"Terminology" Topic
8 Posts
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robert piepenbrink | 09 Dec 2016 5:30 p.m. PST |
We've discussed "scale creep," but what about "catalog creep?"As I sort through castings and bring armies up to strength,I've noticed that often years ago I bought 5mm or 25mm castings. But when I go to the same manufacturer and buy the same catalog number, the castings is now 6mm or 28mm. Good thing they're all the same height. We have a serious problem here, gentlemen. Is my former 5mm army now 6mm? Are my existing units raised to this new scale? If so, is there some sort of ceremony? And would the existing army be raised from 5mm to 6mm if I hadn't bought new castings? Seriously, I can understand the use of "6mm" "18mm" or "28mm" to denote slightly larger castings, and I got tired of arguing about where the casting should be measured to 40 years ago. But does not redesignating existing lines in the new fashionable term defeat the entire purpose of the exercise? When M1's got issued 120mm main guns, no one redesignated the old 105s as 120s. If it's too silly even for the Army, shouldn't we at least hesitate? |
Mako11 | 09 Dec 2016 5:57 p.m. PST |
Actually, IIRC, the 120mm M1s do have a different designation from the 105mm ones. Perhaps not for those upgunned later though (not sure about that). |
robert piepenbrink | 09 Dec 2016 6:54 p.m. PST |
I did not make myself clear. Yes, I'm pretty sure there was a model shift among the tanks. But not even the Army would say "120mm guns are popular now: let's take our existing 105mm guns and call them 120mm without actually changing the guns." It takes a miniature wargamer to buy off on a program like that. |
Dschebe | 10 Dec 2016 2:58 a.m. PST |
It seems to me that there is a natural tendency for many manufacturers to make miniatures in the higher size of their scales in order to obtain better sculpt. It has been discussed somewhere before on TMP. So, as time goes, 5mm tends to 6mm, 15mm to 18mm, 20mm to 25mm, 25mm to 30mm… At some point, these changes are made 'official'. Maybe this is why your miniatures have expanded in size in the catalogue. Anyway, I think the real thing is that Universe is expanding since the Big Bang, and so your appreciation of your miniatures not expanding is confronted by the real increase in measurement stated in the catalogue. Hope this nonsense is of any funny help. |
etotheipi | 10 Dec 2016 5:36 a.m. PST |
But not even the Army would say "120mm guns are popular now: let's take our existing 105mm guns and call them 120mm without actually changing the guns." That depends on which administration is in power. |
TNE2300 | 10 Dec 2016 6:07 a.m. PST |
But not even the Army would say "120mm guns are popular now: let's take our existing 105mm guns and call them 120mm without actually changing the guns." isn't that how the 'cruiser gap' was closed? link |
robert piepenbrink | 10 Dec 2016 10:57 a.m. PST |
I said the Army. Four close family members were Navy and/or Coast Guard, and I make no commitment. |
Weasel | 12 Dec 2016 11:03 a.m. PST |
I've honestly given up buying figures on scale alone. Gotta have some comparison shots. Even in the same scale, the bulk of the figures can be vastly different. |
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