Mitch,
I respect your argument and firmly agree that there are many who agree with you. I just have a 180 opposite opinion than you on some of these issues. As such, from the bias of my perspective (liking armor that looks right with figures) I look at the same data and reach different conclusions. For example:
I fully understand the issues with larger figures and, have said on a number of times that the only way to rectify this is to make smaller figures but, that will not happen.
Disagree. Making smaller figures is only one of two possible solutions. The other is to make larger armor. CS did this with the newer Tiger but it has met with resistance and criticism from yourself and others. I agree with you that making smaller figures is unlikely to happen, and am sad that the continuation of larger armor may be abandoned.
If your going to do it say all armour will be 1/28th in keeping with the overscale figures and, stick to that.
Honestly, I think Brian has said this, if in a round about and abstract way. Repeatedly he has said that he was making vehicles to match the figures. He has numerous times referred to this as "right sized" armor. I think the whole reason Brian refuses to flatly state the vehicles are 1/28 or 1/29 is purely business driven. Every other manufacturer says their products are 1/30 even when they are not (i.e. King and Country, Thomas Gunn, Figarti, etc. figures). How many potential sales would CS lose to new buyers looking at a 1/28 label on the box and think:
"1/28? Hmmmm, this must not work with my 1/30 scale King and Country figures."
When in fact they would look great and actually be the exact same scale.
This is not a dig at CS but, they do have to really firmly state where they are with the scale of AFV's Thats why myself and Maddi discuss what scale and size releases are.
Why? King and Country patently mis-advertises their figures as 1/30 scale. By your own admission they are 1/28 or so. Why does CS have to be so exact in scale pronouncements while King and Country gets a pass on all their figures being out of scale. Seems like a double standard to hammer CS while giving King and Country a pass.
The whole point is that you cannot make armour to fit the figures and make out its 1/30th scale.
Honestly, I think this is the rub and root of the issue. CS armor boxes say 1/30 on the side which, as you say, is an exact measureble ratio. Thus, when CS makes armor to match the figures people feel they are somehow being misled. My King and Country boxes don't have any scale on them. I can't help but wonder if the larger scale armor would have been more embraced if CS had not labeled their boxes with a scale, and simply stated they are made to look historically accurate with the figures when questioned.
As for continuing to buy CS armor, I will have to see the future releases for myself and it will depend on the impression they give when taken out of the box. I care more for how the pieces look compared to wartime photographs than how they measure out. The Easy 8 Shermans look a bit small to me. They appear more exactly 1/30 (as you say they are) when placed next to my KC Snow Tiger, but are very well done and the paint job on the winter one is fantastic. I do wish they were slightly larger. The Panther and Jagdpanther I like (although I think they sit too low to the ground) and, although you say they are a good 1/30 scale, I think they look noticeably larger than my exactly 1/30 scale Honour Bound Panther. I like this more massive look. The Panzer IV with the side skirts on also looks appropriately large and very good next to my "right sized" CS Tiger, as do the CS King Tigers.
Honestly, that seems to be the snswer to this whole issue and one way to please both camps. CS should continue scaling armor like the Panther/Jagdpanther/Panzer IV/King Tiger, i.e. getting acceptably close to 1/30 scale measurements (which would please you), while erring just slightly on the high side of the scale conversion numbers by an extra millimeter or two so as not to loose the more "massive" look of these tanks (which would please me).
My parting thought: thanks for the interesting discussion. It has helped pass a weekend where I have been stuck home sick. It is too bad you are not in the United States, as I think your repaints look fantastic and would love to have a couple done. But alas, I fear shipping charges makes it cost prohibitive. I also miss the hand pulled pints I fell in love with when I was stuck over in the UK at Fairford and Leuchars. Way better than what we have on draft here in the US (although still not as good as the stuff on tap in Munich!).
Cheers.
They are so into it and that's o.k. but goodness gracious how many times must we go on and on. We measure these things in 3D programs, exhaustively, create a killer range of upscaled vehicles that consistantly sell out for a reason and are still bonked on the head by fellas claiming to know more than the manufacturers that make them, and on top of it sort of scolded for even responding, just gotta smile and move forward, but it is amazing.
