So what do You think, are we ready for the 1/200 and 1/144 scale ? There have been a few releases by Trumpeter in 1/200 and Revell has issued 2 or 3 kits in 1/144 scale recently. I believe this is a new trend and I welcome it, especially those kits from Revell. I love light cruisers, destroyers, escorts and if Revell would issue some of them in 1/144 this would be a great new area, a revolution so to say. If they
could manage to make all the ladders and railings in plastic, this would encourage also other modellers, who like ships, but stick to AFVs and Planes because they dread the PE. Are we ready for all those DDs and Zerstorers in 1/144 ? German Subs, US Landing ships, British Escorts, Monitors, Patrol boats ? Did You notice that the SMS Emden in 1/144 would be only 80 cm long, so quite manageable for 1/350 builders ? And the Leander class cruisers (Ajax, Sydney) just over 110cm ? Aghrrrrrrr, I feel a change in the wind captain.........

Small ships (and boats) are good in large scales. A 1/144 Yamato is a little over the top. Unless it's R/C!

I would love to see some 1/144 modern sub models.

I can't wait for the 1/144 Flower Corvette with the short fo'c'sle!!

The Big 1/72 kit is nice to have but major reconstruction is needed of you want to do an early Corvette with it.

I have always favored 1/200 and larger, even going so far as to scratch build ships as necessary for my projects (HMS Ajax, Admiral Hipper, River Clyde, Pearl Harbor Battleship Row, etc). However, this of course invites sky-high prices such as the SRP for the Meng Taiping tramp steamer and the Nelson/Rodney.

--Karl

For anybody who isn't sure about "going large" or not, I'd suggest a visit to a museum like the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia, or any other museum with similar displays. If that doesn't inspire you to upscale your operation, then nothing will so you're safe sticking with the smaller scales. Display space is always a concern but we modelers are a pretty creative bunch. If we can make room for "the stash", we can find someplace to park a battleship or two.

After a search, I realize no one makes a plastic kit (or resin) of an LCS (Landing Craft Support). About 130 were made and their first operation was for Iwo Jima.

A 1/144 kit would be nice and could go with Revell's LSM.

LCS is certainly on my list also. Maybe Revell will give us one in the future...Or some german FLAK-ships.

Bit of a mix bag but there are contemporary subjects in there like Trumpeter's Kilo and Seawolf and Revell's Class 214 U-boat. I'd like to see a 1/144 Virginia Class and a British Astute.

Who's releasing a 1/144 Corvette? I can see a rather large dio with this Corvette ramming a Revell U-Boat!

Revell, later this year.

I would love more destroyers in 1/144. A nice high speed transport would be a treat. An escort carrier would certainly work in 1/200 scale, but would probably be too big in 1/144, although the aircraft are available at that scale. Riich (I think it is them) has a 1/144 Gato class sub.

Yamato was released in 1/200 back in the 1970s by Nichimo, IIRC. It was meant - or easily made into - RC.

1/200 I am dubious about. A new scale with nothing to mix it with.

1/144 is a better idea as there are tanks and aircraft in abundance in that scale. And in the UK, model railroad N scale is 1/148; immense potential to add animation to the hobby. Anyone who can detect the 2% difference is a better man than I, and anyone who would worry about it is...well...you know.

To be honest - I see all your arguments for bigger scale, and YES, I am tempted. But I won't go there. It's not so much the price of the kits - it would take you even longer to finish one, so money per spent time at the workbench could even equal out but I would need a complete new shipyard, and even the one that I have takes up a considerable amount of my living space, not to talk about displaying.
Well, of course you can do little ships, but you can do that already today. My main interest however stays with the major units save an occasional DD or smaller vessel, but than again I like those to blend in with the big ships, so I like them in 'my favorite' 1/350.
But that is just me. I am not arguing against or in favor of any scale, and in fact, under different conditions I would love 1 meter plus size battlewagons... however, it simply doesn't work for me.
And besides - what would I do with my stash should I change scales??

Jan

1/200 is the perfect scale for me. Lots of detail can be incorporated but they don't take up a whole room..

Now all my previous builds have gone to a museum I have lots of room!

Well I decided to do a little math and this is how it measures up, all the calculation was done in cm, and it seems that most Destroyers would not be that much bigger then a 350 scale BB.

BB in 350 - 75cm

Emden - 83
Varjag - 89
Kagero - 81
Zerstorer - 82
Buckley escort - 65
Edsall escort - 64
WW1 Destroyers - 55/60
Clemson class and
other US flushdeck DDs - 66
Casablanca class CVEs - 108

I also made a little comparison with AFVs. If a standard Pz.IV in 1/35 has give or take 16 cm in lengh and is a maybe as wide as a ship models base stand, then 5 - 6 panzers take up the same space as a single 90cm long ship. Planes in both 1/72 and 1/48 scale take up even more space. So I would say that under certain conditions You can even save Your cabinet space, if You spend more time on a 90cm ship then You would on 6 AFVs or maybe four or five 1/48 planes.

I would love to see the smaller classes of ships, eg cruisers, destroyers in 1/200. And since I only have 2 or 3 ships waiting to be built, I don't mind upscaling. I think with size comes better detail so that should be a plus.

cheers
Michael

I would like to get my hands on a 1/144 WWII LST. My current stash of amphibs are all in 1/700 which is fine because I don't think I have anywhere to place a modern LSD (LSD 42) that would be 4+ feet in 1/144.
I think it would be a good scale for neglected subjects such as early monitor-type battleships (BM-7) and first generation battleships (Texas/Maine, BB 1).

There is an abundance of aftermarket details (photo-etch - turned brass - resin ) available in both 1/350 and 1/700. Not so much for 1/200, or 1/144. For instance, that Revell 1/144 Corvette mentioned above sounds very interesting, but I know it's going to need AM details. How long would I have to wait for such after buying the model?

Am getting into larger scales, but would like to see more smaller vessels. I think for smaller escorts like the Corvette and Frigates and DE's 1/144th is a great scale. Would be good to get some destroyers / cruisers in 1/200th.

Si

And if I can't get an Imperial Japanese Navy B1 Submarine in 1/72, I'll take one in 1/144!

Nichimo already did 1/200 and they're Ebay prices are too extravagant for me.

Well one thing is certain. Trumpeter/Hobby Boss will continue to expand their already impressive range of ship models, and once all the major subjects are done in 1/350, the 1/200 scale will come in their scope. Only thing Im dissapointed about is, that there will probably be no scale on which everybody can settle. 1/144 is too big for capital ships and 1/200 is small for escorts, destroyers, and so on...