come to think of it... I read a blog site once that features mecha designer and their work, including Kawamori, since he also design a couple of gundams maybe he adjust the scale to be contrasted to the VF-1's apparently they have no basis of scaling that time. That's why 1/48 if converted to an actual 1/1 the plane will be ridiculously enormous, imagine a 8 feet tall pilot if compared to the VF-0's scale. on the other hand 1/60 VF-0's are much more likely to be scaled at an actual tomcat(Kawamori's fav. fighter plane and inspired him on making VFs). Sorry guys I can't provide the link I've read it long time ago