A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: SMALLER IS NOT ALWAYS QUICKER…

19th January 2026

If the building of Tamiya’s 1/72 Tomcat has reminded me of anything, it’s that smaller scales don’t always equal quick builds.

Tamiya’s latest 1/72 kit is to all intents and purposes a scaled down version of their 1/48 offering. Parts count is similar, breakdown essentially the same and though some areas are simplified, detail is very similar. What this means is that you have to complete an almost identical project irrespective of which kit you choose, and thus the time needed to finish each one, will be the same.

Of course this hasn’t always been the case. No-one would argue for instance that older 1/72 kits had the same complexity as larger offerings, many of them being far simpler in comparison. Time moves on though. Today it’s easy to list 1/72 kits that are very similar to compatriots from the same range. Just take a look at Eduard’s collection of single-engined fighters where there is as much detail and complexity in 1/72, as there is in 1/48.

It is though, not just the complexity of the kit that comes into play with these smaller-scale releases, it’s the finesse that you need to achieve to get the best from them. I’m not suggesting I’m the best painter in the world, but I do try and replicate finishes no matter what scale and that is becoming more and more challenging with kits such as Tamiya’s Tomcat. My eyes are not what they once were, so I’m finding that I need an Optivisor to see what I’m painting. It’s tough enough with the exterior finish, so you can imagine how hard I’m finding areas such as cockpits! And don’t get me started on the decals. This morning I stencilled two Sidewinders, with markings so small I could barely see them!

Let me be honest: I love the challenge that these new kits provide. Despite my failing eyesight and rickety fingers I’m finding myself once more gravitating towards 1/72. Not only do I enjoy trying to get the best from them during construction and painting, I enjoy seeing each build, complete. There is something beguiling about these little models, each one demanding attention close-up, rather than being seen at distance.

The morning will see me complete the Tomcat. It’s currently sat on its undercarriage with only the canopy and superficial details left to complete. So far, so good!

See you tomorrow.