Miniature Model Airports have become a way for collectors to show off their collection of miniature airplanes. Amongst all the different types of miniature airplanes on the market today, die cast airplanes are the best. The quality and detail on the die cast airplanes is superior compared to the same scale plastic planes. The three most popular scales are 1:200, 1:400 and 1:500.
The 1:500 scale is the smallest of the three. It is dominated by Herpa Wings. Herpa is a big provider of not only die cast scale airplanes, but also die cast scale cars. Throughout the years Herpa has increased the level of detail in their models, making them some of the best for the 1:500 market. In addition to the airplanes, Herpa also offers a variety of Airport buildings, airport mat sets and accessories to build model airports. They are very nice and very detailed.
Paper Model
The 1:400 scale is a "medium size" scale. The two big players on this market are Gemini Jets and Dragon Wings. Herpa Wings also has some offerings, but not many. Gemini Jets and Dragon Wings offer some of the highest quality in both construction and detail. Gemini recently unveiled a line of Airport buildings and accessories for the 1:400 market.
The 1:200 scale is the biggest scale of the three. Lately there have been more offerings from Gemini Jets and Herpa Wings. The quality and the details are exceptional. For example, on most of these models you have rolling rubber tires and, on some models, rotating engine rotors.
When designing a model airport, you want to decide how much work you want to put into it. You can purchase ready-made airport mat sets (or foils), buildings and accessories, or you can build all from scratch. If you are building the airport from scratch, you may want to check the FAA website, under planning and capacity to get all the necessary specifications for runway length, width, clearances, etc. To convert these measurements to the proper scale, use the following formula:
measurement in inches = measurement in feet x Conversion-Factor
where Conversion-Factor is 0.024 for 1:500 scale, 0.03 for 1:400 scale, and 0.06 for 1:200 scale. For example, the width of a typical runway is 150 feet, to change this to 1:500 scale:
150 x 0.024 = 3.6 inches wide
If you want to design your own terminals, you can use a variety of materials. For the beginner, you can use Balsa wood, or cardboard. For the most advanced, you can go to your local hobby shop, and check out the model railroad area. Much of these materials can be used in the construction of buildings for your airport. Whatever the level, use your imagination and have fun!
Miniature Model Airport Design
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