Thoughts on 1/144 scale.

[ColinW]

Morning all.
Just as a way to save on space it has been suggested to me to try 1/144 scale.
Now I got myself a Revel tornado just to see myself and I was pleasantly surprised on how good it looked, or is That just me?
Thoughts on the positive and negatives from an experienced 1/144 builder would help me decide.
But my first impressions are good.
What do you think? Is it worth pursuing?
Thanks guys.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

1/144 scale has come a long way since the 'get one free' in the Rice Krispies packet.
Going around the model shows can show you how much work can actually be put into one of these models.
Pursuing 1/144 - you can always chop and change scales as you see fit, you do not have to dedicate yourself to just one scale unless you are like me and need a guide dog and white stick to tear off the tiolet paper.
I spent a few years with 1/72 scale untill I found through work that I could not dedicate the time I wanted, and once I was in a job where I could spend a few hours at the bench I went onto 1/35 scale and have stuck to it for well over a decade. Now in June I am going to take a rest from only 1/35 and build some of the 1/48 scale aircraft I have in my stash.

 

[Andy T]

I've seen some excellent 1/144 models on here, Tony (yak face) springs to mind. I'm not sure I could work that small but the only way to know if it's for you is to give one a go.

 

[David Lovell]

I'm bit of a closet wingy thinger loads in the stash but thats as far as it gets ,as Mike says you don't have to dedicate your self to one scale you can dip in and out , 1/72nd afv's being my thing but I do every now and then build a leggo scale(1/35) ,not so much now but the 1/144 stuff was cheap compared making it not that risky to have a little dabble and the recent stuff is top quality give it a shot. A change is as good as a rest heres one of my closet 1/144 builds


Dave

 

[rtfoe]

As mentioned the scale has come a long way with incredible detail. Even back in the days they could be made to look good with figures and some ground support vehicles as it would be near impossible to suspend a larger scale in mid air like the one I did.

Cheers,
Wabble

 

[boatman]

HI Colin yes 1/144 SCALE models are now very good as i built over 50 of the tiny revel model aircraft for my 1/144 scale USS NIMTZ CVN 68 aircraft carrier an they came out very good some pics for you to make up your mind here an even lit some up with 2mm leds for nav lights an such an here a super hornet in same scale with lights an fitted in my hand

AN two 1/144 scale HAWKEYE's with nav lights an workin engines as i used tiny motors out of a mobile phone

AN HERE on my carrier deck with a tomacat so yes 1/144 models are really worth it in my opinion if you havnt got much room
chrisb

 

[Ian M]

I set my limit to 1/48 for aircraft. Build a few boats in 1/72 any smaller than that and I start getting issues with hand eye stuff. A 1/200 scale ship dont really count as they are huge! lol.

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

HI Colin yes 1/144 SCALE models are now very good as i built over 50 of the tiny revel model aircraft for my 1/144 scale USS NIMTZ CVN 68 aircraft carrier an they came out very good some pics for you to make up your mind here an even lit some up with 2mm leds for nav lights an such an here a super hornet in same scale with lights an fitted in my hand View attachment 506384View attachment 506383

AN two 1/144 scale HAWKEYE's with nav lights an workin engines as i used tiny motors out of a mobile phone View attachment 506385

AN HERE View attachment 506386on my carrier deck with a tomacat so yes 1/144 models are really worth it in my opinion if you havnt got much room
chrisb

Oh, now, that's just showing off!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

In 1/144 you can get more stuff in the same space as larger scales

However...
I've recently seen some ridiculous pricing on 1/144 kits. A Revell Hawker Hunter starter set for THIRTY pounds? What's up with THAT!?

 

[Andy the Sheep]

I have only 3 1/144 kit under my belt, an old kit of a Grumman A6 Intruder and two Tiger I built when I returned to the hobby and it was fun.
(panzer pic here below to show the detail level you can find in those kits - they had even photo etched engine grilles!)

 

[ColinW]

Thanks guys that's it then, I'll give them a go.
There's a model show and competitions on at the Darlington stadium tomorrow, I'll try and find a couple 1/144 models while I'm there.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Oh, now, that's just showing off!

I agree look at Chris flexing his Braille scale muscles.

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

I agree look at Chris flexing his Braille scale muscles.

He'll be rigging 1/300 biplanes next!

 

[Lee Drennen]

I built a 1/144 DC-3 plane many years ago while on vacation I must say it turned out great but I’m just a little shy to post it because of the scale but now I might one day. Colin go for it.

 

[Lee Drennen]

rigging 1/300 biplanes next!

You know it then we have to take a learning curve to keep up with his standards.

 

[boatman]

You know it then we have to take a learning curve to keep up with his standards.

WELL Lee on this Tomcat my standards eanrnt to high at the moment as im still havin trouble with that kit Aaaacccchhhhh

chrisb

 

[ColinW]

I built a 1/144 DC-3 plane many years ago while on vacation I must say it turned out great but I’m just a little shy to post it because of the scale but now I might one day. Colin go for it.

Please do, I'd love to see it

 

[yak face]

Thanks guys that's it then, I'll give them a go.
There's a model show and competitions on at the Darlington stadium tomorrow, I'll try and find a couple 1/144 models while I'm there.

Whats your preferred subject colin ? I can recommend some nice kits ( as long as they're aircraft ! ) cheers tony

 

[Jakko]

I have only 3 1/144 kit under my belt, an old kit of a Grumman A6 Intruder and two Tiger

I’ve built a number of 1:144 scale tanks as well, mostly some 15 years ago, and I kind of like them for being small and quick I put some of them on little dioramas on 50 mm wargame bases:



Well, small and quick … the last 1:144 scale model I built was this one:

Oh yeah, and I have a Karl-Gerät in the stash in this scale too. Been wanting to build it but never got round to it, probably because it’s such a big, complicated kit compared to other armoured vehicles

 

[ColinW]

Whats your preferred subject colin ? I can recommend some nice kits ( as long as they're aircraft ! ) cheers tony

I was never a plane builder even though I like them due to space. But this very small size has grabbed my interest in them.
I love the Phantom as it was the first model I ever got as an eight year old, and has a nostalgic feel to it for me.
I like the Harrier and the top gun type, it's name escapes me.
The EE lightning, again my Dad used to test the pilots in the pressure tank at Akrotiri , and they were there at the time. I used to get shown around them which fixed them in my mind.
The A7 Corsair,again everything seems to have a nostalgic feel for me.
The red Arrows , as we used to watch them practice of Episkopi cliffs as they flew around over the happy valley or tunnel beach areas. Probably off tunnel beach, but it was a long time ago.
Those are my favourite planes off the top of my head.
The small size has even got me looking at military vehicles like the Ferret or Armoured car,? But I have a leaning to the Raf, ground crews, refueling crews ect or figures too.