Going off the scale

[Duke Donald]

I have been tempted repeatedly in the past to game in larger scales than the usual 28-32mm. The motivations are multiple. I'm a bit annoyed by the lack of consistency between 28mm minis from different companies. My eyesight is not what it was anymore, and is unlikely to improve. I tend to prefer minis with more realistic proportions and find larger minis more pleasurable to paint. Larger minis are also more robust; I can't count the hours I've spent fixing 28mm minis every time my son played with them. Finally, the major motivation is my frustration with finding suitable accessories for 28mm minis, in particular civilian cars.

I considered moving to 1/48 (~36-37mm), 1/43 (~40mm) and 1/32 (~54mm) scale. While 1/32 could probably be amazing visually and offers incredible source of suitable planes, cars and even (expensive) minis, I decided against it as I don't have the space to game and store stuff at that scale. 1/48 is amazing for planes, trains and houses as it is equivalent to the American o-scale and is compatible with some of the biggest miniature lines. Finally 1/43 is perfect for civilian cars and is compatible with some 1/48 stuff but offers very little in terms of minis. Most 1/43 (40mm) minis tend to be fairly poor sculpts.

Whilst thinking about all this, I just passed a flea market on my way shopping and found the three 1/43 cars bellow for a few quids. This happened on the day I had spent many hours scouring the internet for a suitable car for my Mandrake league (genuine 28mm minis) without any success. The blue Bugatti 57 is a particular beauty and I've never seen such a detailed model in a smaller scale.



From this point, my decision was taken. I will put my 28mm mountain of lead in storage and I will start anew at a 40mm scale. Incidentally, this will make my wife very happy ... until our place will be again overtaken by minis and scenery, this time larger ones!

Full of new found enthusiasm I sculpted a 40mm mini (below). It's a British officer in service dress, and apart from the pipe and the Mauser I kept him very generic, so that he could be used to represent a British officer from the early 1900s to today, or even an officer from any other random place.

[d phipps]

Lovely work, Duke! It looks like you're off to a great start.


HAVE FUN

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Looks like the beginning of a great project. Are you going to sculpt all your own miniatures?

[FramFramson]

Wow! Very nice sculpt!

I was in a similar situation as you. I'm using a lot of larger 32mm miniatures, but really my average is something a bit more like 35. Copplestone is my baseline and that's properly 32mm, but I have some dust figures and boardgame figures which are 35mm+. I'm also using some artizan and a smattering of other minis, so I have some smaller 28-30mm characters too.

In practice it's fine, because it just means I have a natural variation in heights and bodies and everything is close enough that it all works out. The most troublesome league for this was the nazis. Other leagues are civilian (so individual variation is fine) or are still using older uniforms in the mid 30's (British, French, Russian militia or army personnel) and luckily Renegade has me covered for larger figures in WWI uniforms.

The main thing is for me to try and keep the same weapon scale, and that hasn't been too bad.

I found that 1/48th cars work alright but 1/43 is mostly just too big (which is sad because there are some beautiful 1:43 cars). I do have one or two 1:43 cars which do work fine though. Ideally I think 1/50th would work best, but that doesn't exist. most 1/56 cars are just way too small for me - the minis just wouldn't (theoretically) fit inside! It's also a bit fudged though, because classic cars tend to have very high hoods/bonnets, so they can look too big even if they're correct.

Basically in my case, I had a pretty fair number of larger minis which I really wanted to use, so I made things work to fit that.

If you don't mind my asking, what's the exact length and width of that Bugatti? A lot of those things are "box scale" and not true 1/48 or 1/43. (though at a guess I'd say it's too big for me).

[dampfpanzerwagon]

I confess that my favourite scale is 1/43rd or 40mm.

I have lots of unpainted lead in this scale and look forward to (one-day) gaming with them.

Tony
PS.
I carry in my wallet a small scale ruler - so that should I be shopping for anything and see something that might work in 40mm I can quickly check it out. For details see my 40mm Flash Gordon link on the Blog.

http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Flash%20Gordon

[grendal]

DUST models are generally 1/48 and that jeep look like a good match for the game.

[FramFramson]

Yes, that Jeep is very very good. Just about perfect size. Where's it from, I wonder?

[Duke Donald]

Thanks for the nice feedback everyone! I'll try to answer all questions and specific comments below.

It looks like you're off to a great start.

Thanks, now I just have to keep the momentum ..., which is not always my forte!

Are you going to sculpt all your own miniatures?

I hope not, as I won't be getting a game before 2016, but so far I haven't identified many 40mm pulp minis I like. I have ordered a few things which I will show pictures of when they arrive, but so far I haven't found many suitable minis.

Basically in my case, I had a pretty fair number of larger minis which I really wanted to use, so I made things work to fit that.

This sounds like a more sensible approach than sculpting a whole load of minis in a different scale to fit to a couple of cars! This being said I like sculpting and this hobby is definitely not about finding sensible strategies to limit time wasting, after all.

what's the exact length and width of that Bugatti?

The Bugatti is 103mm long x 32mm high and 39mm wide, it is an exact 1/43 replica and must have been a very expensive model for collectors. It's definitely not meant to be a toy; the wheels don't even turn! It really doesn't scale well with 28mm minis.

"For details see my 40mm Flash Gordon link on the Blog."

You have a brilliant collection of Flash Gordon minis and your blog is a great read.

DUST models are generally 1/48 and that jeep look like a good match for the game.

I agree the jeep would probably work with Dust minis.

Yes, that Jeep is very very good. Just about perfect size. Where's it from, I wonder?

The brand of this one is Ixo Atlas but the same model seems to have been sold under different brand names. There are quite a few on ebay but they tend to be quite expensive, just type "Jeep Willys 1/43" on ebay if you want to have a look for yourself.