What Vehicle Scale Is Best For Tabletop Skirmish Games? Comparison With 28mm Models & Terrain

[@MattNeisinger]

What I find a little bit funny is that standard TTRPG grids are 1:60 scale (1" = 5' Imperial), so a 1:64 scale model should be near perfect, hypothetically, but in practice it's far too small. I found 1:48 scale to be ideal; it's easier to craft terrain at the larger scale, it matches the scale of most modern "28mm" miniatures (which are often actually a "heroic" 32-35mm scale), and the larger grid is easier to play on (if you use grids). BONUS FACT: 1:48 scale is also "O" scale in the model train hobby industry, which means resources for that hobby work perfectly with ours!

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

I've been looking into model train hobby resources over the last few months, some great terrain options there. I like 1:48 too, recently got a few more planes and helicopters and they look really good alongside the minis.

[@MattNeisinger]

@tabletopskirmishgames Yeah, ever since I switched to the slightly larger scale I've found crafting terrain and buildings a lot easier. I like things to look a scale realistic as possible. At 1:48 I find is easier to measure scale (in the Imperial system, anyway) when ¼" = 1', ⅛" = 6", etc. I do concede that metric is even easier, but my American brain was programmed with Imperial measurements. But yeah, miniatures look so right when put in 1:48 "O" scale terrain settings. It took me a few years to even consider model train scales. I think more tabletop gaming crafters should be made aware of "O" scale models and model train resources. Keep up the great videos, friends! Cheers!

[@timparks9833]

The 1”=5’ comes from grids, that don’t care about actual scale to the miniatures, since a TTRPG isn’t a wargame where that matters. The 5’ square is made to represent how much area a human threatens while in combat. Just looking at a model, they are clearly bigger than that scale.

[@kentryu3484]

The tip I've always used if you can is keep a miniature in your pocket. Then when you are scouting for vehicles at the discount stores or car boot sale. Just compare it and eye ball it. If it looks right, go for it.

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

That's a brilliant idea, I'm definitely going to do that from now on, thanks!

[@makdaddi3921]

The tricky bit is always a base that's around 2mm high. Rebasing to a thin "clam shell" plastic cut disk satisfies my angst when scaling against vehicles and buildings...

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

I like that about Bolt action. At first I thought the vehicles looked tiny, but they make sense with the infantry models

[@PincherPlaysPoorly]

I always thought 28mm equated to 1/56 scale. I think that's what Rubicon and Italeri tanks are.

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

It does for sure, and Bolt Action vehicles are all 1/55 or 1/56 which work perfectly with the infantry especially with them being on the fatter bases. . For other skirmish games, the vehicles feel a bit small and the 28mm minis seem to have grown a little over the years.

[@trevorchadwick7649]

I was walking to my son's school today and noticed that the yellow school buses here in America a 6-ft person comes up to just barely the back bumper. They are much bigger than you think when looking at toys. That bus tires should come up about your chest

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

That's good to know, thanks. Maybe a 1/43 school bus would be about right?

[@trevorchadwick7649]

@@tabletopskirmishgames I think so. Although for playability we might not need totally accurate buses. They are pretty huge though and would dominate a lot of a tabletop.

[@ctorus]

I would say that jeep looks a bit big, e.g. at 2:45. But thanks for the useful video!

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

Thanks for watching, glad it was useful!

[@breadroll3967]

Great video. My friend was throwing out a load of toy cars a while back and she offered me first refusal. Grabbed an ambulance and pick up truck at 1/43 scale. Works great for the walking dead, project z and judge DREDD and easy to weather.

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

Thanks! Woah that's awesome, cool to have some emergency vehicles in the collection. I haven't tried Judge Dread yet but have the core set to unbox in December, so looking forward to checking out the rules.

[@breadroll3967]

@@tabletopskirmishgames it's a fun game like most sets from warlord. Look forward to hearing your thoughts

[@walkaboutgamez2502]

I have always used 1/43 and 1/48 if I’m lucky I can find 1/50 I cut the bottom hull on my swift boat it was a pain to cut lol

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

I was planning to do that on the boat too. I might grab a big file and go at it!

[@darkseraph666]

I've made models to accurate scale by looking online for their actual dimensions. Then divide by it's scale number and bam, perfect accuracy. 1/6 scale for example is six times smaller than us. Generally a 12" figure is meant to be 6ft tall.

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

Nice, that's a great way to do it 👊

[@alanpickstock5568]

I would say 1/48 is a good fit.

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

I like 1/48 , the boat seems just right. Can't wait to get the helicopter built

[@thedourkin]

1/43 is the same scale as O Gauge model railways and is widely available in the UK, 1/48 is the US and European equivalent. My personal preference is for 1/43 because it looks great with 28mm heroic scale mins.

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

That's great to know about O Gauge, thanks!

[@mandodelorian4668]

I like your forced perspective idea!

[@ger5956]

This is incredibly helpful, thank you 😁❤️👍🏻

[@donaldrowe6047]

For buildings O gauge railway scenery works amazing and you could also use O gauge vehicles. I use O gauge buildings and 1:48 scale vehicles.

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

So cool to discover O gauge from the comments after making the video, thanks, Donald!

[@earnestwanderer2471]

1/48 seems just a tad small. Sad really, because that’s a popular scale for models. Probably the real problem is that 28mm models have “swelled up” over time. My old WHFantasy dwarves are much shorter than the newer dwarves from necromunda and 40k.

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

They've definitely got bigger and there's a noticeable difference between how chunky some are.

[@jamesmaas7244]

Another great video, but I think you just wanted to play with toy cars again, like you did as a boy.

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

Busted! 🤣

[@jocelynpouget6133]

I use 1/43 vehicles for Zombicide. Any other scale has limited choice.

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

It works great, and got to say its awesome to have so many zombies available with the range of Zombicide

[@USALibertarian]

It is interesting because 28mm figures are just about 1/64th scale. I wonder if the figure bases affect how they look in proportion to the vehicles.

[@tabletopskirmishgames]

I think the bases make a big difference. Bolt action uses thin bases which I really like.

[@USALibertarian]

@@tabletopskirmishgames If the vehicles could be built up in any way I wonder if it would look more natural.