numbers so they may also be used as toys. Models in this scale are admired by collectors because their finish may be compared to most 1:43 models, but their size allows the modeller to build up a large collection in a smaller space. Emergency vehicle models started a new way of collecting in this scale. As most of the manufacturers offered emergency models in the local markets in local liveries, swapping these cars soon became an everyday procedure in the lives of collectors. As a result international online communities for 1:72 die-cast models are more popular than for older scales. The best-known manufacturers in this scale are Hongwell (Cararama brand), Real-X, Yat Ming and Realtoy. Other brands such as Schuco, Abrex, Bumi Cars or Motorart also have these models in their portfolio but the manufacturers behind these brands are Hongwell or Yat Ming. Italian Bburago also announced its 1:72 scale range at the 2005 International Nuremberg Toy Fair. This product line would have been a spin-off of Schuco's Junior Line extending the portfolio with the models of Real-X. As Bburago was sold by Dickie-Schuco Group shortly afterwards, these models never reached the European market under the Italian brand name. 1:72 and HO/OO scale There has been some confusion amongst manufacturers in the past in terms of railway and scale model scales. Railway scales are identified by alpha/numeric codes whereas all other modeling scales are simply identified by the scale concerned. HO in Australia, Europe, Japan, and the United States is 1:87. The UK had its own scale of OO, which is 1:76, but uses the same track gauge as HO scale. Hence the term HO/OO. None of these scales are 1:72, and neither are they compatible with it, as a comparison between an Airfix and Revell GMBH Leopard I tank kits will demonstrate. Even figures in these scales show distinct size differences. Many manufacturers in the past, particularly in the UK, produced items to 1:76 and labeled the packaging as being 1:72, because the scales were historically considered to be close. An example is Airfix's and Matchbox's series of vehicle kits to 1:76, which were eventually re-issued with labeling indicating a scale of 1:72. 1:76 still exists, but it is now considered to be a wargaming scale. Many scale model manufacturers now recognize the difference and there has been a marked change over the last 10 years, with vehicle and