Trains.com

What scale aircraft kit to use on G scale layout

4432 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Burleson, Texas
  • 9 posts
Posted by commander on Monday, March 12, 2012 7:48 AM

Since your post asks about "kits", it limits you to mostly plastic models.  It depends on the era you are trying to model.  If you use "forced perspective" which put the airplanes in the background of your railroad, or suspended in the air above the layout, 1/32 scale give you the best choice of multi-era aircraft regardless of the actual scale of your G scale trains.   if you plan to put the aircraft next to the railway and have figures (people) and vehicles (cars and trucks) close to each other... you will be limited to a very few and expensive 1/24 scale kits... mostly of WWII aircraft (except for a 1970's Huey helicopter model from Revell).   If you are wanting to use general aviation (i.e. civilian) aircraft, you will have to look at the wood desktop display type of models which come in both 1/32 and 1/24 scales... but are certainly not meant for outdoor long term display... and again are expensive.

As for an airport idea, building a full-scale airport is prohibitive in G scale, but maybe a small “edge” of an airport might work if you have a hangar and small taxiway heading out off the edge of the layout… or a small farm scene with a Piper Cub on a grass area next to a barn might be small enough to model in large scale.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: North Coastal San Diego
  • 947 posts
Posted by Greg Elmassian on Sunday, March 11, 2012 12:10 PM

Umm... as far as I can tell, the wingspan of a DC3 is 95 feet 2 inches..

Divide this by 6 foot and you get a scale of 15.86, nothing close to 1:24...

That's why it's bigger than your locos. Way bigger.

A properly scaled aircraft would fit with a layout. As already stated, the scales we model in typically are not close to the scales model planes, cars and boats are in.

Greg

Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.

 Click here for Greg's web site

 

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Arizona (high country 7k ft) USA
  • 676 posts
Posted by Rex in Pinetop on Thursday, March 8, 2012 10:10 PM

I also model and fly RC planes.  My 6 ft wingspan DC-3 is closest to 1:24 however it is so big it dwarfs the railroad operations.  My advice is to pick a small plane (single seater) of the era of your railroad and suspend it over your layout maybe on a welding rod.  Building an airport and runway to 1:24 scale will take up entirely too much room while a flyover will still get an airplane into your miniture world without overpowering your layout.  "Perspective scale" could allow you to use a 1:32 plane at a lower altitude on a 1:24 layout and still look acceptable.

My two cents,

Rex

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Thursday, March 8, 2012 8:58 PM

Most model planes are either 1/48, 1/32, or 1/25 scale. 1/48 is the wrong scale entirely. If your doing standard gauge then you'll have to use 1/32, if your doing narrow gauge then you'll have to use 1/25 planes.

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 51 posts
Posted by MarkDash on Thursday, March 8, 2012 7:32 PM

depends on the scale of the engines/rolling stock/buildings you have on your layout

I model 1/29 aristocraft/usa trains

bachman is 1.20.3 or something like that

accucraft is like 1/32

lgb is like all of the above combined, lol

 

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 7 posts
What scale aircraft kit to use on G scale layout
Posted by simben30 on Thursday, March 8, 2012 6:11 PM

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy