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What scale are 40K models in comparison to real life? I understand a guardsmen stands as high as a normal man, and so does an Ork when their not standing up.


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Isn't is 1/35?

They are heroic scale, which is basically 'not to scale'. Things like heads and hands are ~1/35, bodies and arms are closer to ~1/45 (I'm not sure of the exact figures, or even how exact they might be). It is kind of a cartoon scale to make them easier to see and paint.

The body proportion is like 1 /40 like a midget while the head and hands are like 1/25

Well, 28mm to eyes. Assuming 30mm for total height.

1.75m~1.8m is the "average" height of humans.

which is... 1750mm-1800mm.


so... about 1/58.33 scale.

Okay thanks. The general consensus is 1/40 of a human size. So correct me if I am wrong, but when a miniature moves 1 inch, we move 40". The average move for most models is 6 inches, so that equals 480" or 1219.2 metres. That is equal to about 12 average human steps. That doesn't seem much for a 'normal move'.

Dont think about gameplay distances in terms of actual representation, it can get distorted when comparing longer distances

Hellwolf wrote:Okay thanks. The general consensus is 1/40 of a human size.

I don't think that was the consensus, the consensus is that it is not to scale. If you wanted to go just by hight then say 6 foot = 1 inch. That gives you a scale of about 1:65. But it doesn't work that way. If it did then that would mean huge artillery like the earthshaker only have a range of a few hundred meters. In reality it should be many thousands of meters for a gun that size (15 according to the fluff).

That is equal to about 12 average human steps. That doesn't seem much for a 'normal move'.

What is a 'normal' human move? It would depend entirely on the time frame. If the time frame was 1 millisecond, then 12 steps would be an awful lot. if it is 6 hours then I would agree 12 steps is slow. But the time frame is unspecified.

tabletop games are abstract, dont try to make sense out of it xD

Short: 40k has no consistent scale.

Longer:
1.) While height suggest about 1/56 scale, GW uses disproportioned bodies (Heroic scale with bigger heads, hands, and weapons). So even a single miniature has different scales.
2.) Vehicles are sometimes too small, sometimes too large, guns are again exagerated with tanks fielding battleship guns with no place to store the ammo.
3.) Buildings are always too small.
4.) Distances are non-linear, with artillery range 72x close combat range.

In the end only eye judgment can help. WW2 looks like WW2 though, not SciFi in any scale.

Hellwolf wrote:Okay thanks. The general consensus is 1/40 of a human size.

No. That is not the consensus in any way shape or form. I've been wargaming for a bit under 20 years and have never heard 1/40th as a consensus for 40k size. The general consensus is that 40k is (or at leasts pretends do be) roughly 28mm scale. 28mm (or any mm scale) refers to the distance from the sole of the model to it's eye level. The general consensus is that 28mm is about 1/58 or 1/56. Several companies have begun marketing figures and vehicles in "1/56" for this reason.

See this usefull chart for more clarity. http://theminiaturespage.com/ref/scales.html

As has been mentioned above, this is not a perfect measurement as the "heroic" (read overly muscular and fat) dimensions of 40k and many other figs mean that they are significantly wider than a true-scale model in 1/56 scale with thicker limbs, chunkier features and in many cases (especially 40k) rediculously huge weapons. Also due to scale creep over time, many 40k miniatures are now 30mm scale or greater.

This means that while a "heroic" 28mm figure might be said to be 1/56, it's large proportions and wide bulk (and plinth-like slotta base..) might result in it looking more appropriate next to a 1/48 scale vehicle or scenery kit.

As was said before, it's extremely relative, and when it comes to adapting model kits to sci-fi and fantasy wargaming, the best thing to do is often just to see what looks right. As an example, in my collection of post apocalyptic vehicles that I have converted for use with 28mm figures I have 1/35, 1/48, 1/43, and a mis-labled 1/35th vehicle that is probably actually 1/40th.

Hellwolf wrote: but when a miniature moves 1 inch, we move 40". The average move for most models is 6 inches, so that equals 480" or 1219.2 metres. That is equal to about 12 average human steps. That doesn't seem much for a 'normal move'.

Ground scale (game measurments compared to "real" measurments) for 40k has little basis in any real measurments and can't be compared to any realistic measurement of scale. The rediculously short weapons ranges are paired with rather long movement ranges the result being the rediculous amount of close combat (for a sci-fi game) that occurs in 40k.

Long and short of it is don't try to ratioalize ground scale and ranges in 40k. It doesn't work.

Also, orks, guard and marines are NOT in the same scales.

Ground scale and figure scale are two separate and unrelated scales.

Ground scale is NOT a simple linear 1"=1m scale (or even 1"=2m) over the entirety. Close ranges, say up to 6" or so are one value, 6-12" is a different value, 12-24 a third value, 24-36" a fourth value, etc. They have done this because with a static scale value, you would be playing on a football field.