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I'm very sorry if this has been answered somewhere else, but I'm trying to use military WW2 model kits in some of my conversions and I'm unsure as to the scale difference. I know that 40K is 28mm, but I struggled to find anything on Google to say what this was in terms of a scale. So yeah, quick question. What is the best matching scale for use in 40K? 1/48?

Thanks alot!

Try this.

http://theminiaturespage.com/ref/scales.html

Thanks very much!

Feel free to close this thread now

Be aware that the hands are a different scale than the body (distortion called "heroic scale"), that 40k tanks have guns normally only fitting battleships and 40k APCs carry more men than physically possible. Short answer: 40k has no consistent scale (not even linear scale, see artillery range being 72x close combat range).

28mm usually is 1/56 scale with several companies like West Wind Productions or Brigade Games making historic tanks in that scale. But they look tiny and underarmed in a 40k setting. Sometimes starting with conversions of 1/48 or even 1/35 might work. Personally I don't like obvious historic tanks in a future setting but that is another topic.

BTW yes, this topic comes up very often, maybe once a month.

1/48 models are too narrow. 1/35 are too long.

I prefer 1/35 because 40K is about gigantism.

There is a comparison chart of 40K and historical models in this article.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Scale_Model_Kits_for_40K

Ok so if I go for this...

http://www.emodels.co.uk/plastic-kits/revell-spaepz-luchs-with-turret-03036-p-11558.html

It should be good enough as a base for a conversion in terms of keeping with the scale, seeing as it's 1/35?

The main thing is that I'm trying to get an IG tank hatch (the kind that you stick Commanders/Stubbers etc. on) onto the model I go with without it looking stupid and under/oversized.

Will that be ok? I'm sorry bout all this, scales and measurements were never my strong point.

I have found 1/48th scale vehicles work out plenty fine, if they are sci-fi models. I would use modified historical tanks, and keep in mind that while the cannons are correctly sclaed to the models, even 1/35 scale weapons seem puny to the "heroic scale" as the 120mm cannon of a M-1 will fall short of the "120" of the battlecannon on the Russ kit!

I even discovered catachans having 1/35th scale hands for their 28mm bodies.

I take it the vehicle I linked is fine in proportion to Imperial Guardsmen? I checked out it's length and it seemed to be about 1.5 that of a Leman Russ so that's fine.

I'm aware of the whole separate scaling issue on the weapons compared to 40K's much larger weapons. Do you reckon twin-linked Heavy Bolters would look too big on that model?

Thanks!

Kroothawk wrote:Be aware that the hands are a different scale than the body (distortion called "heroic scale"), that 40k tanks have guns normally only fitting battleships and 40k APCs carry more men than physically possible. Short answer: 40k has no consistent scale (not even linear scale, see artillery range being 72x close combat range).

THIS. True 28mm scale is closest to a 1/56 scale...so 1/48 is extremely close. GW being "heroic" messes things up a bit. You will have to just try different parts to find what fits right.

If you want an idea of what a true scale 28mm miniature looks like...compare a regular infantry trooper from AT-43 to a GW IG trooper.

Yeah I get what you mean, the Leman Russ Battle Cannon is something you'd expect to see on a battleship not a tank! And yeah, I've had figures in the past from non-GW companies (Hasslefree or something) and they always seemed to be alot thinner and smaller than GW figures... I guess that's the ''heroic'' scale there!

With regards to this - http://www.emodels.co.uk/plastic-kits/revell-spaepz-luchs-with-turret-03036-p-11558.html - do you reckon it'd be possible to perform a turret conversion so as to mount twin-linked Heavy Bolters or a single Multilaser without it looking obviously and stupidly out of scale? I've tried finding pics of the model actually built instead of the box art work and it seems like it would be ok.

I'm no stranger to conversions like this, I'm just unfamiliar with the difference in scale. Thanks again!

EDIT: Just found this fantastic large picture of the model. Incase it helps!

Oh yeah, do the weapon change as that barrel, though realistic in proportions would still look a Heavy Strubber on a 40k tank. Heavy Bolters will do nicely, or if you have a spare Mulit-laser sitting around, that will do as well.