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Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: MuleSkinner on October 22, 2008, 09:05:06 PM

Title: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: MuleSkinner on October 22, 2008, 09:05:06 PM
hi there, don't know if this has been asked before so i apologise in advance if it has.
i'm wanting to get some vehicles for my mayhem town project and i'm not sure what the scale is to fit in with 28mm figures. one person told me 1/43 while the guy in my local model shop told me 1/48 is the way to go, another told me 1/64 tho personally i think that will be way too small.
also are there any companies that make bikes to scale as i want a biker gang, preferably choppers or hogs. i've looked on ebay for bikes but most don't have the scale listed.
thanx
Mule
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Geudens on October 22, 2008, 09:33:44 PM
Bikes?  Curtis (also on this forum) does:

http://shop.ramshacklegames.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6&zenid=f8d62e513bdbc864e3f82b31352a5642

Rudi
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Svennn on October 22, 2008, 09:50:08 PM
What a question and there is no correct answer. The biggest problem is that a lot of diecasts are not true scale but made to fit a box size so one thing marked as 1/43rd can be quite different from another etc.

Lead figures are not any true scale either. Many people convert the height of 28/30/32mm into a six foot guy and come up with around 1/56th but this can only be a guide. A true 1/56th scale mini would look terribly thin and gangly with very thin limbs etc. so sculptors bulk them out to look right. All weapons are notoriously oversized but again look right.

Having said all that I use 1/43rd (more variety and bargains available) and think most look fine. 1/48th for aeroplanes because again there is more available.

For the bikes I also would suggest going for something from a mini company like the Ramshackle ones already mentioned.
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Luckyjoe on October 22, 2008, 09:53:45 PM
I went with 1/48. They seem about right with Horrorclix minis, but are a little too big for the WWG streets. I found a "Heavy Hitter" toy motorcycle at WalMart I converted. It's a little big, but not too bad. I don't know what scale it is though. It was just a cheap $2 toy. Here's a couple pics:

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b215/Luckyjoe_/WWG%20Goodness/Modular.jpg)

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b215/Luckyjoe_/WWG%20Goodness/Bikeconversion.jpg)

Luckyjoe
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: MuleSkinner on October 22, 2008, 10:11:25 PM
thanx for the prompt replies guys, i think i'll try both 1/43rd and 1/48th for the cars and trucks then.
the ramshackle bikes are just what i'm looking for, thanx for the link.
cheers guys  :)
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: MuleSkinner on October 22, 2008, 10:15:29 PM
btw........i love the way you've raised the sidewalks on your town luckyjoe  ;D
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Commander Vyper on October 22, 2008, 10:51:46 PM
It's huge!   :o

Horwheelers choopers look great used by both Pappa M and myself.

Also E4M Miniatures carry a police bike and a sports bike which are nice and finall Eureka do scramblers and quads


The Commander
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Luckyjoe on October 23, 2008, 02:10:28 AM
Thanks, Muleskinner. It's an idea from Andorax on the WWG forums. He made a n excellent tutorial for making a city board. I've been foolowing it. Here's a link if you haven't seen it.

http://www.worldworksgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5068

Luckyjoe
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Pil on October 23, 2008, 06:29:14 AM
thanx for the prompt replies guys, i think i'll try both 1/43rd and 1/48th for the cars and trucks then.
the ramshackle bikes are just what i'm looking for, thanx for the link.
cheers guys  :)

I think that's the way to go. 1:48 looks a bit better but 1:43 is far more available and still looks ok. The biggest problem with different scales is not that they don't match with the models well, but that cars start looking out of scale next to each other ;)

As for the bikes, I recommend the human biker gang from Westwind, 10 bikers on bikes for 20 quid:

http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/
http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=106_107&products_id=945

The downsides are that the heads of the bikers look a bit silly, and some of the bikes have some rather ugly decorations, but it's still a nice deal.

EM4 carry three different bikes, a sports bike, a police bike and a trail bike. All look nice but since none of them looks old school I think they're not very suitable for bikers. Here's a piccie of the trail bike (and rider):

(http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~tpope/sol/grenadier/images/1526.jpg)

Though I must say those Ramshackle bikes look good too :)
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: wolfgangbrooks on October 24, 2008, 05:59:25 AM
We just got the Ramshackle bikes to sell over here in the states. I just have to say that they are huge. 20mm from the top of the seat to the bottom of the wheels, more like a horse than a bike. :)

It's a little pricey, but black scorpion does a nice two seater.
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: dodge on October 24, 2008, 06:35:07 AM
I think possibly the best thing to do is to take a figure with you to measure up.

As everybody has said here scales vary for all types of model or toy.

I guess with these vehicles you are buying toys so you can go to the store and measure up.

Hope that helps

Dodge

Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Pappa Midnight on October 24, 2008, 11:06:09 AM
As Commander Vyper said, Hotwheels bikes are pretty good for 28mm minis:
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c334/pappa_midnight/collage1a-1.jpg)

If you've got any problems locating them I might have some about somewhere.

Regards
PM
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on October 24, 2008, 11:52:14 AM
As Commander Vyper said, Hotwheels bikes are pretty good for 28mm minis:
Regards
PM

They look great! Now I've just got to find a way of stealing my son's without him knowing  lol
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: MuleSkinner on October 24, 2008, 12:17:16 PM
thanx for all the great advice guys, it's really helped.
those hotwheels bikes look excellent, if i can't locate any i just might take you up on your very kind offer Pappa  :D

cheers again guys


mule
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Braxandur on October 27, 2008, 02:44:12 PM
Prince August also has a few bikes in their future shock range:
http://www.princeaugust.ie/fs/index.html (http://www.princeaugust.ie/fs/index.html)

the figures are actually really neat. the paintjob sort of kills their look...

(http://www.princeaugust.ie/bt25/25.jpg)
(http://www.princeaugust.ie/bt22/22.jpg)
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Pil on October 28, 2008, 10:42:03 AM
Prince August also has a few bikes in their future shock range:
http://www.princeaugust.ie/fs/index.html (http://www.princeaugust.ie/fs/index.html)

the figures are actually really neat. the paintjob sort of kills their look...

(http://www.princeaugust.ie/bt25/25.jpg)
(http://www.princeaugust.ie/bt22/22.jpg)


I have the second model and I must say that the bike looks nice, but it's really quite small (so it looks like a small bike, not too small but definately not impressive).
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Onimusha on October 30, 2008, 03:10:12 PM
As Commander Vyper said, Hotwheels bikes are pretty good for 28mm minis:
(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c334/pappa_midnight/collage1a-1.jpg)

If you've got any problems locating them I might have some about somewhere.

Regards
PM

Just won an auction on ebay for this nice bike, problem is the auction was for 8 of them and they are all excactly the same. Maybe I keep 2 of them but I am looking for someone that wants one too, if you live in europe I will ask only 7,50 euro for one including shipping.

PM, who makes those bikers the one with the beer bellie looks great on that motorcycle
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Overlord on October 30, 2008, 03:16:54 PM
The Biker & his mates are from EM-4 (ex-Grenadier by Mark Copplestone)
http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/BIKERS.html
Doug at EM4 is a top man with great service: highly recommended.  8)
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Onimusha on October 31, 2008, 08:33:32 AM
Thanx Overlord, I just ordered the whole gang and some civilians. I also ordered the the rasta gang, they will look great when a horde of zombies enter their surroundings ;)
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Argonor on October 31, 2008, 09:45:27 AM
I also just put in some bets for various hotwheels bikes   :D

Pity, the best and most interesting ones are only shipped to the US...

What is the bike in question here called?
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Onimusha on October 31, 2008, 12:06:10 PM
I also just put in some bets for various hotwheels bikes   :D

Pity, the best and most interesting ones are only shipped to the US...

What is the bike in question here called?

it's called : Hotwheels Harley Davidson Choppers MOMCs!

Don't know what MOMCs stands for though
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Argonor on October 31, 2008, 12:58:07 PM
Mint On Mint Card ?
Title: Re: diecast vehicle scale
Post by: Pappa Midnight on October 31, 2008, 02:50:47 PM
The "Chopper" type ones I have used are Hotwheels "Outlander Blastlane" bikes.
The "other" ones in the range are a little hard to convert/use.

The bikers are indeed a combination of Em4 and Copplestone. I adapted them to fit on the bikes using plastic ork legs and scratchbuilt arms/hands.

Regards
PM