In brief
Battle Honours 3D’s 1:72 reference is 22.4 mm from sole to bridge of nose. Learn how to compare it with 20 mm and 1:76 figures, check terrain and bases, and choose figures and scenery for your collection.
We measure our 1:72 figures from the sole of the foot to the bridge of the nose. On a standing figure, that measurement is 22.4 mm, excluding the base and headgear.
We use these fixed anatomical points to get accurate, consistent measurements regardless of hairstyle or headgear. A bareheaded soldier and one wearing a tall shako can have the same body proportions but different overall heights. Measuring to the bridge of the nose lets us scale their bodies consistently and gives you a reliable starting point when comparing figures.
Where our 1:72 measurement comes from
At 1:72, each measurement on the model is one seventy-second of the corresponding full-size measurement. Our miniature scale guide uses a reference adult measurement of 1,610 mm at eye level. Dividing that by 72 gives our published 22.4 mm reference.
We measure a standing figure from the bottom of the foot to the bridge of the nose, level with the eyes. The base, headgear and raised weapons are excluded. A crouching or kneeling figure will sit lower because of its pose.
The 1,610 mm reference keeps our comparisons consistent. Human height varies, so it cannot define the height of every person represented in 1:72. For example, a person 1.8 m tall would be 25 mm from sole to the top of the bare head at this scale. That is a different measurement from our sole-to-nose reference.
20 mm, 1:76 and 1:72
A millimetre label describes a figure size or size category; a ratio describes a reduction. Our scale guide lists a figure measuring 20 mm from sole to nose as approximately 1:81 using the same adult reference. The label “20 mm” is also associated with 1:76 and 1:72 products, so it cannot tell you the actual height on its own.
Our catalogue includes separate 20 mm and 1:72 choices on products such as the British Commando PIAT teams. Select the option that suits your project. If you are adding to figures you already own, measure them before deciding.
1:76 and 1:72 are close, but a model of the same subject is about 6% larger in each dimension at 1:72. Whether that matters on your table depends on the models and how you place them. Compare figures beside doors, vehicle hatches and gun shields, where a mismatch is easier to judge.
Measure the figures you want to match
Use digital callipers if you have them. A metric ruler is useful for an initial check, although small differences are harder to read.
- Choose three to five ordinary standing figures. Avoid crouching poses for this first comparison.
- Measure from the sole to the bridge of the nose, then calculate the average. Keep the base out of the measurement.
- Record the height to the top of the bare head as a separate check. If another manufacturer specifies foot to eye, follow its stated measuring point when checking its figures.
- Place the ranges together and compare shoulders, heads, hands, weapons and equipment. Equal height alone does not guarantee a good match.
Our true-scale approach uses natural body proportions as well as a consistent height reference. A broader sculpt with larger hands or a thicker weapon can look heavier beside a slimmer figure of the same height.
Check terrain and bases at the same time
For a building or vehicle, divide the relevant full-size dimension by 72. These examples are rounded to the nearest millimetre; they are planning examples, rather than dimensions of a particular product.
| Example full-size measurement | Approximate size at 1:72 |
|---|---|
| 2 m door height | 28 mm |
| 90 cm door width | 13 mm |
| 1.2 m wall height | 17 mm |
| 3 m floor-to-floor height | 42 mm |
Compare models at the same ground level. A 3 mm figure base raises the soldier by the equivalent of about 22 cm at 1:72, enough to affect how a doorway or low wall looks beside them. Allow for that when planning pavements, building bases and display groundwork.
For gaming, check the footprint as well as the height. Leave room for your unit bases to pass between buildings, and test whether artillery crews fit around their guns before fixing everything down.
If you need a closer match, contact Battle Honours 3D with your target sole-to-nose measurement, the manufacturer and range you already use, and a straight-on photograph beside a metric ruler. Keep the figures the same distance from the camera. We can amend an order’s scale when you request the change within 48 hours of ordering; asking before you order gives us time to discuss the match first.