"1/72 vs 1/76 scale" Topic

How much difference is there between these two scales. Can they be use together on the same table. Does anyone have pictures of the same type of vehicle in both scales next to each other?

How much difference is there between these two scales. Can they be use together on the same table.

Of course they can, but not in the same unit.

I just squint and the difference goes away – 1/87th does look odd mixed with 1/72nd or 1/76th.

Stay consistent within each vehicle type and no one will notice (probably)

it's a larger difference than you think it ought to be! This is because with the actual models on the table, it's a cubic volume difference and the difference in bulk is quite noticeable.

Last time this sort of question came up, I crunched the numbers for 10mm and 15mm. TMP link

Running the numbers for 1/76 and 1/72 --

Panther: L=6.87m, W=3.27m, H=2.99m

1/76: L=90.4mm, W=43mm, H=39.3m; Vol=152767 cubic mm

1/72: L=95.4mm, W=45.4mm, H=41.5mm; Vol=177578 cubic mm

By length, the 1/72 one is only a about 5% longer; but by volume, about 17% heftier. The heft is what you notice.

And yes, the heft difference between 1/87 and 1/76 is tremendously apparent.

For smaller vehicles, the difference is about 0.1 inch in length. For bigger vehicles (e.g. Tiger), 0.2 inches difference.

Like others have said, not a big difference. Just stay consistent within each vehicle type.

With small vehicles like jeeps and Bren carriers, the difference is really noticeable when you put infantry figures near them. It's not so bad with the bigger stuff like heavy tanks and artillery pieces if you keep them in their own units.

Ive got 1/72nd for my 1944 Brits, but at the time had to get the Airfix Churchills, which are 1/76.

As a seperate and individual unit it didnt look out of place, and my full needs for this tank were met with bridge layer etc in the same Airfix range.

The 1/76 Sherman from Airfix in my old vehicles looked noticsably tiny compared to the Italeri, Armourfast and PSC on the table, so it didnt make it to the table.

My 1/87 Roco Minitanks = lovely models indeed – were also sadly relgated to the future Ebay pile.

Happily there isnt much you cant get in 1/72nd now if you dont mind a bit of poetic licence with the variants the kits represent.

How does the Airfix Churchill compare to the FOV model in scale? I have one of the latter but Airfix are more affordable…

The half tracks seen here are 1/72 but the armored cars are 1/76 – as a different vehicle type altogether, the different scale isn't noticeable TMP link

You also need to take into account that models are often not the quoted scale or even consistent across dimensions.

Yes, some '1/72nd' scale vehicles are enormous.

I don't have any 1/72 in my collection (that I know of). I do mix 1/76 and some mini tank 1/87 models. Mainly trucks, jeeps, and armored cars. I would never use 1/87 tanks.

I never used to be aware of the difference, but having started to go over my old 20mm collection recently, and read some posts elsewhere, I have noticed this a lot more.

I have made a policy decision to stick to 1/76 as I have a lot invested in Airfix etc and dont want to restart.
However more recent trends seem to be for 1/72.

Airfix is "mostly" 1/76. IIRC their Crusaders are compatible with Hasegawa's, whose models are "mostly" 1/68-ish. Airfix's have the side skirts though, and the 2-lber turrets.

That said, I try not to mix 1/76 and 1/72 on the same table with the same vehicles, otherwise I don't worry about it.

Airfix's Crusader mixes just fine alongside the 1/72 Armourfast model – even in the same unit. It also comes with an alternate turret and 6pdr gun. The one in the center here is Airfix

Thank you number 4. Nice looking crusaders

Great pic no4. Theres a lot of detail on that Crusader.

I havent seen an FOV Churchill, but I can tell you I like the Airfix model, and Im very happy with it.

Thanks! I just bought an FOV Churchill last week; oddly enough, it's a crocodile, minus the trailer….I don't have an Airfix one to compare it with yet. In a mad moment I did get a Corgi one off ebay, and that one is significantly smaller – looks 1/87. If anyone wants it, they're welcome

The difference has never bothered me. Over the years I've had to cobble together platoons from various manufacturers and lived with the size differences. I wouldn't mix the two scales for a demonstration game, but for a fun wargame I have no qualms.

It's the inconsistency of some manufacturers that bugs me. the M10 and Achilles from Hat/Armourfast are big enough to park a Sherman in! Yet, the Stug seems quite appropriately sized.

Taking a 6' man , for ease of arithmetic; 1/72 would make him 25.4mm tall. 1/76 would make him 24mm tall. To get a 20mm figure you would need to sculpt him in 1/91.5 scale!

So, the problem isn't necessarily the manufacturers/sculptors but our use of broad categories such as 20mm, etc. to describe the figures. Most that I have are too big to fit into the vehicles they are supposed to accompany. C'est la vie!

20mm is compatible with 1/72. Back in the 60's most lead soldiers for wargaming were Napoleonic. The figures had huge and oddly sized hats, meaning no one knew how high the top of the figure's head was, so they measured height-of-eye. Add 6" to your calculations.

It's the inconsistency of some manufacturers that bugs me. the M10 and Achilles from Hat/Armourfast are big enough to park a Sherman in!

According to the reviews on this website, both Armourfast M10 and M4 Sherman kits are rather accurately scaled:

link

One of the problems with the Armorfast M10 is that the inside of the turret is so bare which makes it look bigger than it really is. I filled mine up with crewmen and a scratch built breech.

Both 1/72 and 1/76 works well for me as I dont think we really need to scrutinise until like that…

"20mm is compatible with 1/72. Back in the 60's most lead soldiers for wargaming were Napoleonic. The figures had huge and oddly sized hats, meaning no one knew how high the top of the figure's head was, so they measured height-of-eye. Add 6" to your calculations."
Sorry, but I still get just over 23mm, the same as if I take my height and divide by 76.
20mm is really just a catchphrase whose meaning is now lost and been replaced with "we don't care", whether scalping or eyeballing.

Plus of course, Heller and Airfix share some toolings and release the same kit as 1/72 and 1/76 respectively.

Rather like how some idiots think I'm going to buy the idea that HO/OO is a scale.

Well HO is a scale its 3.5mm to the foot or 1:87 . Mainly a Model Rail scale/guage . There are some companies that do produce military vehicles in this scale , ROCO Minitanks for instance .

1/76 scale which was derived from model rail OO guage is 4mm to the foot . A lot of British companies still produce in this scale eg MIlicast and MMS .

1/72 is nearer 23mm scale and tends to be the major force in "20mm" scale .Dominated by major PLastic Kit manufacturers eg Dragon, Trumpeter,Revell etc. This is now supported be relativly new comers like PSC and small companies like BlitzKrieg Miniatures.

"Sorry, but I still get just over 23mm, the same as if I take my height and divide by 76.
20mm is really just a catchphrase whose meaning is now lost and been replaced with "we don't care", whether scalping or eyeballing."

Whatever. I've been buying 20mm figures to go with 1/72 and 1/76 for decades now and they fit, while 25mm are definately too big. Feel free to do whatever you want with your own armies.

@mysteron: HO is a scale. OO is a scale. HO/OO is not.
@Murvihill: they're not actually 20mm tall though, are they?

But they are ~20mm boots to the eyes. And let's not forget this fun picture:

German soldier is 7'6", the Brit trooper patting him down is 5'6".

Men come in various sizes, but specific vehicles and weapons not so much.

FWIW the Ogonek "1/30" ISU-152 is 1/28 scale in width and 1/30 in length.

The formula to determine relative "heft" is the cube of the smaller scale divided by the cube of the larger. So 1/72 is 18% larger than 1/76. As to what this means, well, a 1/72 Panther would be not far off the size of a 1/76 King Tiger.

1/32 is 31% larger than 1/35.

It's true that men come in different sizes but their weapons, packs and helmets mostly do not. According to Beevor the average German prisoner captured in France in 1944 was 5'5" tall, which is interesting. In 1/76 scale that would be 22mm, in 1/72 scale 23mm.

Armourfast M10 and Achilles kits have been retooled to include a gun breech, however you still need to add a 'stack' of three shells horizontally on each side of the turret's inner rear face.

Most all my armor is 1/72 except for some Airfix 5.4" guns & tractors, some Oxford die cast 15cwt trucks and a pair of Tigers. These are all pretty much 'stand alone' items and look OK surrounded by other stuff in 1/72

What annoys the heck out of me is the trend for plastic figures sold as 1/72 that are around 26mm tall…….

Yes HO/OO is really a track gauge for Model rail stock. Its meaning is that the guage is suitable for HO and OO outline stock as both scales share the same trackage system .

A figure 26mm tall who ought to be 23mm tall is 44% oversized, assuming the excess height to be replicated in width and depth as well.

One can overcome small differences with base height, and they aslo disappear somewhat provided the sculpting style from one figure to the next is similar. The Airfix 1/32 8th Army and DAK figures are different scales, neither being 1/32, but look OK together as they similar in style. I used to have Hinchliffe and Prince August 25mm homecasts and they looked terrible together.