How tall are they?

[traindaddy1]

A visiting relative (whose name will not be disclosed) asked me why I have so many (?, not really) different sizes of people on my layout. True, there are different sizes but they are in different parts of the layout so as not to be noticeable. (except by what's his name)

Question: What is the average height of the people on your layout and do you mix them up?

As always, many thanks.

 

 

[smokey1]

Most of mine are in passenger cars so not that noticeble. 

[pennytrains]

The "traditional" size of figures like those put out by Plasticville and Marx is 1:43.  Life-Like, Model Power and other manufacturers pretty much followed that tradition.  MTH figures, on the other hand, are WAY smaller.  Since they were originally produced to fit the seats in their passenger cars they're fine for that job.  But standing beside a 1:48 scale model they look like S Gauge or even HO.

I tend to use a mix of 1:43, 1:48 & 1:50 scale.  However I throw scale out the window entirely at Christmas time and use 1:32 scale 54mm or 1:30 60mm figures.  Both are the classic toy soldier sizes.  They're tough to find without guns, but I've managed to collect Boy Scouts, construction workers, firemen, policemen, farm animals and even a few other civilians to populate the layout.  I buy the basic unpainted figures so I can have the fun of making one of a kind versions.

They keep the gatemen company.  

[fifedog]

I model the time frame of 1911-13, in the Spring, so a lot of my "population" have to fit that era. I have a mix of Britains, Artista, woodland Scenics, Hawthorne Village, Dept 56, etc. I keep the taller figures near the layout edge. I have struck gold with the Seasons Bay (D56) series. Highly detailed, and perfect between O and S, all decorated for the turn of the century. Haven't had any visitors comment on the people size variances. I usually tell folks I'm simply trying for pretty trains running on a pretty layout.

[traindaddy1]

Smokey, Penny, Fifedog: Thanks for your replies.