1:285 scale

1:285 scale or 6 mm figure size is a US Army scale introduced in the late 1960s, and used for wargames and some scale model dioramas. It is used in miniature wargaming to depict large battles in a relatively small gaming area.[1] 1:300 scale (5 mm scale) is an almost identical NATO standard scale.

Both figure scales are based on the 1mm = 1ft calculation that reduces the average 1.72m height of a Caucasian male to 5.7mm tall figure. "6mm" is therefore used as a rounded-up reference to the scale.

In 1:285 scale, a typical 20 mm base can mount approximately 3-5 infantry figures; or three strips of four figures in rank-and-file formation.[2]

1:285/1:300 is a popular scale for micro armour games, or modern games emphasizing tanks and other vehicles. Games that use these scales include Battletech, Ogre miniatures[3] and Epic.[4] Other genres, such as medieval fantasy, have been catered to by specialist figure manufacturers such as Irregular Miniatures.[5]

References

  1. ^ Picking a Figure Scale at fanaticus.org
  2. ^ "Size does matter!" article at wargames.co.uk
  3. ^ "Steve Jackson Games Miniatures". http://www.sjgames.com/minis/. 
  4. ^ "Epic History". http://www.stephane.info/show.php?code=ne_history. 
  5. ^ Blease, Steve (February 1991). "Beyond the Citadel: Irregular Miniatures". Games Master International (Newsfield) (7): p. 35.