasons,
I like the plane/armor same scale and smaller than 1/35 taking up less space, and cheaper than 1/35

Hi Dave;

Just want to nail down that edit function.

GB

YUP... it shows up in the bottom right corner just fine. Not sure what you are doing wrong!!

When I first started modeling I tried all scales and found I liked 1/48 best. Not to big , not to small , I just liked the size and stuck with it.

I remember in the late 90s, early 00s collecting up all the available aftermarket to finally build the Tamiya M41 Walker Bulldog into a good model. Then, AFV Club releases a set of tracks and suspension. Of course, this was a precursor to the release of theit excellent M41A3 which was quickly followed by Skybow's even better M41A3.

I had nearly $90 invested into bits and pieces to upgrade a $6 kit (normally sold for $10 at Hobby Lobby, but you could always use the 40% off coupon). For a third of that figure, you got a top of the line kit of a very neat light tank.

RobG