I popped into a hobby shop today and having made my purchase, my eye was caught by a set of Preiser 1/50 scale civilians, clearly aimed the model trainset crowd. Now I knew all about the lovely 1/87th scle stuff Preiser does but these were news to me. Whilst I didn't have a mini to hand, they looked as if they might scale up reasonably well with the Empress and Eureka moderns I have, albeit a little slimmer and better proportioned. They were prepaints (fairly well done) but the price was a little steep. I may have to go back and buy a pack and see if they work. Don't think they would work with heroic scale clunkers but with the better proportioned figures like Eureka, Empress or Brooks they might just work.
Anyway, I googled them and it seems there's quite a range. They can even be bought in bulk, unpainted, for less than a dollar each. Could be a good way to populate a table.
I seem to recall someone was asking for middle eastern civvies a while back, well the range includes a pack, plus some pilgrims to Mecca (odd but hey). These might provide an option.
http://www.reynaulds.com/catalog/dept_360.aspxThis site seems to show the range available. Hopefully of use to someone