Survey - most popular scales for WW2 (LAST CHANCE ends 19th Feb 18.00)

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

The question does actually say "Which are the most popular scales for WW2 (number of buyers / painters / players)?"

I suspect that the 54mm vote is people who, like me 30 years ago, came into the wargaming hobby from military modelling.
I started building Airfix and Tamiya kits at about age 10 and then moved into wargaming at about 17 so that I had something to do with my collection.

[Arlequín]

Old-time squad skirmish rules (e.g. Featherstone) routinely used 54mm/ 1/35th scale figures and vehicles. You will still see the occasional 'big game' being played at shows, although Western Gunfights do seem far more usual than WWII.

It''s not for me, but if that''s what you play, then it''s a popular scale from your own terms of reference..

[levied troop]

I've opted for 28mm and 20mm as that's what I collect and play with, but it's also what I see at shows in the UK, with a bias towards 28mm possibly because it makes more of a visual impact.

And those painting guides are very useful, thanks 

[GamesPoet]

I have some 6mm Germans and Russians, tanks and infantry, bought painted for a song and a dime, couldn't pass them up, rarely use them, yet have enjoyed it.

I have 15mm Germans bought for FoW, never got around to them, and not sure if I ever will.

I have 28mm Germans and Brits for skirmish gaming, yet not my top priority, more because it seems to be the current trend, and not for Bolt Action, but instead Chain of Command or others.

My preference is 20mm and that's how I voted.  I've begun collecting these for gaming because it's smaller than 28mm for gaming, yet larger than 15mm for painting.  I'd like to see ideas on how to paint these.

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

I would like your opinions on painting guides.

So far, I have written guides for painting 28mm.  This appears to be the most popular scale for painters.
I can see that variants for 20mm and 15mm would make sense (simplified colour scheme, brighter contrasts)

Is there any point writing painting guides for 10mm or 6mm?

Regards

Mick

[fred]

For painting guides, as you have 28mm guide to start with, I would then add 15mm, as this is currently very popular. And it is a good step down from 28mm, which will allow you to emphasis the differences. For those who game in 20mm they can interpolate between the two guides. And for 10mm the painter can scale down the 15mm stuff

Once you get down to 6mm, its kind of a different guide where you are going more impressionistic with camo schemes, and increasing contrast of webbing and the like.

[Norm]

I would like your opinions on painting guides.

So far, I have written guides for painting 28mm.  This appears to be the most popular scale for painters.
I can see that variants for 20mm and 15mm would make sense (simplified colour scheme, brighter contrasts)

Is there any point writing painting guides for 10mm or 6mm?

Regards

Mick

A problem that I have and no doubt others, is that I tackle 10mm as I would a 28mm figure and I know this is the wrong approach for the fast / mass paint that 10mm generally needs, also colours need to be brighter on the smaller stuff and I can never get my inking / shading right. So I would say a generic guide for the smaller scale would be helpful and you may get some hosting by the smaller figure manufacturers in that regard.

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

Thank-you both.  I will do some experiments with smaller scale figures.

Mick

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

Last chance to vote - finished on Sunday

[Ballardian]

I'll echo what has been proposed by several here, that 28,20 & 15 mm are almost certainly the most popular scales, with considerable constituencies playing each & as such worth catering to as a priority.
 I also love 6mm, but acknowledge that it's often more about armour at that scale - there are a fair few who play at this scale, but I'd have to say that I don't think that a guide would be the priority that the aformentioned scales are.
 If once you've finished these you've still got the energy though...

[Captain Blood]

The percentages have remained almost the same right through the period the poll's been running (well since it reached 50 votes anyway). So - accepting that there is, as suggested, a probable 28mm bias of sorts here on LAF - I think it may still be a fairly reasonable indication of the state of the WW2 wargaming nation.

[N.C.S.E]

What about 3mm? 

I'm thinking about doing kursk in 3mm, 15 tanks for 3 pounds is not to be sneezed at...

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

Thank-you everybody.  This has been very helpful.

[Luddite]

VERY surprising that 15mm and 20mm aren't top.  These are the "default scale" for most WWII gaming and have been for 50 years.

Times must be changing.

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

Dear Luddite,

I think that 28mm has had a huge boost in the past five years with the increased availability of plastic soldiers and vehicles.
You can almost do 28mm in plastic for the same price as 15mm in metal.

Mick