1:43 scale diecast...

[Harry Faversham]

Wot kind of figure scale would a 1:43 diecast vehicle look right for, 15, 20 or 28mm?

 

[DS615]

They look right with 28mm or 30mm figures.

[Harry Faversham]

Thank you Sir, if you want a proper answer...
ask a Scientist!

 

[Grumpy Gnome]

I find most 1/43 vehicles work better with 28mm heroic scale, like Warlord Games plastics more than 28mm true scale like Perry plastics. However, not all diecast vehicles marked 1/43 are exactly the same scale.

And I generally find 1/48 to 1/50 work best for me for 28mm with 1/56 being too small… especially for armored vehicles.

However have found 1/43 to be in general less expensive, more readily available and often looking fine for soft skin military and civilian vehicles.

But your mileage may vary. It is incredibly subjective and down to your own opinion based on what you think looks “right”.

[CapnJim]

I agree.  1/43 vehicles work best with 28mm folks.  And, as the Good Mr. Gnome points out, there is some variation in vehicle sizes, even in the same "scale".   

In my experience, Ho scale vehicles work Ok with 15/18mm stuff, while vehicles the size of Matchbox/Hot Wheels/Marjorie work Ok with 20mm/1:72 stuff.  Of course, your results may vary.

In the end, I take it on a case-by-case basis.  Whatever looks 'right" to me...

If you look at my "Modern", "WW2" and "Pulp" threads. you'll see I use a variety of "scales" for my vehicles...

[traveller]

I am afraid I must disagree... 1/43 are more suited for 32-36mm miniatures while 1/48 or 1/50 works with most 28mm brands. As mentioned that labelling of diecasts can be a problem.

Check this thread for an extensive analysis 

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=135343.0

[Belgian]

I use a bunch of scales if it looks about right it's good enough plenty of pre-painted and diecast models can be found, I especially have a lot of Solido military trucks and also loads of 1/43 tanks.

[Grumpy Gnome]

I am afraid I must disagree... 1/43 are more suited for 32-36mm miniatures while 1/48 or 1/50 works with most 28mm brands. As mentioned that labelling of diecasts can be a problem.

Check this thread for an extensive analysis 

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=135343.0

Thank you Traveller for encouraging me to be a bit more detailed in my reply to the original post as well as linking that interesting thread started by…. 😉

[traveller]

Ha ha, didnt realize you started that excellent thread 

[Freddy]

The thing with 28mm figures is that whatever their size is, the bases, especially the GW style taller ones, make them optically a lot bigger than their scale suggests, also "heroic scale" is not an exact science, so I would not overthink this issue. Just avoid buying the same vehicle in different scales, that would look odd.

[Grumpy Gnome]

Ha ha, didnt realize you started that excellent thread 

I learned a lot from it and am thankful for everyone that participated in it. 🙂

[traveller]

I learned a lot from it and am thankful for everyone that participated in it. 🙂

The never ending question of scale 

[carlos marighela]

If you are a purist, then indeed 1/43 vehicles are too large, especially if your figures aren't mounded on plastic pedestals a scale foot or so in height.

That said..... 1/43 is the established scale for diecast vehicles and the range is incredible. I know of only one dedicated 1/48 diecast range producing cars and that runs to about four of five models of less than useful US 1970s convertibles. Weirdly enough the range is marketed and boxed as 1/43 but scales out at 1/48. City Cruisers in case anyone is interested.

You use what you have. More often than not that option is going to be 1/43 if it's a passenger vehicle. I'm comfortable with 1/43 vehicles and the actual scale discrepancy isn't especially glaring. they are playing tokens after all.

[FramFramson]

One solution I've used is to find diecast models of cars which were especially small for their era. They come out fine as mid-sized cars against figures.

IMO though, even most 1:48 are generally too large. The criteria I've always used was an unscientific, but wargame appropriate "Can a figure comfortably shoot over the hood of the car?" especially since once you see your figures can't do that, you can't unsee the silliness of it. Well, I can't anyway.

This need not be true for everything of course; Trucks may be larger and so on. But that's the baseline from which I derive my preferred vehicle scale.

[CapnJim]

The criteria I've always used was an unscientific, but wargame appropriate "Can a figure comfortably shoot over the hood of the car?" especially since once you see your figures can't do that, you can't unsee the silliness of it. Well, I can't anyway.

Hah! I do that!