"My 1/76 vs 1/72 Dilemma As I Enter This Scale" Topic

So, I was just about to place my order for a small group of German and British AB 20mm figures and a few vehicles/guns from 20mm Zone, when I saw a post about Milicast. I go out to the Milicast site and see all the great vehicles, etc. I noticed that throughout the site the reference to the scale of the miniatures and AFVs was "1/76" – they even reference a small selection of AB miniatures as "1/76 20mm".

I have seen that the releases from PSC in 20mm are 1/72. I know there have been some posts on this in the past, but what I really want to know is if I am going to run into trouble with purchasing the AB miniatures and the 20mm Zone vehicles right now and then want to add other items from Elheim, SHQ, etc.

Are AB really only 1/76?

What about buildings and terrain? Will there be a noticeable issue with mixing some of the 1/76 into generic buildings manufactured by companies that state whether the scale is 1/72 or 1/76?

You have all been so wonderful answering my questions over the past couple of weeks as I try to dip into this awesome scale.

Thank you.

1/72 vs 1/76

In my opinion stick to one scale for a particular vehicle and you should be fine. For example all Sherman's in 1/76 and all Pzkw IV in 1/72.

I don't think terrain is nearly as critical scale wise.

As to AB all 1/76, if they say so I would believe them.

On the other hand some vehicles just seem to be slightly off scale. If you look around TMP you will see comparisons of the same vehicle, in the same scale, that are differently sized. Sometimes by the same company.

I just mix everything…

Here are some Elhiem with AB at the very right,

You may also want to visit here…

Www.guildwargamers.com

1/72nd every time, but check out plasticsoldierreview site to review the MANY different sizes of figure in this "constant" scale.

BTW the best plastic figures are from Valiant IMHO BUT the scale may be an issue for you.

I bought some Raventhorpe to go with my Italeri plastics. Though Raventhorpe is close to the same height, the figures look bulky compared to 1/72 plastic figures and therefore look out of scale. I would have been better off getting 20mm in plastic.

Like Piers said, just mix…and I'll add, be happy.

John

Figures mix well enough – AB aren't unusually small or anything. SHQ are slender and can look a bit diddy next to chunkier brands but its no different to the differences between 28mm brands.

Vehicles you might want to stick to one scale for particular types as suggested above.

Terrain makes no odds as the scale difference is so slight.

I happily mix both scales, no-one's ever noticed.

AB miniatures will be large compared to 1/72 and 1/76 scale vehicles.

Most metal "20mm" miniatures are going to be chunky and large compared to plastic kits and plastic figures.

My advice is not to worry too much about sizes. This is table top gaming, not scale modeling.

I would like to thank all of you for replying so quickly. You have helped me a great deal.

I am going to proceed and process my orders. I hope to be able to show some painted figures on this sight soon.

There are simply some great looking miniatures and vehicles in this scale and I cannot wait to get involved.

ccmatty

Tango 2 3

So, what if I found a Zvedza 88 gun in 1/72 but want to buy the AB 88 gun crew set. If AB is truly 1/76 (not sure, but that is what the Milicast site says), will they work with a model kit that is 1/72? The figures will be on the base with the gun…there is also a seated seated figure …

Thoughts? If it won't work, any idea where I can find a 1/76 88?

Thanks for your help.

AB is indeed 1/76. They will look fine with anything that is 1/72. I do not agree at all with Otto above-- AB is not and never will be too large with either 1/76 or 1/72 vehicles. They look equally good with either.

Thank you Nazrat.

To me AB are a bench mark, and you can get away with using them with 1/72 or 1/76.
You will find that some AFVs or vehicles that claim to be 1/72 or 1/76 are not always what they claim to be in terms of scale when examined against extant plans of the real thing.
Take the advice of the blokes given above, check out the Guild, ask questions, check out Plastic Soldier Review, and check out here: link
What you decide in the end will depend on where you sit in terms of being really keen on scale modelling accuracy, or quite content to field something that looks just fine for a wargame – there's lots of ground in between. Do what you enjoy, it's meant to be fun after all :-)

Airfix 88mm is 1/76th as is Fujimi's offering – a bit harder to find though…….

Just some reference for AB next to 1/72 models…

PiersBrand,

Amazing work. Would you mind sharing the manufacturer of the Churchill and the other vehicles?

Thanks.

Here is the Churchill with an AB commander…

The Churchill, and the 251/9, are from The Plastic Soldier Company… great kits from them, especially the latest releases like the Churchill, but I would say that as I paint their display models and help them out with renders now and then! But easy to build, great details and look the job on the table.

The Sdkfz10 with 20mm flak is by Ceaser Models, they also do some superb fast builds, their SWS is sublime. Also look out for Pegasus Models they do a ton of excellent Soviet tanks in 1/72 and a brill Opel Blitz, and all fast to build. Oh and do check out S-Models too… and First to Fight for early war stuff.

The 88mm 'Bunkerflak' is a resin kit from Wespe Models. Not one for the faint hearted, it gave me several moments of despair, but Wespe do some unique pieces.

Gazillions of pics on our forum for 20mm WW2 gamers;

Www.guildwargamers.com

I would disagree that the Caesar Sdkfz 10 with 20mm flak is a fast build kit solely for the reason that the 20mm gun is extremely fiddly to put together. It was nice for them to give option of single piece wheels/track vs link-n-length track pieces.
Phong

I would suggest that although AB figures are the best in the 1/76 to 1/72 scale they are chunkier than many and much more compatible with 1/72 vehicles. They tend to look too large in many 1/76 scale models e.g Milicast but that may be because their models can be underscale. You would certainly need to dramatically cut down many AB figures in width/height to fit in 1/76 tank cupolas. Milicast/Dan taylors own figures are much nearer the mark for 1/76. Having said all this do experiment, and even AB have some odd figures that are undersized compared to others… but we are all different heights and breadths !! Meanwhile I would suggest modelzone are 1/72.Big problem is what is 1/76,1/72,and 20mm scale? and all manufacturers tend to make correct scale, overscale and underscale in the same ranges so ******.

I have copious quantities of figures and models, predominantly 1/76th scale for the vehicles, but as per a few items on the Missing Lynx Braille scalle page of late, very few kits are truly either scale, rather a mish mash, I think the generic term 20mm is the best and covers (and hides) a multitude of sins. As others have said try to keep the same vehicles from the same manufacturer and you can't go wrong. I happily mix figure makers, after all we are not all the same size, the only brand I tend not to use thses days are the newer SHQ sculpts but that is more a quality control issue than anything, I happily mix FAA, Battlefield/Blitz, Kelly's Heroes, Britannia and AB in the same unit together, if anything to get units that have every figure a different pose

Tim,

The 251/9 is the standard PSC kit with the upgrade sprue for the variant types like the 75mm Stummel, but also with the flamethrower, bridges etc. It still has the 'groove' on the bonnet but the way I tend to paint obscures it and makes it less noticeable on this particular one. I have filled one, with liquid green stuff in the same manner that I filled in the folding sides on the PSC M3 Half-track for my US boyos.

The buildings are card ones from a seller on Ebay.

Cheers,

P

Thank you everyone. I went ahead and placed my order for both Brit and German AB figures. That way I can game with my sons.

I can't thank you all enough for your input.

AB Figures are beauties, enjoy them! I have a pretty good mix of 1/76 and 1/72 myself and generally the only ones that really stand out are Valiant, which are far too tall to mix with anything but other Valiant IMO.