The Little World

And your own scale!

Do you have models in your collection that are all different sizes? I do. Are they all different scales? Generally, no.

This may not be a problem for you if you are a widespread modeller. But if you want a consistent collection that can tie together, you need to discipline yourself. Even if a kit looks gorgeous on the store shelf it needs to be the right scale to come home in the shopping cart.

You need not listen to anyone in choosing your scale. From 1/4000 to 1/1, you can be a great modeller and do the things you fancy – provided the kit makers agree. At first, build one of every scale and see where your comfort zone is. Resist the pests who urge you to get out of it – they just like to hear you swear.

When you know what you like and the size you like, go to it with a will. Each completed model will relate to the others, even if only in general scale… If you can run to a diorama, you can tie them together visually right in front of the viewers. It’s surprising just how sketchy the surroundings can be while still making a great scene.

If you are into retro like Dem Brudders you will have all sizes – mostly box scale – to deal with. You are building to a time and a theme, not a specific size. You can let yourself go and use period techniques as well as modern ones. No-one can fault you for the final product because they recognise the difficulty a 50’s kit imposes. And a cement fingerprint on the canopy is timeless.

Note: I still treasure models that are not my standard 1/72 aircraft – and ones that have been donated to me as the work of others. Even toy aircraft and die-cast banks have been delightful. I also note there is an internet group that covers just this sort of collection in detail.