Starting 1/48 scale figures. I have questions.

[HiroshiAirborne]

Hello everyone! I have no luck finding 1/48 scale figures for current military or foreign military. So I have decided to try sculpting them! What size and type of metal wire makes a good armature? Also, is 54mm the same as 1/48?

Thanks in advance!

- Hiroshi

 

[Brent Fordham]

54mm is in the 1/32 to 1/35 scale range (closer to 1/32, I believe). Welcome to the planet and good luck with your sculpting. Others here can be of assistance in that department (not me though - I tried sculpting a 90mm blob of putty with less than convincing results).

 

[garyjd]

Hiroshi, You should be able to find brass wire or rod in a model shope or one that sells scale model trains. When it comes to figures 54mm is the size of the figure it's NOT a scale. Some measure a figure from it's feet to it's eyes, or the figure from head to toe. A 1/48 scale figures tells you the figure's scale. ~Gary

 

[HiroshiAirborne]

Thank you both very much. I've always heard people at my local hobby shop talk about 54mm stuff with 1/48 scale jets. I should have guessed that the mm was about height but I wasn't too sure.

 

[Sambaman]

Thank you both very much. I've always heard people at my local hobby shop talk about 54mm stuff with 1/48 scale jets. I should have guessed that the mm was about height but I wasn't too sure.

One thing to note, if modelers are putting 54mm figures with 1/48th scale aircraft, or vice versa, then they have much bigger problems than you my friend! A 54mm figure would be grossly overscaled for a plane or vehicle at 1/48 scale. 54mm measures out to just about 1/32 scale....usualy just a smidge larger than the 1/35 scale armor modelers are so fond of. Be sure to find yourself a good simple anatamy chart and scale your wire framework to the proper scale first. Then work on the details. Good luck! Share some progress when you get some forward momentum going!

Oh, and welcome aboard!

Jay H.
OKc

 

[bonehead]

If you want a "scale size" for 1/48 scale, then you can start with 35mm which is equal to an average height person of about 5 foot 9 or 10 inches. If you have a good anatomy chart (most anatomy books have them or you can find one online, although all are not equal and it pays to look for a good one!), you can simply use a reducing or enlarging copier to scale it to the correct size. Then do the same for a full length photos or illustration of the figure you intend to do. This can then act as a diagram for placing all of the strategic points of the figure and for measuring width of belts and size of equipment etc. When scaling a clothed figure DO NOT count the heels of the shoes! Your anatomy chart will not have heels so these must not be counted to remain consistent.

Good luck!

Mike

 

[Manfred]

Hiroshi, 1/48 is quite small but of course doable.

Apart from the suggestions of others I'd get some 3D references.

Try to get a set of Mike Good's Jaguar figures even if not your favourite era.
Will show you what can be done and serves as a inspiration.

I also suggest getting a box of ICM ww2 ground crew set as an inexpensive in scale reference. ICM currently does the best 1/48 plastic injection figures.

Don't worry if your first result does not look that good. As my first I did a half figure to fill a tank hatch and concentrated on getting a useable head and upper body. Keep at it and your second sculpt will look much better.

 

[HiroshiAirborne]

Thank you all very much for the insight and encouragement. There is a fine line between confidence and cockiness; I may have possibly skewed that line in an effort to add originality to my line-up of dioramas.

I will definitely be making a run to the hobby shop for those ICM figures. It may take several months before I post pictures as I am currently trying to get the anatomy squared away before I start working on details.

(Also, about those guys talking about 54mm figures and 1/48 scale jets. Apparently they were talking about how a 54mm figure makes for a good statue for Soviet airbase dioramas.... or so they tell me.)