Size Does Matter: Can this be only 6mm in difference? (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

I am struck by how much larger 60mm toy soldiers actually are compared to their classic 54mm counterparts. One would think that a 6mm difference in scale would not result in such a large difference in size between the two. Here is a 60mm King & Country Napoleonic Officer compared to a World War I Hiriart Seaforth Highlander from set No. 1184. Amazing, don't you think?

 

[ucla1967]

Here is another example, this time with a Hiriart Royal Canadian Regiment figure from set No. 1050. To my minds eye, the King & Country figure appears to be at least twice as large in volume.

 

[ucla1967]

Here is a grouping of five Hiriart 54mm figures from various sets in the foreground with two King & Country 60mm figures in the background---still doesn't change much as to the size differential.

 

[Harper (aka Spitfrnd)]

No doubt 6mm can make quite a difference, 10 or 12 mm can make even more. I don't know how you measured your K&C figure but mine measure more that 60 mm (63-64 to be precise) sole to tip of bare head. In fact they measure 59 to 60 mm from sole to eyes. Volume is of course harder to fit to any convention but on a relative scale they are on the thick side. I also don't know if Hiriart are even 54 mm since I don't have any of those. Visually, those two manufacturers certainly do appear quite different in scale.

 

[ucla1967]

No doubt 6mm can make quite a difference, 10 or 12 mm can make even more. I don't know how you measured your K&C figure but mine measure more that 60 mm (63-64 to be precise) sole to tip of bare head. In fact they measure 59 to 60 mm from sole to eyes. Volume is of course harder to fit to any convention but on a relative scale they are on the thick side. I also don't know if Hiriart are even 54 mm since I don't have any of those. Visually, those two manufacturers certainly do appear quite different in scale.

Actually, I have not measured any of these figures. I was basing my comparison on the manufacturers' claimed sizes (i.e., 54mm for Hiriart and 60mm for K&C). On a linear scale, 60mm is only about 11% more than 54mm, but volume wise there must be some sort of geometric progression which is making them so much larger than one would expect. In pre-calculator days, I barely got through trig and dropped differential calculus in college as being too difficult, so this is way beyond me.

 

[Harper (aka Spitfrnd)]

Actually, I have not measured any of these figures. I was basing my comparison on the manufacturers' claimed sizes (i.e., 54mm for Hiriart and 60mm for K&C). On a linear scale, 60mm is only about 11% more than 54mm, but volume wise there must be some sort of geometric progression which is making them so much larger than one would expect. In pre-calculator days, I barely got through trig and dropped differential calculus in college as being too difficult, so this is way beyond me.

I understand. I have always been pretty good at math and soon discovered that the scale claims in this hobby were much less accurate than those in the scale modeling that lead me to it (not that it is perfect there either). So I armed myself with a digital caliper, which makes size comparisons much easier. That said, the eye seldom lies and if it looks off, it generally is. It would have been nice if every manufacturer produced to the scale they claim but that just doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[The Military Workshop]

I understand. I have always been pretty good at math and soon discovered that the scale claims in this hobby were much less accurate than those in the scale modeling that lead me to it (not that it is perfect there either). So I armed myself with a digital caliper, which makes size comparisons much easier. That said, the eye seldom lies and if it looks off, it generally is. It would have been nice if every manufacturer produced to the scale they claim but that just doesn't seem to be the case.

Harper,
Interesting that you are only the second person I have seen mention having a digital caliper. Not mentioned often by TS collectors. In fact I only recall one person before mentioning such an instrument. Perhaps you know him, goes by the name Spitfrnd or Bill. Probably just a co-incidence
but I think you might like him as you have a few things in common.
Brett

 

[Harper (aka Spitfrnd)]

Harper,
Interesting that you are only the second person I have seen mention having a digital caliper. Not mentioned often by TS collectors. In fact I only recall one person before mentioning such an instrument. Perhaps you know him, goes by the name Spitfrnd or Bill. Probably just a co-incidence
but I think you might like him as you have a few things in common.
Brett

Not sure why they are not mentioned. They are a very useful tool for accurately determining size.

 

[ucla1967]

One additional photo size comparison from my collection. This time the same K&C 60mm French Napoleonic officer besides a Frontline Figures 54mm French Imperial Guard Chasseurs a Pied which is also suppose to be 54mm. It is actually somewhere in between Hiriart's 54mm figures and K&C's 60mm figures.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Harper,
Interesting that you are only the second person I have seen mention having a digital caliper. Not mentioned often by TS collectors. In fact I only recall one person before mentioning such an instrument. Perhaps you know him, goes by the name Spitfrnd or Bill. Probably just a co-incidence
but I think you might like him as you have a few things in common.
Brett

Seems they did have something in common after all.

 

[DMNamiot]

Interesting thread Mike. I have seen this as well with figures I collect. Beau Geste is closer to actually being 60mm than other brands. When I put them in with my Britains and Marlborough figures they don't appear to be too much larger but if you look closely at the parade you can see it. The troops in Orange are BG. I will try and post a better photo if I can find it.

Dave

 

[ucla1967]

Dave,

I have also noticed that my Beau Geste figures are much larger than my 54mm figures, so I don't mix them. They might be more similar in size to my Frontline Figures Napoleonic example posted earlier.

Mike

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Mike,

I have another photo here that compares a BG figure with some others and a couple of mounted figures that are all 54mm its interesting to see the size variations from Company to company. But I also mix them into my displays because I like how they look in these big Durbar parade displays. But I can also understand why folks don't like to mix them due to the size differences/

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Hi both - Once again a reminder (if one was really necessary), that human beings come in all shapes and sizes - and so do soldiers. Glad it doesn't bother you to mix 'em up Dave, as perhaps this picture shows quite neatly, I think. It's of the 9 nation alliance of soldiers of 1900 (Boxer rebellion), and was intended to show how Nationalities differed in height - and not just differences in average height WITHIN nations; but makes the point anyway. jb


With thanks to Wikipedia for the photo.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Johnny

That's a great photo and illustrates the issue perfectly! Like I mentioned I mix mine up in displays because I like to see the various makers side by side. Some don't mix well but that's ok its always up to the guy who owns the display. Anyway I love this photo and would really like to see Britain's make a foray into the Boxer Rebellion!

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Johnny

That's a great photo and illustrates the issue perfectly! Like I mentioned I mix mine up in displays because I like to see the various makers side by side. Some don't mix well but that's ok its always up to the guy who owns the display. Anyway I love this photo and would really like to see Britain's make a foray into the Boxer Rebellion!

Dave

Agreed - though I would like ANY manufacturer who would make these as metal castings - as my hobby is painting. "Armies in Plastic" do a superb range of 54mm Boxer Rebellion figures - which are pretty darned good - if only they were in metal!!!

(Apologies to mike for diversions in his thread) jb

 

[ucla1967]

Johnny,

Thanks for that interesting photo of the Boxer Rebellion troops. There is no question that we come in all sizes, but it just is surprising to me that there is so much difference in the size and mass between 54mm and 60mm toy soldiers as demonstrated in post #1.

Mike