Bachmann Trains & Accessories

Which is closer to HO scale, 1/72th or 1/90th?

I would like to add some model planes to my HO scale train layout that I want to build myself. I haven’t found planes that are in kit form that are in HO scale (other than ready-made diecast). I found several planes in 1/90th and 1/72th scale in kit form. Since HO scale is 1/87th, does anyone have experience to which of these two scales would be more appropriate to use?….I can do modifications if necessary. Thanks!
I was able to find a Revell Pacific Southwest DC-3 model kit at 1/90th….this may be pretty close!

To answer your question, 1/90 would be much closer to HO scale 1/87 than 1/72. I’m not familiar with any 1/90 scale aircraft but I have seen quite a few in 1/100 scale. I’ve seen quite a few passenger planes in this scale. This is small for HO scale but it you were using them as back ground models they would be fine. You could use a method called forced perspective. If you had a river or gorge between the HO trains and the planes then the eyed would be tricked into thinking that the smaller scaled planes were actually farther away. You could do the same think but in reverse for larger scale planes, put them in front and the trains in the back ground.
As someone else mentioned 1/96th scale. This is a popular shipbuilding scale. It’s about 10% smaller than HO but the size of the models usually offsets the difference as long as the two scales aren’t displayed side by side.

Good luck and hope this helps.

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