The miniature looks similar to the original model, but every body part is exeggarated to make the miniature wider. The head of the miniature is about 1/6 of the size of the whole miniature. The face takes up a larger part of the head, the eye-level is usually up to 2/3 instead of the 1/2 line compared to the head. The hands, feet and weapons are bigger. Heroic scale was created to make minis easier to paint.
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Realistic (red outline) and Heroic scale image © Games Workshop modified by Kadmon |
Red line is where the eye should be on a realistic figure. |
The usual proportions of a heroic scale mini are: head: 1 head, body: 2 heads, pelvis area: 1 head, legs: 2 heads.
The out of proportion nature of the miniature can cause confusion if an absolute size is used to eye-level, as the eye-level of a heroic miniature is higher than the eye-level of a realistic proportions miniature.
Players who got used to Heroic scale might see Realistic proportions ridiculously tiny, and can find it hard to paint them because of the smaller details.
For 1:56 scale heroic miniatures modellers often use 1:48 or even 1:35 weapons, as they look more in scale with them. For 1:56 scale heroic miniatures modellers often use 1:48 vehicles for the same reason.
Examples: Warhammer range & Warhammer 40,000 range (Games Workshop and every company that copies their designs), Privateer Press, Target Games
Articles
Miniatures - A question of size and scale: A longer article about scales and proportions.
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