"Undersized WWII 15mm miniatures" Topic

Some time back I picked up a bunch of 15mm miniatures, and among them were two unopened boxes of infantry from Wargame Factory. When I opened them they were quite a bit undersized – about a head shorter than, say FoW, and proportionately smaller as a whole. I was going to pitch them or give them away, but am now working on a project where they will work perfectly. The problem is I need some additional poses – for example, some machine gunners.

Are there any other manufacturers out there whose soldiers are smaller than standard 15mm that I might be able to mix in with these?

Hello Bob

Figure size is a problem all across gaming periods I fear.

Some meandering and clarifying background (sorry)

Peter Pig introduced the 1/100th match with 15mm figures back in 1985. 1/100th is too big for 15mm. The previously made 108th etc by other companies is a better scale match for 15mm. Most companies have now conformed to the PP size match.
The 1/100th makes a better allowance for the bulk and bases of 15mm figures (? I think).

The other consideration is that many gamers say that the average WW2 man is 6ft tall, which is obviously a bit stupid, but widely accepted.

The generally accepted wisdom in WW2 is that the figures tend not to be very next to each other. Thus, they can be on separate bases (different thicknesses) and in separate units.

I don't know about the figures you have, but most figures can be "heightened" by crushing the legs with small pliers. Then putty over the compression quickly and they are now taller.

martin

Have you looked at some 10/12mm figures , they might match with them ?

19th Century Miniatures still make the old Quality Castings line. They used to be relatively small. I don't know if they have been beefed up or if they remain an old fashioned 15mm.

@Col Piron – I have looked at my 12mm, and the difference is worse than with regular 15mm, so not an option.

As to mixing them with other 15mm, I've done that before, but the difference with these is too much. They appear almost exactly between 15mm and 12mm. That's why I'm hoping someone can point me in the direction of a line that is known to run on the small side.

As 79thPA says
"19th Century Miniatures still make the old Quality Castings line"

The ones I've seen are slimmer and a little shorter than Old Glory and Battlefront. I bought some figures from them last year great service.

here's a link
link

I found the Battlefront Finns were small .

@FusilierDan,

Thanks for- I will definitely check out the Quality Castings.

I seem to think the BAttle Honors range also ran small

Kiltboy, the QC and BH are one in the same.

QC (ex- Custom Cast/Heritage) were smaller 15's- sculpted by Stan Glazner. BH are sculpted by Anthony Barton and have been touted by many as 18mm. I believe that 19th Century ended up with the original BH (as sold by Emperor's HQ) which WERE closer to being true 15mm. IIRC, the BH from Australia are deliberately larger than his first ranges. TGhere was some shanigans from previous partners so he deliberately started sculpting in 18mm so they would NOT be compatable with the earlier versions. IIRC- YMMV

Tom, they are talking about the WWII miniatures. When QC was purchased, it was sold under the BH name as the rights are owned as such. All the infantry were re-sculpted to be closer to the Command Decision range. The moderns and French are the only figures that exist from the old CC range.

The figures I had seen must have been the older ones.

True North Miniatures run much shorter. I have a number of their Romanians and Hungarians and definitely look undersize with FOW for example so much so I have never painted them up.

Hey Bobsalt…..the original Quality Castings were true 15mm. Smaller than the current "15's". I actually have a fair number of them, nicely painted, that I would part with. Germans, Russians, and French. Let me know and I will give you my email.