FIRE / POLICE / EMERGENCY 2.125"
STARLUX FRENCH FIGURES 2.4375"
What exactly is scale? SCALE is the size relationship of a model to the real world. Usually, it is expressed in fractions. Thus, a scale of 1/24 has dimensions that are one twenty-fourth the height, length, width and depth of its real-world counterpart. This means that one-foot (or inch or millimetre) of real measure equals twenty-four of the miniature. In America this is generally measured by the foot and in Europe and many other countries in millemeters.
HOWEVER, trying to sort scale out nearly gave me a very big headache as sometimes ther is an exact conversion and at other times it is just "close". Scaling, "sizes" can be listed as 1/32 with a "slash" or 1:32, or by letter such as "G" Scale or by metric sizes such as 54mm. They can also be prefixed by a manufacturers name such as Bachmann "G". Scales seem to be calculated in two ways, a) in Railway gauge terms using the standard track width of 4' 8" and b) in human terms using a standard adult size of 6 feet.
RAILWAY CONVERSION - Vehicles and buildings are generally based on the standard 4' 8" railway gauge, for 1/32 scale, 56" is divided by 32 and gives a scale size of 1.75" or 45mm = 1 foot (305mm / 30.5cm) in real life. For FG's 1/34 you get 1.65" (42mm). For all other scales take 56” and divide it by the scale number.
HUMAN FIGURES - for 1/34 FG items, figures 2.125" or 54mm is the correct size. This calculation is based on a 6-foot adult, with 72" divided by 34 giving a rounded figure of 2.125". If you scale up 4' 8" (1.45 metres) to 6 foot (1.83 metres) the figure of 2.125" works out exactly the same. 1/32 is just 1/8th of an inch smaller, so not really noticable on a shelf or in a Diorama. So, for all scales just take 72” and divide it by the scale number and you end up with the exact height for the scale.
| 1/?? SCALE | EXACT INCHES | NEAREST DECIMAL | FRACTION | MM | SCALE TYPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 220 | .327 | .3125 | 5/16" | 8 | "Z" Scale | |
| 160 | .45 | .4375 | 7/16" | 11 | "N" Scale | |
| 87 | .828 | .8125 | 13/16" | 21 | "HO" Scale | |
| 76 | .947 | .9375 | 15/16" | 24 | "OO" Scale | |
| 64 | 1.125 | 1.125 | 1 1/8" | 29 | "S" Scale | |
| 50 | 1.440 | 1.4375 | 1 7/16" | 37 | A European Diecast Scale | |
| 48 | 1.500 | 1.500 | 1 1/2" | 38 | Also used as "O" / "O27" / "ON30" | |
| 43 | 1.674 | 1.625 | 1 5/8" | 43 | "O" Scale | |
| 35 | 2.057 | 2.000 | 2" | 52 | Military Model Scale | |
| 34 | 2.118 | 2.125 | 2 1/8" | 54 | First Gear's Main Scale | |
| 32 | 2.250 | 2.250 | 2 1/4" | 57 | Gauge 1 / British "1" Fine / I / Int. Toy Soldiers | |
| 30 | 2.400 | 2.375 | 2 3/8" | 61 | First Gear's Power Wagons | |
| 29 | 2.483 | 2.500 | 2 1/2" | 63 | 2.5" / 60 mm Soldiers | |
| 25 | 2.880 | 2.875 | 2 7/8" | 73 | "G" Scale - Secondary and First Gear's Large scale | |
| 24 | 3.000 | 3.000 | 3" | 76 | "G" Scale - Secondary | |
| 22.5 | 3.200 | 3.1875 | 3 3/16" | 81 | "G" / "LGB" Scale - Original | |
| 20.3 | 3.547 | 3.500 | 3 1/2" | 90 | "F" Scale |
"G" Scale (1/2"scale) was originally 1:22.5 but "G" is also applied to 1/25 and by Wikipedia as 1/24. Some Pola "G" and some Woodland scenics are "G" about 1/22.5 and also apparently Preiser "G" and Bachmann "G". Preiser figures and are produced in a number of scales including 1/25 and 1/29. In conversion terms 1:22.5 = 3.2" - 1:25 = 2.88"
Nought / O, or Zero scale is also quite common. In British scale this is 1/43 but the same "O" in American scale is apparently 1/48. A straight calculation makes this = 1.17" or 30 mm but other sources have listed this as 1.25" or 31.8mm, thus showing some contradiction. This anomaly is conveniently overlooked as 1.25" works out at about 1:43.5 in UK terms.
Confused or what? For my figures I will stick to the recognised method of 72" divided by whatever scale. So its 2.125" (54mm) for my 1/34 models, 2.875 (73mm) for my 1/25. Figures about 2.5” seems to be a compromise between the two scales. For my 1/43 non-FG items it will be figures about 1.675" or 42/43mm. 1.5” will also do for these. Other Scales used by FG are 1/30; 1/50; 1/64 and 1/87.
See Wikipedia's scale Chart and for a longer explanation of each scale looks at Wikipedia's scale listings.
For general information on model painting techiques etc. try:-
HOT WORLD CUSTOMS.
BRIFAYLE.CA
BRITISH MODEL SOLDIER SOCIETY
WIKIPEDIA'S FIGURE PAINTING PAGE
For detailed parts and accessories for various scales try:-
DON MILLS MODELS (USA)
TOWER HOBBIES (USA)
MODELS FORSALE.COM (UK)
The following figure items were some I found on EBAY under firemen, firemen figures, firefighters and firefighter
figures etc. etc. etc. but try different search criteria as not all items are listed under one search name.
Construction workers and other figures can also be found on EBAY. The unpainted figures are useful for
cutting up for parts like helmets and axes etc. or for painting.
FIRE / POLICE / EMERGENCY 2.125" | STARLUX FRENCH FIGURES 2.4375" |
|---|
 Hong Kong Water Cannon 1.5" |  CONSTRUCTION/FIRE/POLICE - SELF COLOUR |
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OTHER SUITABLE VEHICLES
Although my main interest is FG, I also look out for suitable complimentary vehicles.
The following are based on an MT-55 Freightliner. It would appear that at present there are around 10 of these
in various liveries, some have been produced in limited numbers and have long since been sold out but they have
appeared on EBAY. They are 1/32 scale, which is very close to FG's 1/34. Also on sale you may see an all white
model with no decals so that you can personalise your own vehicle. The roof lifts off all of these vehicle
to display a detailed interior.
BELL JETRANGER FIRE 1:34 SCALE
The only Fire one they currently do in this scale
BELL JETRANGER POLICE 1:34 SCALE
The only Police one they currently do in this scale
CHICAGO FIRE SCUBA TEAM
2,000 of these were produced by Code 3 in 2005
ATF TREASURY SWAT MOBILE
These are produced in small "one-off" style quantities.
CAPITOL POLICE K-9 COMMAND CENTER
These are produced on an open issue basis.
BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
1,000 of these were produced by code 3 in 2005
APPROX 1/25th SCALE - FROM PSF HOBBIES
 CHAINSAW |  POLICE GUNS |  POLICE LINE TAPE |  JOHN DEERE PUMPS |
|---|
BOTH "G" 1/25th AND "O" 1/43rd - FROM RAIL PRESS
 PALLETS |  CRATES |  STRAW BALES |  POTATO SACKS |
|---|
 BARRELS |  OIL BARRELS |  MILK CANS/CHURNS |  BURNING BARREL |
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SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS SPOTTED ON EBAY
 GENERATOR |  WORKMEN ( 1/32 scale many available) |  CONSTRUCTION TOOLS |  EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT |
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PRINTED BACKGROUNDS AND BUILDINGS
Take a look at EVAN DESIGNS
Aimed initially at train Dioramas, the software can be used for any type of Diorama. There are different CD's
for buildings, brick & Stone walls plus beginners help in making buildings out of chipboard, which in the UK
we would call cardboard, as chipboard in UK terms is a wooden board. The items can be reproduced in various
scales including "G", 1:32 and 1:35 amongst a number of others.
 BUILDINGS SOFTWARE |  WALL SOFTWARE |
|---|
 US SIGNS SOFTWARE |  US ADVERTISING SOFTWARE |
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BACKGROUNDS IN ACRYLIC DISPLAY BOXES
For shelf decorations
the walls or buildings can be placed as flat backdrops behind your models. Alternatively, they can also be used as
backdrops in Acrylic cases, depending on how you show your models. To see see how this diorama was made, look at
Fire Diorama. You can also use photos as
backgrounds, see Photo Display.
Both of these diorama ideas came from FIRE ENGINES.NET , which is dedicated to collectors of fire vehicles of all scales.
LOOKING TO ADD WATER TO A DIORAMA
WATER EFFECTS
This is an aircraft on a beach scene but has a tutorial on how water can be created in a Diorama. The principles
apply to the creation of any water scene. On the website you can also see the beach are and how the diorama was built up.