Will we see toy soldiers in a smaller scale? (1 Viewer)

Currahee Chris

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Hello Everyone:

I have read a lot of varying discussions on the different threads addressing both the cost of the hobby and the space in which to display our toy soldiers. En route to a client today, it got me to thinking- what would be everyone's thoughts on going smaller?? I wargame with 15 mm figures but have seen plenty of 25-30mm figures out there. You do sacrifice some of the detail we have come to love- mostly in the soldiers themselves. I still think tanks and other vehicles at 25-30mm are still comparable in quality to 54mm ones.

I guess I am just curious if anyone sees the hobby getting "Smaller". I can see some advantages- I would have to think the prices would decrease since the figures are smaller. Also, you could display "more" though that may hurt in the "Space" department. I can see smaller lines offering more selection as the tooling process wouldn't take as long. I also think a smaller scale figure would open up the possiblity of bringing different scenes as well- perhaps more airplane and helicopter options and even ships!!

On the flip side, you do lose some of the detail and they are generally more fragile. Also, the possibilities of doing bigger dios can make the space constraint more binding.

One of the things I like with the toy soldier companies is that it seems as if they are getting the message. A lot of these companies are starting to go to one or two man sets and that has helped reduce the price burden to the collector. The vehicles seem to be getting more expensive and there are many plausible reasons for that. I think each of us as collectors has to look at what we are doing with our collection and simply plan ahead.

Well, I am interested in hearing what everyone thinks. I know George has done some nice things in 20mm. I have seen some phenomenal dios as well in 20-30mm too.

STANDS ALONE!!
CC
 
CC, I for one could not see myself going smaller. I have enough trouble painting 54mm, those smaller ones I can't even see. Some day when I get the Lt. age, I hope to be able to play with my soldiers like him. Until then I would like to see all soldiers more compatible in size, like Conte TSSD. I would like to see Marx and Airfix in the same scale with Conte and TSSD, but not smaller. Mike:)
 
I feel 1:32/30 will remain the standard military figure scale for some time because it is a good compromise on size and detail. However there are a number of companies such as FOV that are getting on the 1:72 diecast bandwagon that Dragon has been pushing for a while and the detail they can get into those small tanks and figures is amazing. And it's worth noting that 1:72 is also the standard aircraft model scale in plastic and diecast.

Therefore I suspect 1:72 will enjoy additional interest in the ensuing years but 1:30/32 will remain the standard for single figures and diorama displays especially for most established collectors.

To me the 15mm and 20mm sizes will remain as the scale(s) for mainly wargamers rather than collectors. And these scales although similar to 1:72 just don't attract to much attention from non wargamers, especially when you consider the 1:72 stuff is readily available in most hobbyshops.
 
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When I was a kid, I loved to build and paint 1:48 scale Bandai models, and I loved painting 25mm figures. In fact, I recently bought a bunch of the same models I built as a kid on ebay, so I can build them with my son when he gets a little older. I have also seen the incredible dioramas George has done in 20mm. There is a great advantage to the scope of the dioramas you can build in these smaller scales. That being said, I love the incredible detail of 1:30 scale figures, and I don't think I could ever turn my back on collecting them.
 
I don't see anything but 1/30 or 1/32 being the standard and would not be interested anything smaller than that.
 
Chris
I think the way forward for Naopleonics, Colonial and ACW scenes is painted plastics. Conte did this for ACW. Thye are great. In a mass dio you cannot tell the difference. You then have a few select metal sets on top of this. To build up a big dio like the Lt's one of Rorkes Drift or Fish and Fubar's Napoleonic scenes will be very expensive. Somne well painedt and made plastics woul dhelp to flesh this out nicely.
Regards
Damian Clarke
 
Chris
I think the way forward for Naopleonics, Colonial and ACW scenes is painted plastics. Conte did this for ACW. Thye are great. In a mass dio you cannot tell the difference. You then have a few select metal sets on top of this. To build up a big dio like the Lt's one of Rorkes Drift or Fish and Fubar's Napoleonic scenes will be very expensive. Somne well painedt and made plastics woul dhelp to flesh this out nicely.
Regards
Damian Clarke

This hasn't got anything to do with scale (;)) but I have to agree. The reason why I haven't bought any plastic painted ACW figures from FOV is because of the awful distribution. But I do think a lot of wargamers would welcome painted plastic to create a sizeable backbone for their armies.

For the Zulu War, just some basic brits to create a firing line or square and four good zulu poses would be enough. Complement with more expensive metal and you're ready to roll.
 
There is going to be a new line of figures in 1/48 scale, WWII, by Fox Miniatures, he has some pictures on his site and they look pretty detailed to me. Of course there is no price posted as of yet. I imagine painting would be a drag, but then I don't paint.
 
I have molds for 40mm from Germany. I have not used them yet as they are metal. I could order the 25 mm silicon molds and sometimes I think I might try them as you get way more figures in the same space. Lots already invested in 54mm though.
 
Thanks for everyone's input. I agree with the majority here that the 54-60mm range is the benchmark out there. I have seen those FOV 1:72nd (?) scale vehicles and they are really nice and I think I recall seeing them go for $15 or less at Target.

I agree with everyone else though, I have too much tied up with 54mm to try and downsize. I still firmly believe that you can get "bigger" dios at the 25-30mm range. I think that line gives the collector the ability to put together a historically accurate dio on a scale far bigger than 54mm can- to give the viewer the chance to see the battlefield from the perspective of a Corps, Army commander etc.

But, at that size you do sacrifice the detail and the expressions on the mens faces.

Who knows though. It is all relative.

STANDS ALONE!!
CC
 
Chris,
Excellent topic. I have a good friend who is in the process of launching his own range of 60mm matte finish figures and just returned from Russia and China to view some of the master sculpts and paint jobs and loves what he has seen so far.

He is going to do a massive range of Napoleonics, but is also toying with the idea of doing a range of 40mm figures as well for all the reasons you stated. Personally, I am not sure if it will fly or not, but he thinks it will, who am I to differ, so we'll see.

As far as my collection of 20mm stuff, understand that as a kid I collected Airfix figures and built loads of 1/72nd scale vehicles, so the reason I am hooked on 20mm is it was what I had as a kid and my favorite scale..................
 
I think the 1/72 scale has plenty to choose from already, at least in plastic anway. Here is a site to take a peak at to see what I mean.http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Index.htm

There are also many metal castings also and some pre-painted also out there.

I find that the 1/72 scale stuff has a lot more to choose from because most war gamers use this scale and they are the reason you see a better selection of troops to represent the various units of different armies and not just the pretty units with cool uniforms like you see all the time in larger scale figures.

Most 1/32 and 1/30 scale makers just make the eye catching troops like for example they,ll make horse artillary instead of foot artillary because the uniforms look better and might sell more even though there were more foot artillary then horse artillary.
The same is done with the troops, they always make grenadiers and voltiguers instead of line troops which made up the bulk of the troops???:confused::mad:
I don,t mind grenadiers and voltigers but give us some line troops also!!!
 
Chris,
Excellent topic. I have a good friend who is in the process of launching his own range of 60mm matte finish figures and just returned from Russia and China to view some of the master sculpts and paint jobs and loves what he has seen so far.

He is going to do a massive range of Napoleonics...............

George.

Can you tell us more please :)

Jeff
 
Jeff,
I've seen pictures of some of the figures and they look incredible, we'll see how the production models turn out. He and I have discussed some sort of arrangement where I would be the sole US agent for awhile and handle sales at the shows as well. I will keep you posted as things get closer to go time, he hopes to have some sets for sale by OTSN..............
 

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