Static model aircraft
Static model aircraft (i.e those not intended to fly)
are scale models are built using plastic, wood, metal or paper. Some static
models are scaled for use in wind tunnels, where the data acquired is used
to aid the design of full scale aircraft.
Collectors can buy models that have already been built
and painted, models that require construction, painting and gluing, or models
that have been painted but need to be snapped together. Snap models require
minimal construction and are becoming increasingly popular.
Scale
The most popular scale is 1:72, followed closely by 1:48. 1:144 is popular
for civil airliners, and there is a growing range of military subjects. More
detailed models are available at 1:32 and 1:24. Some manufacturers introduced
1:50 scale and 1:30 scale. Japan offers 1:100. The French firm Heller SA is
the only manufacturer to offer models in the scale of 1:125. Herpa and others
produce promotional models for airlines in scales including 1:200, 1:400,
1:500, 1:600, 1:1000 and more. A few First World War aircraft were offered
at 1:28 by Aurora.
Other less popular scales are 1:64, 1:96, and 1:128;
however, old molds are often revived in these scales. Many older plastic models,
such as those built by Revell do not conform to any established scale. They
are sized to fit inside standard sized boxes. These kits are often called
"box-scale" and are often reissued in their original, unusual scales.
Some helicopters used to be offered in 1:32 scale, similar to some fixed-wing
aircraft models. The trend is to issue helicopters in 1:35 scale, similar
to most land vehicle models.
Media
The most common form of manufacture for kits is injection
molded polystyrene plastic, using carbon steel molds. This takes place mostly
in China, Taiwan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Eastern Europe. Injection
molding allows a high degree of precision and automation not found in other
manufacturing processes. Smaller and cheaper runs can be done with cast copper
molds, and some companies do even smaller runs using cast resin molds, but
the quality and precision is of a lower standard than carbon steel.
The next most common form of manufacture is cast resin,
using silicone rubber molds placed in vacuum chambers to reduce the incidence
of bubbles in the castings. This form of manufacture is labor intensive and
involves a degree of waste because the resin attacks the silicone and the
molds can only be used about 20-30 times before a new mold needs to be made.
The flexibility of the mold does allow shapes and undercuts not possible with
any other manufacturing method. This sort of manufacture is reserved for unusual
or esoteric subjects in relatively small production runs, and are consequently
far more expensive than injection molded plastic kits.
Vacuum-formed polystyrene kits are still being made,
buta greater amount of effort is required by the consumer to produce an acceptable
model compared to the aforementioned methods. There is a handful of photo
etched metal kits which allow a high level of detail but can be laborious
to assemble. Specialized kits cast in resin are available.
Scale models can be made from heavy paper or card stock.
Card models are also distributed through the internet, and several are offered
this way for free. Card model kits are not limited to just aircraft, with
kits being available for all types of vehicles, buildings, computers, firearms
and animals. Ready-made models (desk-top models) include those produced in
fibreglass for travel agents and aircraft manufacturers, as well as collectors
models made from die-cast metal and plastic. Snap Fit plastic plane models
are manufactured by Wooster, Long Prosper, Flight Miniatures and Revell.
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