"Artizan WWII 28mm, bigger than 1/48 Tamiya?" Topic

So not a new topic by any stretch!

But I'm just getting into Bolt Action and WWII scales have me mightily baffled.

I built a 1:48 scale AFV Club Tiger I diorama last year utilizing the Tamiya 1/48 scale Panzer Grenadier set. And to this day it bugs me because the 1:48 Tamiya guys have this nagging glitch where they seem to be slightly too small for the tank.

***Note: My 1:48 Tiger diorama required a slight height adjustment of the Tamiya crew and infantry. Looking at period photos of Tiger tanks with crew and infantry riding in and on them, the Tamiya guys just feel slightly "off." It's very slight. but when you look at the diorama the figures feel slightly undersized, yet technically they are the correct proportions to fit in the hatches, etc!

Something else I've noticed that is just peculiar. I swear that some of the 1:35 and 1:48 scale professionally made Tiger dioramas I've seen have crew and infantry that is simply way, way too large. It's like the human figures look too big for the Tiger or too small. I mean the actual historical dimensions of the Tiger are no secret, plenty of photos as well.

Which brings up still another question. Were there significant variations of the Tiger's dimensions between the Early, Mid, and Late productions? I've noticed in period photos that the height of the turret seems to definitely change in different photos for example.

I just got my first packs of WWII infantry for Bolt Action, some 28mm Artizan Americans and Germans. But when I hold them up next to the 1:48 Tamiya guys, the Artizan figures are actually BIGGER. What on earth?

Shouldn't it be the other way around? Isn't 28mm 1:56? Why does it seem like the Artizan guys actually match up better with the 1:48 Tiger than the Tamiya guys do???

Also, what brands of WWII vehicles would work with Artizan figures? I'm very hesitant to invest any money in tanks or other vehicles until I'm sure I've got a decent scale match.

Blitzkrieg's tanks look very nice, I see that Perry Miniatures also carries that range.

But would Artizan and Blitzkrieg match up?

Or do some WWII gamers end up using actual military models in 1:48 to go with 28mm wargaming figures?

It's a matter of individual preference and tolerance. The "official" counterpart vehicle scale to go with 28mm WWII figures is 1/56, but some gamers simply consider 1/48 a better match. YMMV.

Figures from popular manufacturers like Warlord and Artizan also tend to be "heroic" scale, meaning they have exaggerated proportions compared to true scale figures. If you compare a heroic 28mm miniature with a 1/48 figure you will find that the 28mm figure has wider girth, bigger head and bulkier weapons and equipment.

There are no hard and fast rules here I'm afraid. My suggestion is to go with your gut and what "looks right" to you.

If you want more realistic proportions with your infantry and thus a slightly smaller scale in your vehicles such as 1/56. I'd suggest looking into the Perry Brothers figures and Empress miniatures 28mm line by Paul Hicks.

Vehicle sweet spot for me is 1/50 for 28mm figs like Empress/Eureka.

I bought 1:48 Tamiya tanks for my 28mm Warlord army.
The 28mm figures are officially 1:56, but in reality they are bigger.
The whole "heroic" concept means that there horizontal dimensions are more 1:48 than 1:56.
And after the usual 2 to 5mm thick base is added their vertical dimensions are more 1:48 than 1:56 also.
The whole purpose of 1:56 vehicles, in my opinion, is to get rid of the 1:48 competition.

And no, all Tiger I tanks have the same dimensions.
The only difference is probably the height of the different cupola types.

1/48th scale minis work better with figs on substantial bases.

The Empress Minis are beautiful, as are the Offensive Miniatures (I thin that's what they're called) line.

Thanks guys, this was very helpful!