"Scale and Eyes" Topic

I have just been checked out following cataracts surgery, so I can again paint 5mm figures, and my 54mm precautionary armies remain just that. But I was lucky, and life isn't over yet.

1. What is the largest size (or scale) of casting you have known a miniature wargamer to have to give up due to failing eyesight? Or, approached the other way--

2. What are the largest castings you have known a miniature wargamer to need to go to, by reason of vision?

Me? I've known only one wargamer ever to have troubles with 30mm castings. We were gearing up to produce a 54mm CLS army when he died. But I know lots of gamers who have had troubles with 15mm and 20mm. ("We had to stop the game while we all looked for the rifle battalion in the woods.")
Which is why a painting priority is keeping the 28mm armies ready to go, and there are tubs of cheap 54mm in the garage.

I'm past 50 years young. Played with some exceptionally well painted 15's this past year… Did not realize how well they were painted, until I picked one up, and looked at it 4 inches from my eye! At arm's length, they looked rather like colored blobs. I can still see my 20-30mm figures just fine.

With regards to 54mm plastic, 'toy', figures for gaming… Paint them and game with them! This scale has its own rewards. I game with plastic Army Men. Love it! Don't care that they are, "toys". To non-gamers, all miniature figures are, "toys"… But then, so is my touring motorcycle, and my pickup truck. The moniker, "toy", does not stop me from enjoying them, either. Cheers!

Even with the gift of an Ott light with magnifier from my wife I'm having a heckuva time painting 15's. I think I'm gonna have to give them up completely and stick with 25's.

I cannot paint 15mm to the level I once did. So I farm out most of my painting. My eyesight is not what it use to be but thankfully my income level is much higher than it use to be.

I'm a lot older than most of the people posting above and still regularly paint 10mm and even 6mm. Good lighting, excellent brushes and a competent optician are all you need to go on painting whatever size figures you prefer.