Independent buying guides for scale model building

1:35 vs 1:72 Scale

1:35 is the standard armor and figure scale with big, detailed kits. 1:72 is compact, with a huge range of aircraft and vehicles.

 1:351:72
Human figureAbout 5.1 cmAbout 2.5 cm
5 m vehicleAbout 14.3 cmAbout 6.9 cm
DetailHigh, room for extrasLess, fine parts are tiny
Display spaceLargeCompact
Main subjectsArmor, figures, dioramasAircraft, vehicles, wargaming
Cost per kitHigherLower

Choose 1:35 if

  • You love detail and dioramas
  • You build tanks and figures
  • Your eyesight prefers bigger parts

Choose 1:72 if

  • Shelf space is limited
  • You want to build collections
  • You build aircraft

The bottom line

Choose the scale your favourite subjects are made in, and stick with it so models display together.