Scales
With metrication in the United Kingdom, United States manufacturers began to use the metric system to describe miniatures, as opposed to the previously popular imperial units, so that their table-top wargaming models would be compatible. In 28 mm scale, children and short characters such as dwarves, hobbits, and goblins are smaller than 28 mm, while taller characters like ogres, trolls and dragons are larger.
Scales of 20mm 25 mm, 28 mm, 30 mm, 32 mm, and 35 mm are the most common for role-playing and table-top games. Smaller scales of 2mm, 6mm 10 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm are used for mass-combat wargames. Painters and collectors commonly use larger figures of 54 mm or more.
The use of scale is not uniform and can deviate by as much as 33%. A manufacturer might advertise its figures as 28 mm, but their products may be over 30 mm tall. A contributing factor is the difference in methods used to calculate scale. Some manufacturers measure figure height from the feet to the eyes rather than the top of the head. Therefore a 6-foot (1.83 m) figure in 28 mm scale would be 30 mm tall. As a result, 15 mm figures can be variously interpreted as 1:100 scale or 1:120.
A further complication is differing interpretations of body proportions. Many metal gaming figures are unrealistically bulky for their height, with an oversized head, hands, and weapons. Some of these exaggerations began as concessions to the limitations of primitive mold-making and sculpting techniques, but they have evolved into stylistic conventions. In the table below, figure height alone (excluding base thickness) is the feature from which approximate scale is calculated.
Another popular scale is 1/72 sometimes also called 20mm, but closer to 23mm. Mostly used for historical gaming in part do to a wide selection of 1/72 scale models.
| Figure Height | Scale foot | Scale Ratio | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mm | ≈0.333 mm | ≈1:914 | Useful for gaming in tight spaces or representing large forces. Popular scale for Victorian science fiction (VSF) games. |
| 5.92 mm | ≈0.987 mm | 1:300 | The NATO/EU standard scale for sand-table wargames involving micro armor. Closely related to 1:285 scale and generalized as "6 mm" figure scale. |
| 6.2 mm | ≈1.033 mm | 1:285 | The US standard for large-scale historical armor battles involving micro armor. Also popular in other genres, such as ancient, fantasy, and sci-fi. Closely related to 1:300 scale. |
| 8.0 - 9.14 mm | ≈1.524 mm | 1:200 - 1:182 | The standard for old 1970-1980 large-scale display plastic aircraft, a large majority of diecast aircraft, and science fiction plastic kits. Also popular in other genres, such as ancient, fantasy, and sci-fi. One scale inch is equivalent to approximately 1/200th of an inch, 0.005 inches and 25.4 millimetres. One scale foot is equivalent to approximately 12/200th of an inch, 0.06 inches and 1.524 millimetres. One scale yard is equivalent to approximately 1/36th of an inch, 0.18 inches and 4.572 millimetres. Figure scale is 8mm generally squared off to 1/160 - 1/200 scale |
| 10 mm | ≈1.667 mm | ≈1:182 | A newer scale, growing in popularity, especially for World War II and science fiction gaming. Roughly equal to N scale railroad trains. Notable manufacturers include Pendraken Miniatures, Magister Militum, Minifigs UK and Old Glory. |
| 12 mm | 2 mm | ≈1:152 | A newer scale, growing in popularity, closely related to 10 mm. Roughly equal to 1:144 scale and N scale model mini armor. |
| 15 mm | 2.5 mm | ≈1:122 | The most popular scale used for historical wargames set in the modern era, such as Flames of War or Axis & Allies Miniatures. Also widely used in ancient-era wargaming, such as De Bellis Multitudinis, De Bellis Antiquitatis, and Fields of Glory. Seldom used for RPGs. Ranges roughly from 1:100 scale to 1:122 scale. This is TT scale in miniature railroading. |
| 20 mm | ≈3.33 mm | ≈1:91.4 | Highly popular for WWII wargaming, as the figures are of roughly the same scale as H0 model railways. Seldom used for RPGs. |
| 25/28 mm | ≈4.17 mm | ≈1:73.2 | The most common size of miniatures, as it is used by Games Workshop. While original 25 mm figures matched 1:76 models (4 mm scale or 00 gauge), there developed wide upwards variation in figure height. True 28 mm figures are close to 1:64 models (S scale), but may appear larger due to bulky sculpting and thick bases. |
| 30 mm | 5 mm | ≈1:61.0 | Common for pre-1970s wargaming figures; modern minis may be up to 35 mm. Close to S scale model railroads. |
| 32 mm | ≈5.33 mm | ≈1:57.2 | Idiosyncratic to Mithril Miniatures. Genuine 32 mm. |
| 35 mm | ≈5.83 mm | ≈1:52.3 | Genuine 30 mm. |
| 54 mm | 9 mm | ≈1:33.9 | Collectible figures. These miniatures are a good match for 1:35 models, but oversize 54 mm figures would fit better with 1:32 models. Plastic dollar-store army men are often sold at this scale. |
Read more about this topic: Miniature Figure (gaming)
Famous quotes containing the word scales:
“For these have governed in our lives,
And see how men have warred.
The Cross, the Crown, the Scales may all
As well have been the Sword.”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
“It cannot but affect our philosophy favorably to be reminded of these shoals of migratory fishes, of salmon, shad, alewives, marsh-bankers, and others, which penetrate up the innumerable rivers of our coast in the spring, even to the interior lakes, their scales gleaming in the sun; and again, of the fry which in still greater numbers wend their way downward to the sea.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Love once
Tipped the scales but now is shadowed, invisible,
Though mysteriously present, around somewhere.”
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)