The complete guide to miniature size and miniature scale
Zombie figures of different miniature scales and miniature proportions
Updated: 2026.06.25
This article is a definitive guide to miniature scale (model scale) and miniature proportions. I'm going to explain concepts like relative scale, absolute scale, realistic proportions, heroic scale, and 28mm miniatures.
Many beginners and even some veteran miniature collectors are confused when it comes to the topic of miniature scales. Knowing the modeling scale and proportions of a miniature figure before buying it is important, if you have an established collection you'd like to expand. Determining miniature size and model scale is often hard, as even the producing companies use confusing scale references. The miniature proportions also mix up the differences between miniatures of the same modeling scale.
While browsing through websites of companies that produce miniatures, I often run into articles that are either trying to explain miniature scales the wrong way, or complain that their customers demand to know what scale and size their products are, and don't understand why they would like to know a properly determined scale.
In the Comparison image gallery, I've gathered comparison photos of miniature models from various ranges and companies, so you can check their size and proportions, compared to other models. You can find more comparison photos in the Miniature Database articles about the respective models you're interested in.
Contents:
How are miniature scales calculated?
How do you determine miniature scale?
What are the scale sizes for models?
Some of the most popular model train gauges
Matching the scales of miniature figures and miniature scenery
Vehicle sizes and miniatures with bases
Miniature size & modeling scales - Resources
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Read more: The complete guide to miniature sizes and miniature scales
Removing paint from miniatures - Miniature hobby guide
Article updated: 2020.11.23
Stripping paint off miniatures is useful when you want to remove a previous paintjob from your miniature. Sometimes you wish to change the paint scheme of the miniature or just get rid of the previous layers of paint. There are several ways to strip paint from your miniatures. I've collected my thought on removing paint from miniatures.
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How to use miniature varnish - Miniature hobby guide
Article updated: 2021.02.11
I've gathered information about modeling varnish, and varnishing miniatures. If you'd like to know how to varnish miniatures, or what is the best varnish for miniatures, this is the varnishing guide you need.
Contents
Applying varnish on miniatures
Possible problems during varnishing
Frosting: How to prevent or fix frosting when you varnish miniatures
Stickiness: How to fix miniatures if the varnish remains sticky
Removing varnish from your miniatures
What is the best varnish for miniatures?
Questions - Varnishing miniatures
Resources - Miniature varnishing
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Read more: How to use miniature varnish - Miniature hobby guide
Company: Warploque Miniatures
Game: ArcWorlde
Scale: 1:56 (28mm / 32mm) scale is the claimed scale, but it's more likely to be 1:53, some say 35mm scale
Proportion: Heroic scale, especially the heads, but the bodies look Realistic to me
Paintjob: Unpainted
Sculptors: Alex Huntley
I've collected the ArcWorlde miniatures resources and tutorials I've found interesting.
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Read more: Warploque Miniatures - ArcWorlde miniatures - Products - Resources
Wargames - Warploque Miniatures - ArcWorlde - Products - Resources
Company: Warploque Miniatures
Game: ArcWorlde
Current edition: Ed1 (2010? 2013?)
Setting: ArcWorlde
Designer: Alex Huntley
I've collected the ArcWorlde wargame resources and tutorials I've found interesting.
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Read more: Warploque Miniatures - ArcWorlde wargame - Products - Resources
I've collected the sources and tutorials about products I've found interesting.
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 image © Mantic Gamessculpt © Mantic Games paint © Mantic Games |
Miniature sprue: Undead Skeleton Command sprue, Species: Human skeleton, Range: Kings of War (Fantasy), Company: Mantic Games company Base set price (Undead Skeleton Command sprue): 10 GBP, Price/model: 1 GBP (if you need the other mini) |
| Read our full review of the Skeleton Warrior Command sprue from Mantic Games |
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Read more: Undead Skeleton Command sprue for Kings of War from Mantic Games - Miniature sprue review
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Read more: Undead Skeleton Troop sprue for Kings of War from Mantic Games - Miniature sprue review
-1.jpg) image © Anvil Industrysculpt © Anvil Industry |
Miniature accessory: Fur capes/cloaks, Set: Exo-Lord Fur Cloaks (5), Product Code: A-FC, Range: Exo-Lords (Futuristic), Company: Anvil Industry company, Production: -2015-2016- Base set price: 4.5 GBP, Price/model: 0,9 GBP |
| Buy the Exo-Lord Fur Cloaks miniature cloak accessory from Anvil Industry from Amazon |
| Amazon US - Amazon UK - Amazon CA - Amazon DE - Amazon FR - Amazon IT - Amazon ES |
| Buy the Exo-Lord Fur Cloaks miniature cloak accessory from Anvil Industry on eBay |
eBay US  - eBay UK  - eBay CA  - eBay DE  - eBay FR  - eBay IT  - eBay ES  - eBay AU  - eBay IE  - eBay AT  - eBay CH 
- eBay BE  - eBay NL  |
Buy miniatures from Element Games (UK)  ref. code:KAD935Buy miniatures from Firestorm Games (UK)  Buy miniatures from Wayland Games (UK)  Buy miniatures from Forbidden Planet (UK)  Buy miniatures from Hobbies (UK)  Buy miniatures from Magic Madhouse (UK)  Buy miniatures from We Print Miniatures (UK)  Buy miniatures from Goblin Gaming (UK)  Buy miniatures from Mighty Lancer Games (UK)  Buy Anvil Industry products from Noble Knight Games (USA)  -10-15%Buy miniatures from Galactic Toys (USA)  Buy board games from Book Depository  Buy miniatures from Aliexpress (China)  |
| Read our full review of the Exo-Lord Fur Cloaks miniature cloak accessory from Anvil Industry (we do not have this product for review) |
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Read more: Fur cloaks - Exo-Lord Fur Cloaks from Anvil Industry - Miniature accessory review
- Humanoid skeleton in light armour in 1/56 scale - Skeleton #1 for the Eternals team of Fantasy Football from RN Estudio - Miniature figure review
- Gun on tripod in 1/56 scale - USCM Sentry Gun for Alien vs Predator from Prodos Games, 2015 - Miniature equipment review
- Medieval building in 1/56 scale - Large Dawnbringer Bastion for Warhammer: Age of Sigmar from Games Workshop, 2021 - Miniature scenery review
- Centurion Crests set from Puppets War - Miniature accessory set review
Subcategories
Miniature hobby
Articles about miniatures and miniature games.
Miniature related services
Modelling and miniatures related commission services
Miniature painting commission services: If you don't like to paint, don't have the time or don't have the patience, there are others who can paint the miniatures of your collection.
Miniature assembly commission services: If you find it difficult to put models together, they can assemble and glue your miniatures for you.
Miniature sculpting commission services: When you really need a specific miniature, but you can't find it on the market, you can commission a sculptor to create it for you.
Miniature casting services: Do you have an own sculpt you'd like to have some copies of? You can cast as many as you want if you pay for casting services.
Miniature terrain making commission services: If you like realistic scenery but don't have time or patience to do it yourself, there are terrain makers to help you out.
Other miniature related commission services: There are some miniatures related services (conversions, basing, paint removal), I couldn't list anywhere else yet, so I list them here.
Second hand miniature trading services: They are for those who have miniatures or scenery that they don't need anymore or for those would you like to collect miniatures on a budget.
Miniature bits trading services: They offer small parts and bits for miniature modellers.
