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So how close is 1/48 scale to 28mm scale miniatures? Are they the same scale or just the closest scale to each other?

Figure-wise, they're not close at all... 1:48 people tower head and shoulders over 28mm, without being as wide due to the exagerated proportions of most wargaming miniatures. Likewise, 1:48 weapons are tiny compared to what 40K models carry around.

For vehicles, since they're generally slightly out of scale from the troops in wargaming ranges, they're pretty close to spot on, at least so far as GW minis are concerned.

28mm figures are "officially" about 1/60 scale.

However the "heroic" style of 40K makes their figures look huge in comparison.

1/35 is the best scale to match tanks and vehicles to 40K

1/48 is a good match for aircraft kits since aircraft are so large compared to vehicles that the model in 1/35 is just too large for the table.

See recent threads in the Modelling forum on selecting helicopters for 40K.

I am working on a scale models for 40K article but it's not ready yet.

Actually I have now added the article but it needs a lot of work. Especially the comparison tables of GW to historical vehicle kits. :S

i guess what i'm asking is if i got 28mm WWII minis, then mounted them on GW "slotta" bases what size would look good? i've used 1/35 half tracks for my truckks for orks, and they look good but a little unrealistic, but it works for 40k. I'm not really worried about exact historical accuracy, but more of a cinematic look.

Daggermaw wrote:i guess what i'm asking is if i got 28mm WWII minis, then mounted them on GW "slotta" bases what size would look good?

28mm WWII minis would be fine.
1:48 WWII minis would not.

uh-oh. My 1:72 elephants not looking too right then....

Daggermaw wrote:So how close is 1/48 scale to 28mm scale miniatures? Are they the same scale or just the closest scale to each other?

40 MM bases for figures or the 60 MM bases for the larger sized models.

Scale? 1/48th is closer to the 54 mm range of figures.( Inquisitor scale)

The Miniatures Page wrote:
28mm The "large" 25mm figures are sometimes listed as being 28mm. 1/58
30mm Another scale used for pre-20th Century miniatures. 1/54
1/43.5 Traditional O gauge (railroad). Not a wargaming scale.
37mm 1/48 Popular scale for plastic aircraft kits. Some display figures available in this scale. Also a railroad scale (P48 gauge). Not a wargaming scale. 33.5mm

Depending on the miniatures company 1/48 and 28mm/32mm can mix well. Darkson Designs mixes well with Tamiya 1/48 scale aircraft, armor and infantry. Artizan, Crusader and Secrets of the Third Reich 28mm work well with each other infantry wise and with 1/48 scale kits but not the 1/48 scale infantry.

54mm is about the same as 1/35 or 1/32 scale.

In my experience, it depends on what you want it for.

With 28mm Artizan WWII infantry, I use 1/48th Tamiya tanks or some prepainted toys I got at Walmart (21st Century Toys, or New Millenium Toys).

But for 28mm 40K, you can go with 1/48 or 1/32, you just need to cover/replace any scale skewing items,
like the guns, door handles, seat/steering wheel, etc.
I have a 1/32 halftrack also, enclosed the cab and removed the machine guns.

Steer clear of 1/72 anything. Way too small!

It seems to me that the 28mm scale is too far out of reality to be used with anything created "true scale".
Too many exaggerated details, hands, heads, weapons.

Grot 6 wrote:

Daggermaw wrote:So how close is 1/48 scale to 28mm scale miniatures? Are they the same scale or just the closest scale to each other?

40 MM bases for figures or the 60 MM bases for the larger sized models.

Scale? 1/48th is closer to the 54 mm range of figures.( Inquisitor scale)

I'm mistaken. 1/48th is slightly smaller then 1/25th, but not by much. I picked up some German Tamiya guys today, and have another box of Americans in layaway. The Riech of the Dead guys that I have are near in height, but in terms of meat, the Reaper guys have a little more fullness to them that the Tamiya guys are lacking.
Scale-wise, the 1/48th scale is 2 mm shorter, in thier head to head height, but fullness is lacking in the amount of about two MM around the circumferance of the model.

These figures can work well along side each other for play value, and detail wise, the 1/48th is a fine addition for some games, but in others it will be way too small.
1. GW to Tamiya, 2-3 MM
2. Reaper to Tamiya, 2 MM
3. Mongoose to Tamiya, 1-2 MM

I haven't picked up a 1/48 scale vehicle, yet. I have always used 1/35 scale.

The 1/25 bases are damn near perfect for the figures to be based on. The 40MM bases will be good additions to the combined units, such as M42 gun teams, or the 30MM gun

sorry for the SNAFU.

I was mistaken in my comparison to the scale to the 54MM guys, sorry about that.
The next size down from 1/48 will be 1/72.

my 1/72 nellies are indeed too small. I see an elephant theme for my building's decor for a short while...

The official scale for 28mm is 1:56 as 28mm scale models are classed as Heroic. 1:48 scale vehicle models should work ok with 28mm, 1:35 are way off. My RoE 28mm Germans have a Corgi 1:56 scale die cast tank which is great, but my Royal Marines have a Centaur tank which is a 1:48 Tamiya tank and that looks fine as well. I've even got a mate running a Tamiya 1:48 Sherman with his US Paras and that looks spot on.

Here you go, Artizan 28mm US Infantry, AE-WWII Technician and Buffalo Pilot with a Tamiya 1/48 scale M4 Sherman.

wow that's about what i'm looking for.
what model line do you feel is the best? as far as variety of available models and sculpting?

For me?

I'm taking a break from 40k stuff, per se' and am looking hard at the Alternaitive WW2 stuff.

I have the batch of WW2 guys from Tamiya for generic guys, and then I have the AE-WW2 stuff on order with my local gaming store.

Westwind does a good game called SOTR Secrets of the Third Reich. Its an Alterative WW2 game basing largely on Werewolves, zombies, and vampires.

Between the two, either is a good choice. These two companies have a seperate parts scheme that seems spot on for variety.

I'm pretty sure that thier guys form up well with the Artizen stuff in the picture, but don't quote me.

It all breaks down to the brass tacks of what do you want in your figures.

If your modeling, then the Tamiya stuff is good, plus it goes well with the Corgie stuff. If you are gaming, it is pretty much a matter of taste.

The miniature on the left is an Artizan offering. Crusader Miniatures mixes very well with them as I think the same sculpter has worked for both companies. (I could be wrong) The newer West Wind Secrets of the Third Reich match well too. West Winds older WWII offerings a bit less so, or so I am told. The two miniature center and right are Darkson Designs, they are a bit slighter in build than the Artizan.

If I can find the time I will see if I can get an image of some Artizan, Crusader, Darkson Design, West Wind and Tamiya figures next to each other for comparison.

Here are the comparisons. From left to Right; West Wind: SoTR, Tamiya 1/48, Darkson Design, Artizan, Crusader.



Sorry about the Crusader mini being so over exposed.

One thing to worry about on the Tamiya. The weapons will be very delicate since these are diaroma models, and not designed for wargaming.

The Artizan and Crusader are giving up maybe a 1mm to 1.5mm in height due to the basing. They have cast in bases and I have mounted them on washers, putting them on a slotta type base really isn't an option as it would really jack up their height.