SCALE 1/32nd or 1/30th ???????? (1 Viewer)

[timpoisverylicky]

I'm sick to the back teeth of American civil war, wild west and Gladiators, also this 'new' scale touted by TSSD, etc is good old fashioned 60mm, like Cherilea, Cresecent and Marx - completely and utterly useless if you collect 54mm figures.
The re release AIRFIX will not mix in with the TSSD WW2 ranges (nor will Italeri for that matter)
Most of CALL TO ARMS is 1/35th scale and expecting any thing new in plastics from W BRITAINS is a complete and utter waste of time. Now we have other firms producing yet more ACW and proudly telling us that they will be in the 'new' 54mm - surely an oxymoron if there ever was one?
I realise that metal figures have been slowly growing in size for the last few years - partly because of the new(ish) matt painting but it would be nice if armies could be assembled in plastic that had roughly the same size, and yes, I know people are different sizes but scale is constant

 

[marco55]

This scale issue drives me crazy.I think some of the manufacturers change the scale so their figures don't fit with anybody else's and you have buy only their's and not somebody else's.Let me make that clear.I said SOME not all.
Mark

 

[gk5717]

I think when Conte came out with their plastic in 1999 is what changed to the larger 54 or 60mm scale. Whatever you want to call it. He raised the bar on plastic
When TSSD first began producing figures their advertisement was that it was the same scale as Conte. Now with the new Civil War figures by Cunningham, they advertise that it is the same scale as TSSD. I also have boxes of figures that I bought when I first started collecting, Airfix, CTS, CTA ESCI etc all are way to small to go with the current lines. So I went with the flow and sold most of them.
Gary

 

[9thHussar]

This happened years ago in the late 1970's when Britains produced the 7th Cavalry sets of foot and mounted figures - they are more like 60mm than the 54mm (1/32nd scale) of the American Civil War and Wild West sets, much to my disappointment at the time as a 10 year old sprog

Going the other way Airfix released modern Soviets and US Inf in the early 1980's which were more like 1/35th scale, so it is nothing new and as irritating back then as it is nowadays.

Regards
9th

 

[Jay]

This happened years ago in the late 1970's when Britains produced the 7th Cavalry sets of foot and mounted figures - they are more like 60mm than the 54mm (1/32nd scale) of the American Civil War and Wild West sets, much to my disappointment at the time as a 10 year old sprog

Going the other way Airfix released modern Soviets and US Inf in the early 1980's which were more like 1/35th scale, so it is nothing new and as irritating back then as it is nowadays.

Regards
9th

I would tend to disagree about the Britains size. Compare them with Marx versus Conte/TSSD size, and you'll see they are much closer to 54. As it is, it's hard to tell the Airfix and Britains Indians when they are both painted alike.

 

[einaroneeye]

I suppose I'm just not a purist. I'll mix scales between 54 and 60 mm just to have some variety on the table. I figure that not all people are the same size so not all plastic people are either. Yes, I realize that weapons or gear are not consistent, etc etc but for me, I'm happy with variety and at the end of the day, I'm only interested in making me (or my son if we're sharing the troops) happy with the toy soldiers. Just my .02...

 

[timpoisverylicky]

I don't worship at the alter of Conte - Lots of big ideas and broken promises...
It's a known fact that some manufactuers (see name above) do make their figures so they won't fit in with other ranges, however, unlike a lot of metal collectors plastic enthusiasts don't really show much brand loyalty - prefering to acquire models by period or nationality rather than make.
Contes Alamo Mexican stand appx 7 feet in their bare feet next to a Marx or CTS figure.

'Men we are fighting to defend this womans honour - which is more than she's ever done' Rufus T Firefly. Duck Soup.

 

[binder001]

I agree that it can be frustrating. I am a WW2 buff. When I started getting into "new" toy soldiers I started with 21C and then bought the Conte US paratroopers. These are well-researched and decently molded (I DETEST the soft plastic!). Boy was I disappointed to find them too big to go wit the 21C/Airfix but too small to fit with my K&C stuff. Fortunately now the market is expanding so one can mix Conte with TSSD and now ONTC and Britains metals, but they still are "orphans" in scale. As some people know I really enjoy doing conversions but the "new" 54mm does have much aftermarket accessories or extra parts. In "classic" 1/32nd scale (3/8" = 1') one can obtain weapons, extra hands, extra heads, etc. But in the "new" size you have only the figures produced to "borrow" from. I find that one can use parts from some Marx figures and some FoV pieces, but it's always a hunt for parts to make more interesting figures. If this is going to be a "standard" scale I wish we could get more parts and accessories available - that's my frustration. Yes people come in all shapes and sizes but a GI steel helmet comes in ONE size as does the M1 rifle, etc.

Gary

 

[Njja]

This scale issue drives me crazy.I think some of the manufacturers change the scale so their figures don't fit with anybody else's and you have buy only their's and not somebody else's.Let me make that clear.I said SOME not all.
Mark

..............................

I think you are on to something there!

 

[Ragnar]

I prefer all the older {Canada made} plastics by Conte sure they a little more bulky then say Airfix but still 54mm.
The Civil War sets are bigger but still very nice and mix in well with Metals.
after that things went pear shaped .
The Mexicans are to tall and lanky....The Spartans every one loves them but just to tall and bulky for me....{im waiting for hat to make there's}.
well thats my rant...

 

[timpoisverylicky]

One observation I will make is that, apart from the Chinese copies of Airfix Paratroopers sold in the cheapo shops, 98% of plastic production is actually well designed. This is unlike the vast numbers of completely AWFUL metal figures that get churned out and are reviewed in the glossy toy soldier mags.
One makers range seems to consist of angry constipated dwarves.
But as we know buying advertising space in the Glossies gets a range good reviews,,,,,

 

[Spitfrnd]

I would tend to disagree about the Britains size. Compare them with Marx versus Conte/TSSD size, and you'll see they are much closer to 54. As it is, it's hard to tell the Airfix and Britains Indians when they are both painted alike.

Well if I have learned one thing about collecting figures, NO ONE agrees on scale. I don't have any Britain's plastics but after doing a fairly extensive comparison of their Napoleonic figures they seem much more like 1/30 scale to me. By comparison, K&C and Conte would be closer to 1/28. Anyone interested in the rationale can view the old thread on this subject
http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13464&highlight=scale&page=4