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1:72 scale figures

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1/72 figures: Tips & Tricks

1/72 miniatures are one of the best models for making dioramas. Here's what you need to know about this popular scale.

What you need to know about 1/72 scale miniatures

What is a 1/72 scale miniature?

A 1/72 scale miniature is a representation of a character or object that is 72 times smaller than its actual size. So if a character is 1.80 m in real size, at 1/72 scale in cm it will be 2.5 cm, i.e. 180 cm/72. In the case of a 10 m long bus, the corresponding scale for the figure would be 13 cm.

Why choose 1/72 scale for miniatures?

The choice of 1/72 scale miniatures is ideal when recreating historical scenes or battles. Most military figures and vehicles are represented in this scale. In terms of war dioramas, 1/72 figures offer a significant mass effect, and you should be aware that in this case, for example, all objects must be to the same scale to ensure consistency. Alternatively, you should know that 1/72 scale is also often used in the design of most models and is even the benchmark.

Is a small mini less good than a large one?

The main difference between a small miniature and a larger one is the level of detail. The larger the miniature, the finer the detail. Otherwise, the advantage of small figurines is that they can be used to create huge dioramas. This is the case, for example, with 1/72 or even 1/35 scale figures. The latter offer an important mass effect for war games or wargames.

Miniatures by country

Miniatures have been around for a long time, dating back to prehistoric times, just after cave art. Depending on where they came from, they could have had a variety of roles. Some had a religious function, while others were used for magical purposes. A little later, however, and still today, figurines are generally used for entertainment or decoration.

French figurines

In France, one of the oldest subjects treated by figurines is the nativity scene represented by santons, particularly santons de Provence. These are traditional figurines made from brightly coloured clay and used to decorate the Christmas cot. The main manufacturers of French figurines include:

  • Le Mans miniatures ;
  • Santons couleurs du Sud ;
  • Promodels ;
  • Papo-Papo ;
  • Luanart.

Japanese figurines

In Japan, among the first figurines made in that country were the dogū. These date from the Jōmon period, i.e. between 13,000 and 400 BC. Among the main manufacturers of Japanese figurines are:

  • Bandai;
  • MegaHouse ;
  • GoodSmile company;
  • Kotobukiya ;
  • Figma ;
  • Kayodo ;
  • Square Enix ;
  • Art Spirit.

American figurines

In America, among the first figurines produced were those of the Olmec culture (2500 to 500 BC). The Olmecs were a pre-Columbian people from Mesoamerica. American figurine manufacturers include :

  • Hasbro ;
  • Mattel ;
  • Playskool ;
  • Superplastic ;
  • Funko ;
  • Remko.

German action figures

One of the most famous German figurines is the nutcracker. As the name suggests, this is a figure that can crack hazelnuts or walnuts. Manufacturers of German figurines include :

  • Schleich ;
  • Klein Toys ;
  • Germania-Figuren.
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