Rubicon Models
Rubicon Models => General Discussions => Topic started by: Tracks on May 13, 2025, 11:26:06 am
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28mm is an abstract "Gaming Scale"; 1:48 is the wrong scale, so Rubicon Models, please do not switch to 1:48.
All the miniature figures from Perry Miniatures, Rubicon Models, Victrix, Artizan Designs, Wargames Factory, Empress Miniatures, Eureka Miniatures, Wargames Atlantic, and yes, even Warlord Games are 1:56 scale, or better yet, what we call a 28mm gaming scale. That is, the height and not by beefiness (AKA heroic scale). Model scale and gaming scale are two different worlds.
What is heroic? Simply explained here:
https://zandoriastudios.com/tag/heroic-scale
The scale conundrum
https://figurfanatikern.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-scale-conundrum.html
Side Note 1: The very early plastic infantry boxed sets from Warlord Games were not as heroic as their later plastic boxed sets. Their earlier plastics fit in (pun intended) better with Perry, Rubicon, Wargames Factory, and so on. Why is Warlord Games going with a more heroic sizing look? The now OOP WW2 figures by Wargames Factory were really good, and does anyone know if Warlord Games (who bought the molds) plans to release these WW2 figures as they with some of the other Wargames Factory figures?
Side Note 2: The new Late War German Infantry & Heavy Weapons by Victrix are nice, and blend in well with Perry and Rubicon figures.
https://www.victrixlimited.com/products/28mm-german-infantry-heavy-weapons?variant=51894219669886
Side Note 3: I still have some very old Bandai WW2 infantry from their line of 1:48 scale of WW2 kits (Sadly, long OOP). Even the heads from these Bandai kits are slightly smaller than the heads from the newest plastic infantry boxed sets recently released by Warlord Games. Warlord's figures are 28mm (gaming scale) while the 1:48 scale figures (Bandai or Tamiya) are about 36mm (gaming scale).
Side Note 4: For art majors, heroic scaling might seem weird because it doesn't follow the rules for anatomically correct portions.
(https://cf.geekdo-images.com/BFviBoQvngaNM6P63htcdw__imagepagezoom/img/WZCRT8tXAdMip22LyTcIwP0SJic=/fit-in/1200x900/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic4057171.jpg)
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(https://cf.geekdo-images.com/iHP_oA7OKw_XIGkdEJEoXw__original/img/UiCKU8ycVi-Xe_gNPnyLWT1_27c=/0x0/filters:format(jpeg)/pic3639093.jpg)
Had the Warlord Games figure been less beefy, it would be a perfect fit.
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The most annoying thing about 28mm - 1/56 stuff is the difference in figure sizes from various companies . Its all over the place , some company's pewter ranges vary depending on who made the masters . You'll find their Germans fit well along side Rubicons but their Russian troops dwarf them but work with BA plastics . The tank commanders in the BA panzer III , IV , Panther , Tiger and Tiger II are all different sizes , why? Buying figures on line is a gamble , I figure that about 50% of the pewter figures I order end up thrown in a bin as they are too big , small or misshapen horrors . Plastics and the new BA resins also vary in size , although plastic is easier to "fix" , I've done a few kit bashes using one companies torso , anothers arms and anothers head to get a tank commander figure that would fit in a specific hatch . Not much fun trying that with pewter figs .
1/48 can have its uses IMO , i have a few Tamiya troop boxes of German & Russian figures , and while the personal gear and weapons are of a smaller or slighter construction , most figures will work with BA gear , and if you keep them together in a squad or group . It's very difficult to place a half dozen different brands figures together with some not looking out of place due to size ( heads , weapons , canteens etc ) True Tamiya figures are of a slighter build than most heroic 28mm , but people due come in different thicknesses ::) , its just that they are too tall , a slice out of the legs will fix that , at least it works for me . I've also done that to seated figures so both their rear ends will sit on the seat and their feet will touch the floor . I'm thinking some vehicles kits aren't true to scale . Also I like 1/48 for jeeps , kubels & small armoured cars ( Ba-64 ) , stuff I'm only going to want one of . Most smaller vehicles , bar some Rubicon , are resin with a lot of molded on stowage and figures . I hate that . I want to add my own crews and stowage , so plastic 1/48 is the way to go . I was really disappointed when I wanted to build a D-Day beach scene and realized the only DD Shermans had a pile of molded stowage ( can't recall pictures of DD tanks in the water covered in gear ) so all 3 in my diorama would be the same . No thanks .
End of the day its still just a hobby , boys playing with toy soldiers , yes they can be very detailed and well painted but to most people out there , including most of our family they're just one step above those soft plastic green army men .
The Victrix Germans look great ( 2 boxes on order ) , hopefully other companies produce more plastic figure sets . I am looking forward to BA's plastic winter British , and they just announced a Studebaker truck , hopefully it will have seated troops like the Opel & Bedford . Russians please , I need more tank riders . I'm hoping Rubicon gets over their Nam fixation and start releasing some of the WW2 kits they showed us years ago , Churchill , Staghound , Lee/Grant to name a few I want . I have found some of these kits in resin , 3D printed or plastic from others but really looking forward to Rubicons . Hopefully they will be released before I go back to 35th , 25th and 16th scale model building , I've got too many kits in my closet to let them get sold off for pennies on the dollar by my kids when I die