Hello,
I'm working on my 1st WWII diorama, and I have German 1:35 scale vehicles with 1:35 scale drivers and passengers. My US soldiers are 1:32 Revell and even though the scales are very close together in size, these US soldiers are bigger. Can I use these 1:32 soldiers or do I need to get 1:35 like the Germans?
Thank you for your replies,
JohnT
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Is this a No-No? 1:35 w/ 1:32
JohnThomas
Joined: September 17, 2014
KitMaker: 20 posts
Armorama: 20 posts
Posted: Monday, September 22, 2014 - 06:20 AM UTC
vettejack
Joined: November 23, 2012
KitMaker: 1,277 posts
Armorama: 1,254 posts
Posted: Monday, September 22, 2014 - 06:36 AM UTC
For years I have used Cal Scale Brass (1/32) 50 cal and 30 cal parts/assembly on my 1/35 armor with no ill affect. If you're worry is about showing a combination of the two in competition, I wouldn't give it a second thought. I've done it without hesitation and I've judged AMPS and IPMS at the National level. Now, if mixing parts from one or the other, then you might have a size problem to overcome. Either way, as far as I'm concerned...go for it (after judging 75 to a 100 pieces of armor at any one contest, soemthing like that kinda "gets lost in the mix")!! 
JohnThomas
Joined: September 17, 2014
KitMaker: 20 posts
Armorama: 20 posts
Posted: Monday, September 22, 2014 - 06:51 AM UTC
Thank you for your reply. I was more concerned about the size of the soldiers. As you can see from the pic, the partially painted German soldier (1:35) is much smaller than the unpainted (1:32) US soldier. Even in a diorama with them not so close to each other, I think you could tell the difference in size. The US soldier is 1:32 Revell; I'm wondering if that brand is somewhat larger.
At any rate, I don't want to ruin the dio, so I though I would ask the pros their opinion. Again, thank you for yours.
JohnT
At any rate, I don't want to ruin the dio, so I though I would ask the pros their opinion. Again, thank you for yours.
JohnT
Vodnik
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Monday, September 22, 2014 - 07:12 AM UTC
Quoted Text
At any rate, I don't want to ruin the dio, so I though I would ask the pros their opinion. Again, thank you for yours.
JohnThomas
Joined: September 17, 2014
KitMaker: 20 posts
Armorama: 20 posts
Posted: Monday, September 22, 2014 - 07:22 AM UTC
I forgot to attached the photo in the other post.
Thanks for posting those actual photos of the soldiers; they're amazing.
JohnT
Thanks for posting those actual photos of the soldiers; they're amazing.
JohnT
HeavyArty
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Monday, September 22, 2014 - 07:38 AM UTC
Mixing of the two scales is not really an issue. The key is to keep constant-sized items in the same scale. For example, keep all like weapons (M1 Garand, BAR, etc.), canteens, grenades, etc. in the same scale as these items don't change with the size of the user.
As to the Revell figures, I wouldn't use the crappy rubber figures anyways. You would be better off getting a set of 1/35 plastic figures from Dragon or the likes.
As to the Revell figures, I wouldn't use the crappy rubber figures anyways. You would be better off getting a set of 1/35 plastic figures from Dragon or the likes.
1stjaeger
Joined: May 20, 2011
KitMaker: 1,744 posts
Armorama: 1,727 posts
Posted: Monday, September 22, 2014 - 08:00 AM UTC
Hi John,
Gino is right as far as the styles of these figures are not really compatible, and of course the necessity to keep equipment and armament in the same scale! No mixing here IMHO!
Cheers
Romain
GeraldOwens
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
Armorama: 3,697 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - 07:28 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hello,
I'm working on my 1st WWII diorama, and I have German 1:35 scale vehicles with 1:35 scale drivers and passengers. My US soldiers are 1:32 Revell and even though the scales are very close together in size, these US soldiers are bigger. Can I use these 1:32 soldiers or do I need to get 1:35 like the Germans?
Thank you for your replies,
JohnT
You can generally tell the difference between a 1/32nd scale and 1/35th scale figure, even if you allow for different human heights. The giveaway is the head. Human heads do not vary nearly as much in size as torsos and limbs do, and a 1/32nd figure's head will appear huge next to a 1/35th scale figure (you can cheat and install aftermarket 1/35th scale heads on larger bodies--Hornet makes them, among others).
If you have a figure with a proportionally small head, it will appear "tall" to a viewer, even without a size reference. Likewise, a figure with a massive head will be perceived by viewers as short, regardless of the intended scale.
These proportions are often the bane of white metal and resin figure designers. Some favor the more heroic proportions of Renaissance religious paintings, with long bodies and tiny heads, while other sculptors try to squeeze as much character and detail as they can into the figures' faces, resulting in heads like pumpkins. The casual viewer may even accept these figures as realistic until they are set alongside a photo of a living human the same size--then the disproportion jumps out, and the sculpted figure looks ridiculous.
vettejack
Joined: November 23, 2012
KitMaker: 1,277 posts
Armorama: 1,254 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - 11:15 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Thank you for your reply. I was more concerned about the size of the soldiers. As you can see from the pic, the partially painted German soldier (1:35) is much smaller than the unpainted (1:32) US soldier. Even in a diorama with them not so close to each other, I think you could tell the difference in size. The US soldier is 1:32 Revell; I'm wondering if that brand is somewhat larger.
At any rate, I don't want to ruin the dio, so I though I would ask the pros their opinion. Again, thank you for yours.
JohnT
Yea, I should have thought more about the figures as well instead of just mentioning tank parts. The other opinions here all bare fruit in mentioning that 1/35 and 1/32 figures for the most part should not be mixed. Unless you display shows distance, or other mind altering dimensions, don't mix 'em.
Bravo1102
Joined: December 08, 2003
KitMaker: 2,864 posts
Armorama: 2,497 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 12:29 AM UTC
JohnT
Quoted Text
The other opinions here all bare fruit in mentioning that 1/35 and 1/32 figures for the most part should not be mixed. Unless you display shows distance, or other mind altering dimensions, don't mix 'em.
It's a bit more nuanced than that.
Don't mix them until you're sure of your ability to determine human proportions well enough to show various body sizes.
Mix them but make sure you account for the difference in sizes. So put 1/35th scale heads on the 1/32 figures to allow for the human perception of human size based on the head size. Or have that 1/32 guy with his huge head but put a 1/35 helmet on him to show how small other things are on him in proportion to his size. Make the difference in proportional size part of the diorama's setting.
You can also take out chunks of the thigh and arm on the larger figure to make a husky guy as opposed to a taller guy. You don't see many line backers in dioramas everyone is built like a quarterback.
I've even mixed 1/35 and 1/40th scale to show really small guys putting 1/35th helmets and weapons on them to emphasize it's a really short guy.
Giovanni1508
Joined: April 17, 2014
KitMaker: 652 posts
Armorama: 600 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 01:09 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I forgot to attached the photo in the other post.
JohnT
Hi John,
I think this is an old story: how to determine the scale of the figures. 1/35, 1/32 and 54mm sometime similar, sometime quite different. In my experience, all depending by the maker.
For example, I remember ESCI 1/35 figures quite bigger than Tamiya 1/35...
In your particular case, I suggest to remove the Revell US soldier, too much toy looking, and keeping the german.
GiovanniJohnThomas
Joined: September 17, 2014
KitMaker: 20 posts
Armorama: 20 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 04:52 AM UTC
Thanks so much for all of your comments and opinions. After reading them, I've decided to keep the German kit men I built, and not use the cheapo plastic ones. I will match all of the soldiers to the same size by looking at them, not necessarily by what the manufacturer states as their size.
JohnT
JohnT
PantherF
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
Armorama: 5,960 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 06:18 AM UTC
I think mix and match them. In real life men are taller, shorter, heavier and thinner.
Not all the same size like in model figures. Just keep the weapons all the same scale.
Jeff
Not all the same size like in model figures. Just keep the weapons all the same scale.
Jeff
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