Small Scale Military Headquarters

Going to ask this question on both forums. Interested to see what makes collectors tick..

oh yes, as for me, as many of you know, i collect 1/18(-ish) scale. Despite all the headaches with cost, space, lack of variety etc the large models just take my breath away like no other scale can.

I've dabbled in 1/32, 1/48 and 1/72 over the years and they all have a lot going for them but at the end of the day the models just look like, well models, whereas in 1/18 they almost feel like they are the real mcCoy.

You can't put a price on that in my books...and it's worth all the peripheral frustrations.

The big scale of 1/6 and 1/18 is what attracted me. 1/6 for the figures (and tanks too) and 1/18 for the planes. I would go 1/6 in the planes, but at that scale they have too much of a footprint.

I like 1:18 scale due to the fact that a lot of detail can potentially be included in the pieces and partly because of the "Wow" factor when people see a giant WWII fighter or modern jet. It just has an effect that smaller models sometimes don't quite have. I also fell into the 1:18 scale (particularly the aircraft) as sort of a continuation of my onetime interest in the 3 3/4" GI Joe figures & vehicles from the 1980s. When I was young, I has this wish that Hasbro would do a scaled GI Joe WWII line, and 10 years later, 21c exceeded all my expectations with their 1:18 products. So, that's basically why I collect 1:18.

Its a little more difficult to determine why I collect 1:32 scale and smaller pieces as well. However, there is more variety in the smaller scales as far as both aircraft and armor are concerned, and as some of the recent 32x releases testify, the detail is getting to be just as good in the smaller scales as it is the larger.

Well, I must agree with everyone so far. I like 1:18 because it’s big. It definitely has that wow factor as well as tons of detail. You can almost picture it as the real item. I have had difficulty with space as well but it doesn’t seem to affect my love for it. I like smaller stuff but I love 1:18. It may have something to do with my youth and the good old days of collecting GI Joe and Star Wars figures. I just seem to like that scale the best.

Its a continuation of my GI Joes and Star Wars figures. Pretty much its been the scale I've been in since I was 3. And the stuff that's coming out now is what I had always wished for as a kid (remember wishing then being disappointed when Jedi came out in 1983 that the figures didn't come with swivel-arm battle grip!).

1/18 and 1/32
Kurt

Well, I collect the XD for myself. It is on the dining room table and in the living room, and of course in my half of the garage. I love it. My hands don't really work well with delicate things. So, I can manipulate it better with killing it. I buy the 32x for my classroom. I hang the planes from my ceiling and I put the armor on my window ledges. The kids like it. Except, some of the girls have taken offense to my room being too manly. So, they made a small Barbie shrine on one of my file cabinets. Oh well.
Aaron

First off, I'm new around here, so I'll send a warm hello from NZ to everyone. Anyway - I got into 1/18 planes from collecting 1/18 cars. I like to have things in "scale collections" where you can see the size comparisons across a range of vehicles. Also, and like other people have mentioned is the wow factor. When you see the planes in the flesh they're so impressive in their sheer size, so the effect is lost when you have a 1/72 plane on the shelf.

I also started collecting 1/18 cars first back in the early 90's. I always wished someone would make figures to go along with them. I like the fact that 1/18 is smaller than the 1/6 stuff and that they're still posable. I really don't care for the 1/32 figures are molded with their bases, it limits ideas for dios. Kevin.

I collect strictly 1/18 for all of the above reasons. I aslo collect 1:24 for the Transformers: Alternators toy line and the old Kenner M.A.S.K toy line from when I was a child. My wife doesn't like my hobby at all because it takes up so much space. However, she doesn't care if I collect it because she knows that I am fascinated with it.

As a kid I made military models in 1/35, that stopped after high school and I got to play with 1/1 (you know, the big green kind of stuff you don't have to pay for if you break it). A number of years go by and I find 1/1 old trucks, then wonder of wonders I find out there is actually a club for guys that collect and play with 1/1 military vehicles. I was in hog heaven. I'm still involved.

Then a few years ago one of my sons got me a 21C CC in 1/18. I was hooked. I got everything 21C has in 1/18 vehicles and alot of 1/32 vehicles and then found 1/6. I just love the detail, even if it the wrong detail or if scale is a little off. I've branched out from 21C in 1/6 from 21C to Dragon and DID for figures, weapons and vehicles (those mentioned, plus FOA and custom mods).

Actually, my hobby is anything Military, toy, model in any scale or written or motion pic. That is what comes from growing up with Combat, The Galant Men and any war movie made in my formative years.

TTT

I like the 1/18 scale because I grew up with Star Wars and G.I. Joe and I always wanted realistic military stuff in that scale. It's a good compromise between figures that are large enough to be poseable and detailed and vehicles that are small enough to be reasoanbly affordable and fun.
1/6 is cool for detailed figures and clothing and accessories but the smaller scale toys like 32, 48, 72, and 144 don't interest me much becuase they are already around as model kits in most cases.

I'm glad they make those scales for the folks who like them, especially 32 for you playset collectors, but 18 is my favorite.

Well,
nice question.

I must admit that I started my passion for figures back i nthe day of the fury head Gi Joes and the plastic green Army men.

Since then I have collected almost a little bit of everything in all the military lines.

for example here is a figure story of my past:

1- 60's = Gi joe & army men

2- 70's = Gi joe, Big Jim & a more army men.

3- 80's = Super Joe Commander, Gi Joe 3/4, and 1/35 scale tamiya, revell, 1/72 ertl.

4- 90's = 1/35 scale Dml, SOTW 12", 1/18 21st, 1/6 21st, 1/72 ertl & others.

5- 2000's = 1/18 21st, 1/18 bbi, 1/18 PTE, 1/18 dml, 1/18 others, 1/12 Mcfarlane, 1/12 others, 1/32 21st.

6- Present = 1/6!!!.....and 1/18.....but 1/6 has me addictted!

I guess I have always like figures and being a military veteran I enjoy them even more.

take care.

Im in the same boat as Jay and Kevrut, I started with 1/18 cars, and it grew into 1/18 planes and tanks. I have noticed the car side of my collection is lagging, havent bought a car in 3 months now, planes just seem more interesting now.

I like 1:18 scale due to the fact that a lot of detail can potentially be included in the pieces and partly because of the "Wow" factor when people see a giant WWII fighter or modern jet. It just has an effect that smaller models sometimes don't quite have. I also fell into the 1:18 scale (particularly the aircraft) as sort of a continuation of my onetime interest in the 3 3/4" GI Joe figures & vehicles from the 1980s. When I was young, I has this wish that Hasbro would do a scaled GI Joe WWII line, and 10 years later, 21c exceeded all my expectations with their 1:18 products. So, that's basically why I collect 1:18.

This is exaclty why I collect 1/18 only.

YES THE WOW FACTOR SUMS IT UP. CANNOT BE ANY LARGER JUST DUE TO COST & STORAGE, EVEN 1/18 IS AN INCREASING PROBLEM. AT TIMES I HAVE LEFT STUFF IN MY CAR BOOT UNTIL I COULD FIND ANOTHER SPACE IN THE HOUSE. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW YOU PLANE GUYS HANDLE IT, 10 ON THE CEILING & 2 IN BOXES IS MY LIMIT. THIS IS A CARRY OVER FOR ME FROM THE 100'S OF STAR WARS ITEMS I HAD & GI JOES, I JUST GOT USED TO THIS SIZE. THE DETAIL HAS IMPROVED GREATLY OVER THE YEARS FOR THIS SCALE & FOR ME IF ITS NOT 1/18, I AM NOT INTERESTED. THAT'S THE MAGIC NUMBER ACROSS ALL LINES OF COLLECTABLES FOR ME.

I started with 1/72 when I was a kid, then 1/48 when I was a teenager then 1/35 when I was 20 and was happy with it.
Now I am on 1/18 for armour and 1/6 scale for figures. And happy with both scale.

Take care.

phil

Yeah, 1:18 is my addiction for sure. I love the fact that you can enjoy a 1:18 airplane or tank from anywhere in the room. To enjoy other scales, you have to just about pick it up to see any sort of detail.

-Ski

Morian Miner wrote:It's a continuation of my GI Joes and Star Wars figures. Pretty much its been the scale I've been in since I was 3.

same here

i mainly collec figs though

I've told this story before and it sounds familiar after reading others' but it all began around 1981 with Sgt. Rock, then RAH GiJoe. Once GiJoe became neon I stopped collecting but then one day a few years ago I saw a Chap Mei Jeep set that came with a couple of figures and I had to reminisce so I bought it. For a while all I wanted was chap Mei - so cheap and could be found in Rite Aid, dollar store etc.. But then I found early bbi elite force and realized what was out there. Then 21C and it was all downhill from there. I too have dabbled in the smaller scales (and could still see myself going that direction down the line) but the figures in 1:18 are where it's at. I can army build them, pose them, bash them - the perfect mix b/w smaller and larger. I don't think I will ever be able to give up realistic 4" military figures, even with a 12 step program..

Definately 1/18th for the size/wow factor.
Even if you don't like war toys, you can't help being impressed by a large neatly organized collection. It's like our own little personal museum. I collect the smaller scales mainly to war game or display large battlefield scenarios. Whatever the reason, it has been a fun
5 years in which I really enjoyed this hobby with a great bunch of fellow collectors that are as warped as I am.

Mark

I collect 1:18 because 1:6 just takes up too much space. 1:18 is large enough for vehicles and aircraft to seem somewhat "realistic" plus include articulated figures and some accessories, but still take up much less space than 1:6.

I also collect some limited 1:32, both armor and aircraft (but not figures alone). 1:32 aircraft, while not as awe-inspiring as 1:18, are still pretty nifty to me and take up a heck of a lot less room.

I try not duplicate specific vehicles and aircraft between the two scales.

My son started off collecting 1/6 when I started bringing home various pieces for him. They started taking over the shelves in his room and when 21st released its first series at Toy-R-Us I thought these were a nice size and detail and I didn't have to build it! So, I bought them for me, and later my son took an interest in them and now I buy and customize them for him!
He is now also into collecting 1:1 movie WWII military props and militaria. Talk about taking up space!
At my age 1:18 is about the smallest I would want to work with and takes up less customizing plastic than 1:6.
But, if it is any scale militaria and it is unique or interesting, I'll buy it!
Addicted? I think not!

Modern XD and bbi modern are the things I dreamed to have when I was a child.
At that time I was trying to camo paint a playmobil spaceship to act as a troop carrier for my gijoe and action force...
It's the revenge of a 29 years old kid armed with a credit card