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Re: Pondering the 1/72 Scale Future...

I've been in this hobby since 1965, when my parents bought me my first set of Airfix Union infantry in 1965. Collectively we've all come a long way since then.

I've noticed a growth in small groups (4-7) of plastic/resin figures that fill niche needs, such as those from Zvezda and Germania. An emerging production method that will likely increase the volume of these small units is 3D printing. A search of Shapeways.com will reflect a growing number of 1/72 scale armor and artillery pieces not previously available in this scale, along with sets of WW2 to modern soldiers and navy crews. While the figure sets, very specialized, are reasonable in price, the armor units and artillery pieces can be expensive. In time, this may change depending on advances in 3D production technology.

This trend takes away from the larger (40-52) sets that have sustained this hobby for many years. IMHO, these sets are still needed. Strelet's production (and to a more limited extent HaT) have had a beneficial impact on our plastic 'armies'. I suspect that the price of casting materials (soft/hard plastic, resin) will also determine future productions. That said, all of these approaches are needed for our hobby, but I suspect that the future will be more grounded in smaller "Art of Tactic" sized sets. But seriously, Zvezda...2 Soviet cavalrymen for the same price as an artillery piece with 2-3 crew??? Revell's Soviet Cossacks, along with Strelet's various Russian/RKKA cavalry sets are a far better buy!

Just my 2 cents...

Re: Pondering the 1/72 Scale Future...

"Great poses - stick one in a firing line and it comes to life. But how many guys like that do you need?"

Exactly! That has been the traditional bugbear of the big box plastic figure sets: case in point being the superbly realized bare headed figure in the new Boer War Highlanders set. This little guy us a work of art and worth the price of admission on his own, but I bought two boxes to complete my highland brigade, and there is just no way I am going to field eight hatless figures in the battle line! One man may lose his helmet, but an entire company?!?
So I set too this week and fashioned Glengarry caps for them out of green stuff putty, and made two companies of 1914 Highlanders - photos on the way as a contribution to Strelets as I type this....

As someone said already Airfix were notorious for a lack of heavy weapons (or the correct ones)in their sets, and this was where the small Art of Tactic sets filled a niche well: it's nice to b able to pick up an HQ group, engineer section or single gun without having 25-30 'useless' figures wielding SMG's (Thompson's Curse)or throwing grenades left over!

Re: Pondering the 1/72 Scale Future...

I completely agree that companies (especially non-Strelets ones, as I feel they do a pretty nice job of this for the most part) need to be really careful about which poses they select, as simply scaling stuff from 28mm or 54mm does not always work properly. I referred to what you mentioned as "diorama" poses. They are great for one to two figures, but do I really need a whole box with 4-8 copies or more especially if I need multiples of the same box? It can quickly ruin entire sets.