"1:48 vs. 1:56 U.S. M4 and M10" Topic

I took some pictures of my M4 Shermans and M10 Tank Destroyers. The 1:48 scale models are from the Tamiya line while the 1:56 ones are from Warlord Games (M4 plastic, M10 resin-metal hybrid). To help with scale I added a Bolt Action US rifle man as well as a Dust Tactics Ranger (which is considered 1:48 scale and fairly anatomically proportioned).

For me, I think the 1:56 stuff while a bit too small compared to the Bolt Action infantry. I think the over-sized heads (which are the nearly the same size of the Dust Tactics heads) give the illusion of the 1:56 scale vehicles as being smaller than they really are. Although, even taking that out they do seem a bit smaller than they should be. I think the 1:48 stuff is too large, but fits well with the Dust Tactics scale (which is why have the Tamiya vehicles in the first place). However, I could see why a player might want to use that scale as they are large enough to look like the troops could fit through the hatches and are far more impressive looking (read: easier to shoot in Bolt Action).

Nice work on the armor. Those Tamiya kits really are awesome.

knowing that a M4 sherman is 13 ft tall 1/56 is more then a bit small. :)

have you ever seen a 1/56 driver next to a 28mm trooper?

both from the same maker.

@Ron W DuBray

I am far from an expert on the M4, but I am pretty sure the M4 Sherman is 9 feet tall, not 13 feet tall.

the 1/48th models look far too big with 28mm figs, imho.

Both figures look good next to their respectively 'scaled' vehicles – ie 1/56th and 1/48th.

The only problem is the big 'eads on the 28mm 'sized' (not 'scaled') figures.

IMHO

John T

the 1/48th models look far too big with 28mm figs, imho.

I gotta say the the 1/56 look far too small with 28mm figs, imho. I guess that's why I use 1/50. They look just right to me. If had had to choose between 1/48 & 1/56, I'd go 1/48.
Peter

the 1/56 scale was invented so people would buy from distributors rather than cheaper model kits.

Both are fine-just stay consistent with the afv type-keep your Shermans one scale or the other (do not mix em) or at least not next to each other in a battle.

For example i have 1/56 Stugs fare up against my hobbyboss 1/48 t-34/76s and it looks great.At the end of the day miniatures are abstract icons or representations.Close enough is good enough.

To be honest The biggest annoyance is heroic scale.

Sherman is/was 9ft tall.

They probably just seemed 13 feet tall to the German gunners…

"They probably just seemed 13 feet tall to the German gunners…"

Probably the same to the tankers inside them too…

One of the problems is that the 28mm figures are often not tall enough.

At 1/56 scale a 6' man should be 32mm a 5'5" man 30mm head to toe.

My most straight standing Warlord British infantry figure is 28mm to the head (without helmet) so 2 to 4mm short.

So as much as 8" shorter than he should be.

I agree with John -- both are good with their vehicles.

Assuming several things to be correct, you can determine if your chosen tank, etc., actually is 1/56, leaving aside if the same company's figures are considered correctly scaled. Assuming first that you have an accurate source for a vehicle's dimensions, and taking those in millimeters (if you have feet and inches then convert those), and divide by 56, you can get the scale dimensions of the model. Surprisingly, WG comes pretty close on some of their vehicles, albeit some are "wrong." E.G., their Pz. II actually works out to 1/48, while Blitzkrieg Mini's Pz. II is 1/56.