Miniature scales explained: a practical guide for collectors and wargamers

Miniature scales tell you how small a model is meant to be, but the labels need some interpretation. A 1:72 tank has a defined relationship to the original vehicle. A figure sold as “20 mm” needs a second piece of information: where that measurement starts and finishes.

For a new collection, scale affects the space you need, the detail you can paint and the figures and scenery you can use together. For an existing army, the first job is to measure what you already have.

Understanding the measurements

A ratio such as 1:72 means every dimension on the model is one seventy-second of the original. The same scale may be written 1/72. A smaller denominator means a larger model: a 1:35 tank is larger than a 1:72 model of the same tank.

To calculate a model dimension, divide the original measurement by the denominator. A vehicle 6 metres long would measure approximately:

Ratio scale	Model length
1:100	60 mm
1:72	83 mm
1:56	107 mm
1:35	171 mm

Millimetre labels work differently. They usually describe a reference figure size, but you need to check the manufacturer's measuring method. A 28 mm measurement to the eyes describes a taller body than 28 mm to the top of the bare head.

How we measure our figures

At Battle Honours 3D, we measure a standing figure from the sole of the foot to the bridge of the nose, level with the eyes. We exclude the base.

These fixed anatomical points let us measure consistently regardless of hair or headgear. A soldier in a cap and one wearing a tall shako can be scaled on the same basis.

We use 1,610 mm at eye level as our adult reference measurement. This is a consistent reference for our calculations, rather than a claim that every historical person was the same height.

The two calculations are:

• Reference figure height = 1,610 ÷ scale denominator. At 1:72, our standing reference is 22.4 mm from the sole to the bridge of the nose.
• Approximate scale denominator = 1,610 ÷ measured figure height. A 40 mm measurement gives approximately 1:40.

Our 54 mm reference gives approximately 1:30, which is why we use that ratio for our 54 mm figures. Measuring to the top of a head or helmet would change the figure-height calculation. Our measuring guide explains how to check a model.

Figure sizes from 2 mm to 75 mm

Use this table to compare the practical choices. The ratio column assumes the stated height is measured from the sole to the bridge of the nose using our 1,610 mm reference. It does not assign a ratio to every manufacturer's similarly labelled range.

Reference height	Approximate ratio	Practical uses and considerations
2 mm	1:805	Compact troop formations where the arrangement of units matters more than individual faces. The Irregular 2 mm range includes infantry blocks, cavalry and artillery.
6 mm	1:268	A useful choice when you want numerous battalions or armoured formations within a limited area. Painting can concentrate on unit colours, equipment and bases. Check any accompanying ratio label separately.
10 mm	1:161	A practical size for Napoleonic and American Civil War armies with infantry, cavalry and artillery. GHQ’s 10 mm range covers both periods.
12 mm	1:134	Used for compact Second World War infantry and tank forces, including Victrix’s range. Check the accompanying ratio label and actual figure measurement.
15 mm	1:107	Suits projects with numerous units, including Napoleonic and American Civil War armies. Our 15 mm reference is smaller than our 16.1 mm reference for 1:100.
18 mm	1:89	Gives more room for uniform and equipment details than a measured 15 mm figure. AB Figures’ Napoleonic range is one current example sold under this label.
20 mm	1:81	A choice for Second World War infantry forces and additions to an existing 20 mm collection. Our 20 mm and 1:72 options are different sizes.
25 mm	1:64	A size to check when extending a collection labelled 25 mm. Moving to measured 28 mm increases height by 12%, before differences in sculpting style.
28 mm	1:58	Suits historical skirmishes and larger units where you want to work on individual faces, straps and equipment. Check sculpting style before mixing ranges.
30 mm	1:54	Can be useful when matching a taller existing range. Request a measured height rather than assuming that every “large 28 mm” figure is 30 mm.
40 mm	1:40	More painting room than 28 mm, with less space needed than 54 mm for the same subjects at equivalent proportions. Consider it for skirmishes, painting projects and larger armies where table space permits.
54 mm	1:30	A size for toy-soldier collections, display scenes and games planned around larger figures. Allow room for horses, gun carriages and extended weapons as well as the soldiers.
75 mm	1:21	Gives considerable room for work on faces, cloth, leather and metal finishes. Plan the display base around the full pose, especially for mounted figures and artillery.

These are reference sizes across the hobby. Check the options on each Battle Honours 3D product page for the sizes available for that model.

Ratio scales you may need to match

This table starts with the ratio instead. The height column is the approximate size of our reference adult at that scale, measured to the bridge of the nose. It is not the height of every person a model might represent.

Ratio	Our reference height	What to check
1:285	5.6 mm	GHQ’s Micro Armour range uses the paired description 1:285/6 mm. That catalogue label differs from a literal 6 mm anatomical measurement.
1:160	10.1 mm	Relevant to model railway products specifically marked 1:160. Check the stated ratio when buying N-scale accessories.
1:144	11.2 mm	Useful when matching models explicitly labelled 1:144. A “12 mm” description alone does not establish the same anatomical height.
1:100	16.1 mm	Compare this measurement with your infantry before selecting it for a project described as 15 mm.
1:87	18.5 mm	Relevant to HO-labelled vehicles and scenery; confirm the ratio on the item you intend to use.
1:76	21.2 mm	Appears in military kits and OO-labelled products. It produces a smaller model than 1:72 of the same subject.
1:72	22.4 mm	Our standing reference for this ratio. Choose it when you need our 1:72 option rather than our measured 20 mm option.
1:56	28.8 mm	A ratio to check when choosing vehicles or buildings for a 28 mm project. Compare the figures’ proportions as well as their height.
1:48	33.5 mm	Larger than our measured 28 mm reference. Do not assume a 1:48 accessory will suit a 28 mm scene without checking its dimensions.
1:35	46 mm	A military modelling scale between our 40 mm and 54 mm references. Neither figure size is an exact substitute.
1:32	50.3 mm	Smaller than our 54 mm reference. Compare actual standing figures before mixing toy-soldier ranges.
1:30	53.7 mm	The ratio corresponding approximately to our 54 mm figures.

You will find several of these ratios in the Airfix scale catalogue, including 1:76, 1:72, 1:48 and 1:35. GHQ’s railway ranges include 1:160 and 1:87 products. A ratio makes the intended reduction clear; it still pays to check a model’s finished dimensions.

Naval models use much smaller ratios because the original subjects are so large. GHQ has 1:2400 ships and 1:1200 Age of Sail models. A hypothetical 200-metre ship would be approximately 83 mm long at 1:2400 and 167 mm at 1:1200. Use the ship’s dimensions for this comparison; converting it into a nominal infantry size adds little practical help.

Similar labels can describe different models

Manufacturers sometimes pair a familiar millimetre label with a ratio. Victrix, for example, lists 12 mm/1:144 infantry and tanks. That is the company's range description. It does not mean a figure measuring exactly 12 mm from sole to bridge of nose gives 1:144 under our calculation.

The same care applies to proportions. A figure with a broader chest, larger hands and thicker weapons can look heavier than another figure of equal height. “Heroic” describes an approach to proportions; it is not a separate conversion formula.

Our true-scale approach aims for natural proportions. Uniformly resizing a sculpt changes its dimensions together, so it cannot make an enlarged head smaller in relation to the body.

Before combining ranges, compare several standing figures beside each other. Check anatomical height, head size, shoulder width and equipment. Place the soles at the same level for the comparison: a thicker base can make a matching figure look taller.

Work out the space before choosing the size

A larger figure needs more room in every direction when its proportions stay the same. Enlarging a model from 28 mm to 40 mm makes it approximately 43% taller, wider and longer.

For a building enlarged by that same amount, a hypothetical 100 × 100 mm footprint becomes approximately 143 × 143 mm: just over twice the area. The extra painting room comes with a practical cost in table and storage space.

Basing changes the calculation again. Six figures placed side by side on 20 mm-wide bases occupy 120 mm of frontage. On 25 mm-wide bases, they occupy 150 mm. Check your rules and existing units before choosing bases for the new figures.

For scenery, check the actual product dimensions. Our Sainte-Marie-du-Mont House 2 measures approximately 109 × 117 mm and 235 mm high in its 28 mm option. Streets, gardens and access for based figures need additional room.

Model scale and gaming distances are separate decisions. Follow your rules for movement, weapon ranges and unit frontage. Changing the figure size does not automatically mean changing every distance in the game.

Choosing Battle Honours 3D for your project

Our catalogue covers Napoleonic, American Civil War and Second World War figures, alongside artillery and scenery. You can choose the subjects for a force or scene from the same catalogue, with a stated measuring method and help matching an existing collection.

For example, our Portuguese artillery loading set contains four crew and a gun, with 6-pounder, 9-pounder and howitzer choices. Its scale options include 20 mm, 1:72, 28 mm, 40 mm, 54 mm and 75 mm.

The crew and artillery are resin printed and supplied unpainted. Our Normandy house is filament printed at 15 mm and above, with separate floors for interior access. Check each product’s contents and construction as well as its scale.

If you are matching figures you already own, send us their sole-to-bridge-of-nose measurement and a clear photograph beside a metric ruler. Include the manufacturer and range if known.

We give you a 48-hour window after placing your order to request scale adjustments, so you have time to check your measurements and get the right size for your collection. Contact us within that window with your order number and the measurement you need.