Model Aircraft – Light Planes, Helicopters and Classics in 1:87
An aircraft on a layout needs no airport — a grass strip on the edge of town, a helipad on a hospital roof or a preserved museum piece will do. The 64 models at 1:87 run from the Cessna 172 and the Junkers F13 through the Ju 52 to air ambulances and the Bell UH-1D. The main suppliers are Herpa, Busch and Schuco.
Civil, rescue, military
The range falls into three groups. Civil light aircraft — above all the Cessna 172 in many liveries — suit any small airfield. Air ambulances such as the EC135 in ADAC or rescue-service colours belong on hospital roofs and at accident scenes; they complement the emergency vehicles on the ground. The third group is historic military aircraft, led by the Messerschmitt Bf 109 in numerous versions.
A question of scale
Aircraft models come in many scales — 1:200 and 1:500 dominate the collector's cabinet. For a model railway only 1:87 counts, because that is the only scale where vehicles, figures and buildings match. A model in the wrong scale looks wrong the moment it stands beside an H0 car.
What belongs with it
An aircraft on its own tells little. Only a hangar, a windsock, a fuel bowser and ground crew turn it into a scene — sheds are in the building range, vehicles among the model vehicles. Military land vehicles remain with the military vehicles.