25/28mm vs 54/60mm (1 Viewer)

[marco55]

Why does it seem there are many more historical periods in the smaller scales available than the larger scales?Is it that much cheaper to sculpt and produce the smaller ones.I know there is a difference between a wargamer who buys, paints,and plays with his figures and a collector who who aquires and displays his figures but I was just wondering why so many more choices historically available to the wargamer.
Mark

 

[trooper]

Hi Mark, what particular periods are you looking for? I think you will find that if you make an extensive search, espiecially among the smaller makers, you will find most periods are covered somewhere. There is an unfortunate tendency for many collectors to overlook the "cottage" industry and consequently many little gems go unrecognised. Their catalogues are well worth a look. Alan

 

[Evzone]

To my mind its fairly simple, expense. As both a collector and wargamer my 54mm figures are my absolute pride but I'll never be able to either have enough variety or numbers to be able to play with them in the grand manner.

I think most wargamers would love to have a 54mm collection but space and cost precludes them investing. Also to the amusement to some of my wargaming friends they laugh at my near hysterical obsesion to get a figure before its retired or my holy grail hunt for rare pieces.

I know some collectors who knock the wargaming fraternity but I love both hobbies and have great fun whilst being whisked away from the realities of life.

I think its worth mentioning also that some of the sculpting at 28mm is brilliant as are some of the ranges, from ancient to ultra-modern there is probably not conflict or army that can't be recreated. Power to both hobbies and may they long continue despite the onslaught of computer games and the demise of reading history books.

 

[marco55]

Trooper,
I'm not looking for anything in particular It just seems like there are many more periods covered in the smaller scales.The smaller cottage companies tend to produce the more traditional type toy soldier.I was just wondering why.
Mark

 

[Spitfrnd]

....I think its worth mentioning also that some of the sculpting at 28mm is brilliant as are some of the ranges, from ancient to ultra-modern there is probably not conflict or army that can't be recreated. Power to both hobbies and may they long continue despite the onslaught of computer games and the demise of reading history books.

Sounds good to me. What are your favorite 28mm figure producers? It seems that most are unpainted from what I have seen but there do seem to be some painted options as well.

 

[Carnahan]

Why does it seem there are many more historical periods in the smaller scales available than the larger scales?Is it that much cheaper to sculpt and produce the smaller ones.I know there is a difference between a wargamer who buys, paints,and plays with his figures and a collector who who aquires and displays his figures but I was just wondering why so many more choices historically available to the wargamer.
Mark

As a guy who mainly collects 54mm figures, this can be quite frustrating. It seems that the main reason for this could be space related, given their use in dioramas and wargames. This is especially true with pre-20th century conflicts, where the number of combatants would prohibit one from using 54s and take up too much room. There is also the matter of time, as smaller scales can be painted quicker and (if one does not mind close scrutiny) with less attention to detail.

 

[Evzone]

Sounds good to me. What are your favorite 28mm figure producers? It seems that most are unpainted from what I have seen but there do seem to be some painted options as well.

To me this is the wonder of 25/25 mm figures there are some many of them! Dependent on the period my current favs are (but not limited to I hasten to add):

Dixons for the League of Augsburg and Age of Marlborough
Wargames Foundry for Franco-Prussians 1870 and Crimea
The Perrys for AWI
Gripping Beast, Renegade and North Star (Great War Miniatures) for WWI
Tiger Miniatures for Balkan Wars

A company called Drabant has created a Malburian and Great Northern War range in 40mm and they are superb.

As regards paininting the most if not all are unpainted, there seems to be a hugh number of people offering painting services at differing levels, standards and cost. Unfortunately, I never seem to have enough 'me' time to paint as much as I would like and although I have availed myself of 'professional' painters I've never been able to settle on one or two who can match my price, quality and timescale expectations. Nevertheless, if you are prepared to wait, your pockets are deep enough you can always get what you want eventually. Plusa there is always e-bay!

 

[binder001]

You might be seeing "economy of scale". If I produce a painted 54mm figure I am appealing to a modest number of collectors who are interested in my time period. If I produce a 25mm (1/72) line of figures then I have added the wargamers to my marketplace, and if they are unpainted plastic I have added some kits and low-end collectors. Instead of selling 100 painted 54's I am selling a couple thousand sets of unpainted plastics, so I can sell them cheaper.

In 54mm you rarely see a full regiment of infantry backed up with a battery of field guns, where it is common in smaller scale.

Gary