Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

11 posts ยท May 6 1999 to May 7 1999

From: Michael Sarno <msarno@p...>

Date: Thu, 06 May 1999 17:54:59 -0400

Subject: Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

Mark^2, Another place to find the "right" answer is
http://www.jps.net/minipage/ref/scales.html.  That page also touches on
the fact that manufacturers have been steadily enlarging their figures over
the years to show more detail. The ONLY way to tell if something is the same
scale that you are using is to actually compare the piece in question
side-by-side with other figures that you consider to be the proper
scale. I mostly use 20mm figures for the games I play and have used vehicles,
buildings, and accessories that are 1/72, 1/85, and HO scales.  Oddly
enough,
the 1/72 Esci plastic figures are slightly smaller than the 20mm figures
I usually use.

-Michael

> -MWS- wrote:

> On Thu, 6 May 1999, Mark A. Siefert wrote:
Seriously.
> Read all about it at

From: -MWS- <Hauptman@c...>

Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 18:14:38 -0400 (EDT)

Subject: Re: Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

> On Thu, 6 May 1999, Michael Sarno wrote:

> Mark^2,

Yup - although the Miniatures Page is using the "eye level" measurement
instead of the "top of head" one, which is where they come up with their magic
number of 1610 instead of 1800 (or 1776).

There has been quite a bit of discussion on this topic in the
rec.games.miniatures.historical and rec.games.miniatures.misc newsgroups over
the years. One of the factoids that came out is that the first 25mm figures
were intended to be scaled at 1" = 6'. This is where I get the 25mm =
1/72
equivalency and the magic number of 1800. However, the scales *have* been
inflating over the last 15 years, and so 1/64 is probably more accurate
for any 25mm line not listed as "true 25mm".:)

> The ONLY way to tell if something is the same scale that you are using

That statement is absolutely positively dead accurate.

> I mostly use 20mm figures for the games I play and have used

I find the 1/72 plastics to be too tall - but too thin - to look good
with the 20mm stuff I play with. <g>

From: Jonathan Jarrard <jjarrard@f...>

Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 09:42:52 -0400

Subject: Re: Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

That web page completely contradicts my experience.

I find that for 28mm figs (GW, Warzone, Grenadier Future Warriors, etc.), 'O'
Scale buildings and trains are about right (just slightly too big, as are the
figures sold as 'O' scale). 'O' scale is way too big to
use with either 1/72 or 20mm, and too big even for 'true' 25mm (Ral
Partha).

Vehicles are even more difficult. Die casts (which are best, if you can
find them) that are billed as 1/48 are a bit small, 1/43 are a bit too
big, but closer than the 1/48, and with much more variety available.

From: ScottSaylo@a...

Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 10:01:20 EDT

Subject: Re: Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

> In a message dated 5/7/99 8:47:09 AM EST, jjarrard@ford.com writes:

<<
Vehicles are even more difficult. Die casts (which are best, if you can
 find them) that are billed as 1/48 are a bit small, 1/43 are a bit too
 big, but closer than the 1/48, and with much more variety available.

> [quoted text omitted]
Most die cast vehicles (cars, light trucks) are 1/67th Matchbox scale
and just a trifle too big for 25's but totally usable Other things like Hot

Wheels are not in a constant scale at all and you have to have an eye for what
will work and what will not.

From: Jonathan Jarrard <jjarrard@f...>

Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 10:09:46 -0400

Subject: Re: Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

> ScottSaylo@aol.com wrote:

I was referring to the larger '1/43' vehicles:  Ertl, Corgi, Road Kings,
whoever keeps putting out those wonderful '50's and '60's cars and trucks, the
(really expensive) O scale vehicles you find in good train shops, etc.

There is also a French company whose name escapes me at the moment that has
been putting out a lot of very nice WWII vehicles and some modern
French AMX AFVs.  Other nice 1/43's are available, including a variety
of HMMVs.  The larger Battle Squads plastic vehicles (M-113, Tiger,
Sherman, Merkava, LVTP-7, etc.) are also approximately 1/43.
Unfortunately, the smaller Battle Squads vehicles (VW jeep, armored car,
etc.) are closer to 1/72.

From: ScottSaylo@a...

Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 11:40:57 EDT

Subject: Re: Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

> In a message dated 5/7/99 9:13:37 AM EST, jjarrard@ford.com writes:

<<
There is also a French company whose name escapes me at the moment that has
been putting out a lot of very nice WWII vehicles and some modern
 French AMX AFVs.  Other nice 1/43's are available, including a variety
 of HMMVs.  The larger Battle Squads plastic vehicles (M-113, Tiger,
 Sherman, Merkava, LVTP-7, etc.) are also approximately 1/43.
Unfortunately, the smaller Battle Squads vehicles (VW jeep, armored car,
 etc.) are closer to 1/72.

> [quoted text omitted]
I have a bunch of their stuff - even if it's a little outlandish - they
constituents are a good addition to your kit-bashing box and the figures
go perfectly well with other 25's. I use them for low tech guerillas in SG II

From: -MWS- <Hauptman@c...>

Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 12:50:42 -0400 (EDT)

Subject: Re: Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

> On Fri, 7 May 1999, Jonathan Jarrard wrote:
[snip]
> There is also a French company whose name escapes me at the moment

Majorette.  Their line varies widely in scale - which is typical of the
matchbox and matchbox clones. For instance, their 200 series is roughly
1/64,
while their 600 series is strict HO (1/87).

From: McClure, Kent <kent.mcclure@l...>

Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 10:46:37 -0700

Subject: RE: Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

The other possibility is Solido, who puts out 1/43 vehicles, both
military and civilian.
                Kent McClure
(Lurker in training)

> On Fri, 7 May 1999, Jonathan Jarrard wrote:

From: Jonathan Jarrard <jjarrard@f...>

Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 15:05:23 -0400

Subject: Re: Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

Solido was the name I couldn't think of. Thanks!:)

> McClure, Kent wrote:

From: John Leary <john_t_leary@y...>

Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 12:29:43 -0700

Subject: Re: Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

> McClure, Kent wrote:

The next SBGC event at the cupertino public library is tomorrow! FT will be
present and I hope to see all interested parties there.

Bye for now,

From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>

Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 22:22:38 +0100

Subject: Re: Scale? [Was: Re: The Naboo Fighter.]

> In a message dated 5/7/99 8:47:09 AM EST, jjarrard@ford.com writes:

I think we've discussed this one at length before, but our principle is
that we scale the resin vehicles at about 1/60, which seems to be
visually OK for both our own 25mms and the big 28mm stuff.