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I'm not sure where to put this, but here's an interesting bit of information...

Earlier today, I was playing a game at the FLGS. After the game I suggested to my buddy, that we should attempt to make a table, but build it as a scale representation of downtown Hamilton(the city I live in). We then decided what part of downtown we would want to include, and how wide we wanted Main St to be(large enough to fit a Land Raider, 6"), from then we decided it would have to be 1:62 scale(40K happens to be in 1:65 scale). After deciding that I went on to get maps of the city, to do some measurements. In order for us to get Main St, and the train station on the table, it would have to be 8 feet wide, which is no big deal, although there was one problem, the table would have to be 6 feet deep. So I don't think we will do that much of the city, it would be too deep a table to play on.

Now the interesting thing, using the 1:65 scale, a standard 6" by 4" table only covers about two city blocks. Also a Landraider(including side sponsons) would take up an entire 5 lane road.

Try 1:35 as that lets you use other models that dont look to out of place when next to the 40k scale. Which would now make it a singel city block for a 6"x4" bord.
Also, scale in the 40k modling system is abstract and sugestive at best.

There isn't an absolutely agreed scale for wargame figures. 28mm is generally said to be 1/56, however some companies measure their 28mm from sole to top of head, while others stick with the tradition of measuring from sole to eye level.

By doing some calculations you can come up with scales such as 1/56, 1/65 and 1/61 for 28mm.

A little bit of off scale doesn't make a lot of difference for SF vehicles. It's not like if you put a 1/72 scale Sherman next to a 1/76 scale Sherman, when you will notice a clear difference in size.

Personally I prefer 1/35 for 40K vehicles. Some people use 1/48 but I think it's a bit small. I use 1/48 for aircraft.

40k has no consistent scale, larger distances are reduced because of the exact problem you faced: It's impractical for battle. Therefore artillery ranges are 72x close combat range or about 72 yard/meters (instead of 10km), all buildings are too small, all vehicles too small. Actually even the hands are not the same scale as the head.

So basically, doing a real scale 1/56 table will ultimately lead to frustration gamewise.