Piggy backs anyone?

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Thats a railway thing, due to differing gauges in various places and wanting to use the same track for both British and continetal models. At least thats what I been told. Airfix are actually 1/76th, but sold as 1/72nd these days. 1/72 are visably larger.

[John Cook]

There are lots of models that are going to sell in greater quantities than others but I have little idea as to what makes something financially viable or not.  If the V2 stuff and 14" railway gun, for example, are financially viable, I would think that a Diamond T and a Scammel would be too.

[Sunray]

Thats a railway thing, due to differing gauges in various places and wanting to use the same track for both British and continetal models. At least thats what I been told. Airfix are actually 1/76th, but sold as 1/72nd these days. 1/72 are visably larger.

It comes back to a morphing of scales.  Airfix model aircraft were allegedly  1/72 and close to OO (1/76.2) - their first model was a Spitfire (1955).

The first figures were the Guards Band, Colour Party and Infantry Combat Group - they were styled H0 &00 on the box, covering both bases. as HO was 1/87.   This is the "same track" argument that Ian refers to.  (Both 00 and HO shared the same model gauge.)

These early figures were 22mm high so compatible with the H0 scale. Indeed Airfix Civilians set was clearly made with a railway platform/station in mind.  All these figures worked well with 1/87 Roco minitanks..

The later 1970s figures have scale creep.  The Carrier and 6pdr set has a 1/87 carrier crew/NCO and a couple of kneeling giants 1/76 gun crew.
Battle sets included tanks and figures, so the new release figures are scaled to fit with the Airfix model tanks and vehicles in 1/76.