"Mini's for display only" Topic

Hello

If you were buying miniatures for display ONLY!…which scale would you choose?

My painting skills are minimal at best, but I do want to have nice detail on the model/mini.

Larger 1/35 scale is out. Too expensive and too figidity for my tastes.

Was thinking 20mm, but not sure if plastic or metal/resin would be best.

What looks best all painted up (for display purposes)…plastic or metal/resin?

Thanks

I still argue in favour of 15mm for display purposes. Although a smaller scale, a force/army/unit looks brilliant all ranked up, not to mention just how much you get for your money, giving a pleasing number of minis very quickly.

On top of that, keep in mind that at 15mm there is still detail but not so much that you need to worry about it.

Well – since this is a WWII forum –

For minis themselves I like painting up 28mm

If you want "mini-dioramas" and include vehicles, what about 10mm?

mini dioramas sound nice, but too much work and not enough space!

Just wanting the tanks themselves and nothing else. My brother is building me a nice display case (wood worker by trade) and although it's a decent size, it's not huge.

I want something that can house 30+ mini's of my favorite ww2 tanks. Thinking 28mm might be too big?

If you JUST want display models, I wouldn't bother with wargaming kits. You mentioned an interest in 20mm. Check out the plastic kits from Revell, Trumpeter, and Dragon in 1/72 scale. I used to build in this scale, and the Revell kits are very nice and well-detailed for the scale. Trumpeter has a pretty big catalog, and the Dragon kits are allright, if a little simplified (based on my experiences some 10 years ago!). You could also look at 1/48 scale, slightly larger than 28mm. The kits from Tamiya tend to be easy to build with good detail. But also Hobby Boss makes a range of Shermans, KVs and T-34s that are pretty nice. I think Bronco also has a handful of kits as well.

The thing about wargaming kits is that they usually have compromises in terms of details and parts to make them more durable for handling. If it is going to be a display piece, however, going for the more intricate and executed detail would seem to be the way to go.

Personally for display purposes I ONLY build in 1/35 these days, mainly because the subject matter is so broad. That hobby definitely competes very heavily for my hobby dollars (I have a 1/35 D-30 howitzer and Panhard 178 AC incoming, as well as a 1/72 Fokker D.XXI I plan to do in Finnish markings, as we speak…)

Damon.

I understand there is going to be more detail in plastic kits, but I'd rather stay away from all those parts and gluing this and that, etc….

But, maybe the best thing for me to do is get a plastic kits and a metal kit of the same tank and see what I prefer.

If you are looking for pre-made-pre-painted kits you should consider Dragon's die cast armor.

link

They are beautiful little vehicles. Dragons 1/72 scale kits are great as well but they can be a genuine modelling experience.

Choosing from wargame figures, it would have to be 28mm.
You also have a good selection of vehicles as well.
Depends on just how large in size and scope you want your display.

Anyone have a preference between plastic, metal or resin?

I have limited knowledge of painting metal or resin. I've really only painted plastic kits (aircraft) and a few 1/300 metal planes.

Again, best if I buy a plastic kit and a metal and/or resin kit in each scale :)