Airplane Scale

1/48, lots available, esp; WWII stuff.

 

I looked @ 1:48 but am not interested in military. I'd like a United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, & a UPS plane. Those are the ones that read 1/200, 1/400, e3tc

Airplane kits seem to be pretty plentiful in 1:72; the WWI and WWII aircraft seem pretty plentiful in 1:48. DieCast Direct (http://www.diecastdirect.com) has a pretty good selection of aircraft in various scales.

 

Your larger aircraft are typically done in smaller scales -- face it, they're BIG. John Pignatelli did, however, find a 1:48 (as I recall) Boeing Stratocruiser (Passenger version of a B29) which we have "flying" over the harbor area. We later relocated it closer to the front of the layout.

 

Since scale planes are so big and layout space is limited, I prefer to keep them flying.

 

In that case, smaller scale is better since it gives the viewer a sense of distance.

 

 

Jim

I have about 7 airplanes suspended from the ceiling above my layout. They were gifts from vendors I dealt with when I was working. UPS, FedX, United, etc. around 1/100 or so but not sure of the exact scale of any of them but they look right. The smaller ones I hang closer to the ceiling and the larger one's a bit lower. They look fine. Most 1/48th scale airliners like 747's and DC10's would be too huge. The smaller planes will work just fine and give you the effect that they are 1,000's of feet in the air. 

A Boeing 747 is about 220' wide by 220' long. In 1/48th scale, you could put one of them on a 4 X 8 layout, but the wings would hang over the edge. You would have a foot or so of room left at each end for trains.

 

"Perhaps we could interest you in one of our smaller models?"

"I have about 7 airplanes suspended from the ceiling above my layout"

what do you hang them with?

This is where forced perspective comes into play.  Using a smaller scale would permit you to have the feel of an aircraft in the distance.  If you want something on the layout itself, there used to be models of of a cessna or a bell helicopter that could be parked somewhere and not be out of proportion.  The problem is finding model kits, this have all but vanished from the shelves of hobby stores.

a 1:48 737 is something on the order of 33" long, which is why you dont see modern airliners in large scales. There is an older plastic kit of a 1:72 scale 737 that pops up on ebay from time to time. You may find some older airliners (DC-3's, 7s, Constellations, etc...), but if your intent is to have flying planes, the smaller ones work because of the illusion that they are far away/high up.

As far as hanging them... tie fishing line around the base of each wing, and hang them from an eyelet or hook on the ceiling.

Gentlemen; I want to put these planes on the layout, not hanging from the ceiling. But my original question was what are the 1/200, 1/300, etc. equal to in our scale. "G" scale, "O" scale, etc. Or are these too big!!!

Spence,

 

If I am correct in what you are asking, since our scale is 1/48th of actual size, a plane that is 1/200 would be smaller than a true O scale model. In fact, it would be smaller than an N scale model which would be 1/160 of actual size. Similarly, a 1/300 model would be smaller, a 1/400, smaller still and so on.

 

Sorry if I still am not getting what you are asking.

 

Jim

Spence,

1/100 would be smaller than HO scale and larger then N gauge. 1/200 would be smaller than N gauge. I am sorry to say that there are no 1/48 airliners available, they would be just too big to fit in most bedrooms let alone a train layout. For example, I have a Revell DC-10 kit in 1/144 scale I bought in the early 1970's and it has a 13 inch wingspan and a length of 14 3/4 inches. About the only non-military kits available are some general aviation kits from Minicraft. They make Cessna 152, 172, a Beech Bonanza, and I think a Piper. Those are probably about as close as you will get.

Regards,

Randall

I just had a quick look on the internet, and there are several 1:48 die-cast models available of smaller civilian aircraft. But nothing much larger than a business jet, or the smaller airliners (Gulfstreams, Cessna citations, Dash8-Q400, Embraer Legacy, Shorts 360, Hawker 900XP, etc.). Revell/Monogram and Franklin mint have made a selection of DC-3s in 1:48 scale. There are plenty of these for sale on the popular sites.

Please check out Schreiber-bogen models, airplane card models in 1/50 scale, including airliners.

 

All the best,

Miketg

 

http://www.schreiber-bogen.com/cat.php?ac=2&t=6

Yes Jim you are correct. That's the answer I'm looking for.

 

Mikeetg; checked the website out but dosen't have what I'm looking for.

sigh...ill go  get my shrink ray lol

You can find appropriate small aircraft at Academy Minicraft. They will make a fine small private airport to go with Lionel or K-line airport facilities.

Larry S

 

<colgroup><col width="72" /><col width="197" /></colgroup>

11608	Cessna 150 Airplane
11609	Beechcraft V-35 Bonanza
11610	Piper Cherokee
11611	Piper Super Cub
11634	Cessna 172 Floatplane
11635	Cessna 172 Tricycle Gear FP
48004	Cessna Hawk XP
11609	Beechcraft V-35 Bonanza
11611	Piper Super Cub

Some of the die cast models that are offered that are allegedly 1/48 scale aren't.  They are closer to 1/64 or in some cases 1/72.

 

Most plastic kits are 1/32, 1/48. 1/72, 1/144.  1/144 is what is used for most airliners, bombers and transports because these are really large aircraft.

 

The only scale model planes that would fit on a layout are some of the WW-2 piston (e.g. Mustang) or EARLY jets like the F-86.  The only "modern" military planes that would fit on a layout are the original AV8-A Harrier (also doesn't need a runway) and possibly and A-4 Skyhawk.  There are no commercial aviation kits in 1/48 that would fit.  You can sometimes find GENERAL aviation kits like a Cessna 150, Beechcraft Bonanza or a Piper Cherokee can be found.  There are also some kits for 1/48 choppers like a 1/48 Cayuse or Eurostar or an oldie but goodie UH-34D.  Again, no runway required.

Matt, that's my favorite airplane......Double deck and props. Don

I was thinking of one of these Jenny biplane kits as a flat car load. Take the wings off of course and secure them on the car. It's O scale and would fit. Don

Keep in mind that, like trains, commercial aircraft got larger after WW2. If you want a 1/48 commercial aircraft "on the deck" you'll be restricted to earlier models like DC3's, WW2/Korean War military etc. I remember John Pignatelli getting hold of a 1:48 Lockheed "Constellation" model during his ship-building days. 

This is a 1/48 scale AV8-A next to 40 foot box cars

This version of the Harrier was small enough that I could walk up to the prototype at an air show and take pictures of the inside of the cockpit without climbing up on anything.  There was an F-15 also at the show.  I could walk under the BELLY of that plane while almost standing straight up.

I hang them with white sewing thread from a 3m hook that attaches to the ceiling with a tape that can be removed if you wish.  Works great and the thread is almost invisible giving the illusion of flight. 

  What airline is that Stratocruiser Matt ?

These are great to put on an O-Gauge layout.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=&_sop=10&_osacat=19150&_sticky=1&_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A5834&_sc=1&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1311&_nkw=wings+of+texaco&_sacat=220&_from=R40

I can't remember, even though I "see" it twice a week. If John put the decals on I think he used Pan Am. I'll climb up on the layout Wednesday and check for sure.

Lionel had a Beechnut on a flatcar!

That would be a Beechcraft Bonanza. At the time the largest plane single engine plane of something. It seats 6. Maybe class but largest of something.

I have 1:48 flying low with 1:72 at higher altitudes.

Scale is scale.......LOTS of 1/48 scale planes. Biggest is maybe Revell's B-29 kit and no you will not find a 747 or other commercial liner as they would dominate the room....but lots of older planes even private planes.

N scale is 1:160; Z scale is 1:220 nothing actively Mfg. in quantity is smaller. See rail transport modelling scales in Wikipedia.

Had "The Apprentice" climb up on the layout and snap the photo below. I had thought it was PanAm, and it indeed it is. Forgot that the "World Logo" didn't appear until later. We need to send the kid back up there to dust the plane off.

 

Matt,

Did that come from a travel agency or did a clubber build that Strat?

It was built by John Pignatelli from a kit he snagged off eBay a few years ago (Revell if I recall correctly.) He added LEDs to the mix -- running lights/interior and added the disks for "rotating" props. It's suspended from the ceiling with a heavy wire through the port wing.

Hey scale rail,

 

Where did you find the kit for the Curtiss Jenny?

 

Thanks!

 

Nicole, where on the internet did you find 1/48 scale die cast small civilian airplanes.  I'd love to find some Cessna's.

Hi Dick,

 

If you mean the Cessna jet aircraft, then this site might be of interest. There are a few other sites too, but I can't recall those quickly. The Cessna's on this site are 1:40 scale, but there are Gulfstreams, Hawkers and others in 1:48 scale.

 

http://www.aviationmegastore.c...Cat=&sortOrder=6

 

If you mean the piston engined Cessna's, then there are several plastic kits in 1:48 available.  Here are a couple of links to those:-

 

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/c...01P?I=LXCGJK&P=8

 

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/mmi/mmi11635.htm

 

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/mmi/mmi11608.htm

 

This Stinson looks like a really neat model too, and it's die-cast.

 

http://www.diecastairplane.com...n-Reliant-1-43-.html

 

Hope this is of some help. 

Although I haven't hung it up yet, I bought a model airplane to do the same thing. It is from ERTL Collectibles, Prestige Series. I bought it at an antique mall. It is a 1/72 scale model, and is a model of a American Airlines DC-3, and is a die cast metal replica. Mine cost me $25. Stock # F312, and looks like it came out in 1996. I too thought that maybe depending on the size hanging up, would just look like it was closer or further.... Would like a Ford Tri-motor, if they made one in this series. Hope this helps.

Jeff

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