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Small Just Got Even Smaller! |
Jul 24, 2006 |
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They say the world is getting smaller by the minute. This is certainly true of the model industry who seem to have an appetite for all things miniature. In the past I've been amazed by the incredible quality of the work produced by companies such as GHQ and their incredible range of 1:285th scale MicroArmor. A mention must also be given to Games Workshop who for many years pioneered the so-called Epic scale miniatures for the Adeptus Titanicus/Space Marine games and their derivatives.
Even model railway fans seem to be taking a keen interest in the diminutive side of hobby. N-gauge, in particular, appears to be enjoying a resurgence in popularity. This is in some part due to the fact that Bachmann recently acquired Graham Farish, who for many years had been the driving force behind the British N-Gauge scene. Since the takeover companies including Dapol and Hornby have jumped aboard the bandwagon with some relish. Meanwhile, in Europe, the even smaller Z-gauge goes from strength to tiny strength...
Surely things can't get any smaller?
And then along came Tumbling Dice...
What may at first seem like the scrapings from a Cyberman's underpants are, in fact, the components of 4 Fokker DR1 triplanes - in 1:600th scale! Tumbling Dice produce a huge catalogue of such aircraft, some of them in kit form, under the "Vapour Trails" banner. Planes from both World Wars are available including representations from all the major protagonists and even a few of the less well-known ones! There's even a small selection of Post War aircraft including everything from early MiG fighters to more recent Harrier jump-jets.
You could say the 1:600th scale aircraft scene is something of a growth industry! Several companies have dipped a finger into the market which both complements and helps promote the work of manufacturers like Tumbling Dice. One of them is Dom Skelton. Not only does he sell the entire Vapour Trails catalogue form his own online shop, he also produces a plethora of decal sheets specifically designed for the range. The individual aircraft markings range from the small to the miniscule. Some of the German Balkankreutz, for example, are only 1mm wide! I think I'd get a hernia just looking at them. He also sells a range of 1:300th scale decals which, in comparison, must seem positively enormous.
Meanwhile, if you've ever dabbled in wargames, you'll no-doubt be familiar with the Too Fat Lardies and their fiendishly good rules and other material. Their popular aerial combat game "Bag the Hun" is often played with 1:600th scale aircraft. This allows enthusiasts to re-enact huge swirling dogfights on a playing surface smaller than the average dining room table! How better to put Jerry through his paces...
Tally-ho!
For more details please visit the official Tumbling Dice website
and Dom Skelton's online store.
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