A daily updated blog typed by someone with painty hands, oil under his fingernails and the smell of solder in his nostrils who likes making all sort of models and miniatures. And fixing things.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
What a difference some scale makes
Digging through my box of stuff for the 3mm layout, I found a little plastic VW bus bought from 3SMR. According to the packet, it's 3mm scale but not the UK version which is 1:100 but Johnny Foreigners flavour, 1:120.
Not to worry I thought, it's probably going to be nearly right. Perhaps a little small but not something anyone will notice if I don't sit it near a person.
So, I spent a pleasant evening painting the model in an approximation of the classic VW colour scheme of cream over sealing-wax red. The windows filled up with Krystal Klear for flush glazing looked better than the very recessed supplied glass. Even a painted VW emblem on the front looked the part.
Into the box it went and off to Basingstoke. Once everything was set up I put my new model in place. Instantly I could see just how big a difference there is between 1:100 and 1:120. That bus is tiny. So it's back in the box for the time being.
What a shame! Looks like a lovely model and paint job. Worth creating a diorama for? Perhaps an decrepit european coach/wagon on a abandoned siding near a campsite?
ReplyDeleteProbably better to use one of the die-cast ones that float around on stands marked HO (Carama?) Time you've flattened the bottom of the tyres a little, it may look more in keeping than this one does.
ReplyDeleteI blame it on perspective
ReplyDeleteThat's just your viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteIsn't 3mm to the foot 1/100 by definition?
ReplyDelete12 inches times 25.4 mm per inch, divided by 3mm = 101, not 120...