1/31 Industry Standard (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

Rick posted this over on Toy Soldier Chat. However, I think this may be of interest here as well.

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Dear All,

Here is a topic I find interesting, will 1/31 become the industry standard for modern day toy soldier collecting? I say "YES -Eventually"

When Figarti first entered this industry 4 years ago, we decided to launch "China Battlefield" in the 1/30 scale like K&C. We regarded K&C as industry leader and Andy for setting not only the quality standard but also the scale standard. After our first show in Chicago, we changed our strategy to go with the 1/32 scale or 54mm. But now being in the industry for 4 years, we realize that ours and most 1/32 scale is still larger than the traditional Britains and other so-called TRUE 54mm. There are measurements from top of figure and there are measurements from eye level. But here is my observation.

If you really look at all the brands, there are inconsistency to sizing because of the nature of material we use and the nature of the manufacturing process (Shrinkage). So sometimes, you will find 1/32 scale figures larger and some 1/30 scale figures smaller. And sometimes, when you put 1/32 with 1/30, it can be compatible.

My observation is that Figurines are beginning to move upwards or downwards towards 1/31. I want to clarify that Figarti will continue to stay at 1/32 but my observation is that 3 years from now, the industry MAY naturally settle into 1/31. I may be wrong, only my opinion.

Love to hear what all of you think.

Rick
RWFigarti

 

[Steven Chong]

Hi All and just to reply the Steven's question as regards scale and what 54mm actually means in my opinion. The scale is 1/32 scale and represents the height of the figure from the bottom of the feet (not including base) to the top of the figures head (not obviously including hat) and in an "at attention" pose!

Apparantly the average height of armies throughout the 19C (where figure making first got going in a serious manner) was 5 feet 8 inches tall.

So therefore mathematically:

5 feet 8 inches = 68 inches.
68 inches multiplied by 25.4 (inches to mm convertion) = 1727.2 mm
1727.2 mm divided by 32 ( 1/32 scale) = 53.975 mm

and hey presto rounded it comes to 54mm!

In fact they actually should be 53.975mm figures!

I hope this helps.

Ken Clarke-Jervoise
The East of India Company

Ken Clarke-Jervoise posted the above information regarding scale. Using the formula he provided, a 1/30 figure of a 5 feet 8 inch tall soldier will be 57.573 mm. A 1/31 figure will be 55.716 mm. Very hard to see the difference between the two scales.

Andy Neilson has always stated that soldiers were all different heights and that the variations of the heights of his figures reflected this. It's interesting to see the variation in heights at 1/30 scale:

6 feet = 72 inches = 1828.8 mm divided by 30 = 60.960 mm at 1/30 scale
5 feet 11 inches = 71 inches = 1803.4 mm or 60.113 mm
5 feet 10 inches = 70 inches = 1778 mm or 59.267 mm
5 feet 09 inches = 69 inches = 1752.6 mm or 58.420 mm

A 5 foot 4 inch soldier would be 54.187 mm at 1/30 scale!

So there should be a lot of variation in the height of figures in a certain scale if the real height of soldiers is modeled.

 

[OzDigger]

Thanks Steve, it's reassuring to know that the current variety of figure heights on the market more or less reflects the variation of a real army.

 

[sceic2]

As I have stated previously, not every person is the same size or shape. Some are but more often than not, they aren’t. I like to mix and match. 1/30, 1/31 or 1/32, I don't really care. I think that the quality of the product means more than a few millimetes of little or no inconsequence. I am not what Leadman called "a bolt counter" but I do like some sense of reality in my figures and vehicles.

 

[noli-poli]

I would mix and match figures if they are proportionate. In the Figarti vs KC, the the M3 Honey looks close enough to be 1/30 (comparing it to the Stuart) but the figures put side by side, the Figarti Tank Crew B would look like "Boy Scouts" if placed side by side with E8 figures.

But there is a solution here. If I repaint them with darker skin color they can pass as Gurkhas.

N-P

 

[Louis Badolato]

Focusing on Rick's point about the scales sorting themselves out as 1:31 in a couple of years, I suspect this will happen. It makes good sense from the point of view of both manufacturers and collectors, as compatible figures across company lines permit various companies' collectors to add other companies' figures to their displays.

 

[The Lt.]

If you can spare a few mintues or so check the photos that I posted earlier today answering questions asked by Joachim for comparison of figures provided by Trophy, Conte, Little Legion and Tradition. All are specified as 1/32 aka 54mm. I'm sure you'll notice the differences and agree with Ricks comments in paragraph three. I also agree with sceic2 the quality of the figure or figures as well as your likes and this likes are your choice to make when deciding to buy. We're fortunate today with the selection of products that's available to us and the choices we have. So buy what you like and can afford and enjoy playing or looking at the collection your happy and proud to own...The Lt.

 

[Firebat]

I offered that suggestion a long time ago here or on the Chat.......I forget..........a sure sign of old age................Manufacturers do it..........It will be great, why do we need both scales. It is frustrating sometimes to not be able to combine certain pieces that would be interesting to show together. Sometimes it is not the height it is the heft / bulk of the figure that makes it non compatible. Alex

 

[nmrocks]

My Opionion is it really won't matter, because the quality difference(and/or style) has always been the key point of mixing and matching.
Ray

 

[RWFigarti]

I would mix and match figures if they are proportionate. In the Figarti vs KC, the the M3 Honey looks close enough to be 1/30 (comparing it to the Stuart) but the figures put side by side, the Figarti Tank Crew B would look like "Boy Scouts" if placed side by side with E8 figures.

But there is a solution here. If I repaint them with darker skin color they can pass as Gurkhas.

N-P

When it comes to vehicles, I may have a possible answer to why Figarti & K&C are so similar in size. Shiyong, my production manager tells me that when you take the actual measurements of the real thing, scale it down to 1/32 or 1/30, the difference in size on certain parts are in micro mm at times, and with production shrinkage because of the materials, it is likely that they come out almost the same size.

Rick
RWFigarti

 

[desk11desk12]

If you can spare a few mintues or so check the photos that I posted earlier today answering questions asked by Joachim for comparison of figures provided by Trophy, Conte, Little Legion and Tradition. All are specified as 1/32 aka 54mm. I'm sure you'll notice the differences and agree with Ricks comments in paragraph three. I also agree with sceic2 the quality of the figure or figures as well as your likes and this likes are your choice to make when deciding to buy. We're fortunate today with the selection of products that's available to us and the choices we have. So buy what you like and can afford and enjoy playing or looking at the collection your happy and proud to own...The Lt.

I agree with both you The Lt and Michael. We're are lucky with the choices available and the when possible I do mix scales.

Carlos