by Fleafa » Thu Mar 06, 2014 11:44 pm
The argument with GW's 'scale' is that it isn't one; not really. This has been the same, at least until recently, for most scales where the height of a man is used for the name. More confusion comes from whether the height is measured to the eyes or the top of the head.
In all these cases, true proportions have made way for the 'heroic XXmm' approach; enlargement of the features which our brains use to recognise a shape as human, i.e. head, feet and hands. Within that, even the head is exaggerated with larger nose, eyes and mouth.
As we all know, true scales are always defined as their ratio to real life. Often, they don't look that cool and parts are often scarily thin, especially for wargames. GW infantry are probably somewhere around 1:48 and the vehicles, like those of Warlord's Bolt Action, somewhere around 1:56.