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Hello fellow Dakkites, my cousin uses Imperial Guard and has always wanted to use a Helicopter in his games (naturally given a 40k makeover & for home games only) however he does not know the scale to go for to ensure he's not spending money on something that doesnt fit with the size of other models (a Valkyrie for example).

He has spotted this Black Hawk Down model kit, here is the web address:- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-35-UH-60L-BLACK-HAWK-ACADEMY-MODEL-KIT-/270570917733?pt=UK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN&hash=item3eff488f65

The model states 1/35 for scale purposes, is this too large or small, if so what scale should he be looking for, any advice would be appreciated.

Many Thanks.

As far as I know, the size is about right. However, it'll be way too spindly, and just look out of place. The guns will be too small, and everything too realistic to be 40k.

Whilst 1/35 is often a good enough scale for fitting things into the 40k scale, you'll find that they are much longer and thinner than Games Workshop's vehicles. I noticed this with a 1/35 APC I used for my Guard - the sizes are fine figure-wise, but the thing is just so damn long compared with Chimeras and the like.

I believe 1/48 is a better scale for fitting in with 40K, though this may need clarification as I'm not 100% sure.

As others said 1/35 to 1/48 scale will look about right. Neither is really correct since GW figures use heroic scales rather than real world ones.

What the means is the heads and arms are bigger than they ought to be to make the figures look more dynamic.

Here's a marine next to a 1/35 scale toy.



As you can see he looks about right with it.

The problem is details. Real world weapons and other items are just smaller and finer than anything in a GW kit. So they look a bit off.

Another option for your cousin is to turn a valk into a helicopter which I've seen done very successfully.





Hope this helps.

Actually I tend to find 1/35 air craft to be TOO BIG most of the time. In real life, aircrafts are huge. 1/48 is probably a better scale

Thanks alot everyone for the scale references, i think he will love the idea of the converted valkyrie as that second pic does look really cool.

1/48 is the best scale for aircraft models. A Blackhawk helicopter is about 17 inches long in 1/35 scale.

1/35 works well for ground vehicles.

Kilkrazy wrote:1/48 is the best scale for aircraft models. A Blackhawk helicopter is about 17 inches long in 1/35 scale.

1/35 works well for ground vehicles.

Good point KK, I really haven't used too many aircraft models.

Both the toy helicopter and the converted Valkyries look excellent and fit right in with the IG ethos and style.

I wanted to run an IG army that was apaches for leman russes, Hueys for chimeras and black hawks for valkyries. But I figured it would be too out there. Love model helicopters though, and that one looks pretty good. Scale's about right.

Please never call a black hawk helicopter a black hawk DOWN helicopter. It just doesn't make any sense. On a more constructive note I would use whichever scale is closest to the valkyrie dimensions.