Are 1:43 cars good scalewise for 28-30mm?

[The Breaker]

The subject kind of stole my thunder. Your help is very much appreciated.

[Arlequín]

With die-cast toys scale tends to be 1:Box, so I can only say yes and no, as the 'scale' is actually quite variable. They tend to be more compatible if you use 'Heroic' 28's and/or use the deeper slotta style bases on your figures. Some of them will be ideal, others less so. More telling can be how they look in comparison with whatever other vehicles they are being used with.

I bought a 50's Ford pick-up in 1:43 and it looked massive next to the figures I intended to use it with, when I checked some period photos, it looked massive next to real people.

[Blackwolf]

Arlequin is spot on,you could check some of my posts.....I like old bangers  http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=33823.0

[white knight]

Personally I find them too big, and I usually go with 1/50-1/48 (others will tell you those are too big and 1/56 is the proper scale) (I think they are wrong because that only takes into account the height of the figures, but not their bulk. Since our 28mm figures have distorted proportions, only vehicles with the same distortions would be the correct size, but then you wouldn't recognise them as what they are supposed to be).

In the end though, if it looks right, it is right.

The main thing is that you make sure you stick with the scale that you chose as putting 1/56 and 1/43 vehicles together on the table will just look weird.

[abrelax]

In our 28 mm zombieshooter Hjärnor we use almost exclusivle 1:43 diecast toy cars. They are a bit big, but since the models are on bases it looks really good.

[Svennn]

I prefer 1/43rd myself.  Bases probably do have a lot to do with it.

[Heldrak]

I prefer 1/43rd myself.  Bases probably do have a lot to do with it.

This.

The question I ask myself is not so much one of height, but rather if it looks like the figure can sit comfortably in the driver's seat. For scales smaller than 1/43 it always looks to me like there's no way a 28mm figure could drive those cars.

[Hammers]

It's not the first time this topic has cropped up so I think it is safe to say that the shared opinion is that it is a matter of opinion.

[Evilcartoonist]

Here's a mix of Heresy and Reaper figures next to a 1:43 scale car. Sure, the scale is larger, but it still works (especially since the figures are on bases.) If I was using true 25mm figures without bases, I'd drop down to 1/56-1/64 scale.

[Stu]

They are cheaper and there is a larger range than the more correctly scaled ones.

[Burgundavia]

I prefer smaller cars, mostly because they don't take up as much space on the table, and as the good Major used to say "table space is precious".

[The Breaker]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I'll grab a 1:43 scale car and see how it goes.

[Geudens]

This is what I do/have done: compare my body lenght (1.73 m) with an average car and see how much of it sticks out above the top of the roof and keep that in mind.  I ALWAYS keep a 28mm figure in my car, so when I drop into a toy/discount shop, I keep it in my pocket and compare it to the toys on the shelves/racks.  I usually end up with cars that are certainly smaller than 1/43, but certainly right hightwise, disregarding slotta-bases, which I try to avoid.

Rudi