Toy Cars

[Mike]

IF…  someone was looking at a few Post Apoc figures and wanted toy cars to suit, what models would be best, 15mm or 28mm figures?

 

 

[irishserb]

Not exactly sure of what you are looking for, but I can offer the following:

For 15mm, a lot of people use 1/87 or HO scale model railroad vehicles.  The cars are over-sized, but a lot of people think that they look fine together.  I’ve also found some 1/100th models available from architectural model supply companies, though quality and scale can range wildly for these, and they can be pricey.

For 28mm, I’ve seen people that use “Matchbox scale” die-casts which tend to be in the 1/56-1/68 range for cars and smaller scales for trucks, 1/74-1/98.  Others like me, use die-cast toys as large as 1/43 scale.  1/56 is often accepted as being 28mm, so again, this means that 1/64-ish is a little undersized, and that 1/43 is over-sized.

In my case,  I calculated that 28mm is closer to 1/54, and a lot of my 28mm figs are more like 30-32mm, so my 1/43 die-cast  cars look “about” right.  For commercial trucks, I tend to look for models that are 1/48 tp 1/50 in scale, as a semi-tractor trailer can be two range increments long is some game systems.  Additionally, a lot of 1/43 scale die-cast toys are not accurately modeled, and are out of scale, so the scale/size argument can get kind of wonky.

There are some resin cast gaming products out there, but I started out with 1/43 die-casts (and a couple of plastic kits), so haven’t really explored that much.  Most of the resin that I’ve seen tend to have a retro-future look and are pretty cool.

Walthers is an easy online source for HO scale model railraod in the US, while I get 1/43 die-casts from discount stores, second hand stores, E-bay, and online from places like Diecast Direct, if I need something specific.

[Mike]

Seems like more options with 28mm.

[Prince Rhys]

There are plenty of technicals and “sci-fi” cars/vehicles available in 15mm.

[Prince Rhys]

💰 Look what I found on Wish for a great price!

https://dl.wish.com/KmNu3

[Rhoderic]

My own search for die-cast cars in all scales relevant to miniatures gaming has paid off far better in 28mm than 15mm.

I’m pickier than many other hobbyists when it comes to these things, so I only want to use cars in the 1/52 – 1/60 range for 28mm (and I wouldn’t mix 1/52 with 1/60 on the same table), with 1/56 being ideal. 1/64 is miniscule, 1/48 is a tad too big for me personally, and 1/43 is wildly outsized. Even so, with a bit of searching in toy stores I was able to find enough cars in the right scale (mostly 1/56) to suit my purposes. The primary paydirt for me has been a line of 1/56 tie-in cars for the Fast & Furious films. Just keep in mind there are many different lines of Fast & Furious die-cast cars in different scales, so don’t get the wrong ones. I’ve also found some jeeps and more mundane cars from Majorette, which is a well-established competitor with the Hot Wheels and Matchbox brands in the European toy market. Most Majorette cars are 1/64 but there are a few bigger ones in the mix. My only problem in regard to finding modern-day vehicles to populate my 28mm tables is buses, lorries and things of that sort.

Here’s a previous TWW post I’ve written on the subject: LINK

I’ve not had much luck finding 1/100 cars, or 1/87 ones. I’ve seen some available from Chinese online vendors, but for some reason they were priced much higher than most other die-cast cars in larger scales. The product descriptions/pictures were also dodgy, leaving me uncertain that I really would have received what was advertised. Furthermore there wasn’t much variety. Aside from those, the usual Hot Wheels / Matchbox / Majorette lines have some vans, pick-up trucks, campers and similar vehicles that might be in the general ballpark of 1/87 – 1/100. It’s hard to tell when you’re just looking at them on a store shelf. Scales vary wildly for anything above a minivan.

If you do start buying die-cast cars for miniatures gaming, expect it to be a bit “lossy” in that not every item you purchase turns out to meet your requirements. That’s just par for the course.

[irishserb]

One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of these toys are not scale models; stated scales are often approximations, marketing BS, and otherwise, a determination of the clueless.  Most of the die-cast scale toys that I’ve scaled (I’ve probably scaled  more than a thousand of them, as we  sometime use these as trial exhibits in accident reconstructions),  tend to scale to three different scales in length, width, and height.  Actually, so do many of the “scale models”, whether die-cast or plastic.

There are die-cast (and other) models that are true to scale, but they tend to be pricey.  For example, a couple of construction type die-cast dump trucks that I bought earlier this year (for work) in 1/32 scale retail at about $800 each, which might seem crazy, but they were amazingly accurate, and to scratch build them would have take more than 80 hours each, plus required extensive dimensional detail.

In my experience, a lot of 1/43 scale toys tend to be undersized in length, and too wide relative to their length.  For example, I have a “1/43” scale Isuzu Rodeo sport ute (circa 1989)  that scales to about 1/51 scale in length, and door thickness and interior tub width is such that two typical “28mm”‘figs could not be placed side by side in the front seats, despite the width scale being around 1/45.  Heights tend to be funky due to the types of wheels and tires used with the toys not being close to real tire representations.

My search for true to scale models is much like Rhoderic’s, the range of of available options are much more limited, though they are out there.  I tend to be goofy about scale most of the time, but gave up with respect my post-apoc stuff.  I just came to accept that my 28mm figs are often larger than stated, and my 1/43 scale vehicles are often smaller than stated.

Regarding trucks, there are a small number of semis and the occasional straight truck in 1/53 to 1/55 scale, though price tends not to be very favorable from a gamer standpoint.  Sometimes you can find trucks in these “mid-50s” scales as part of construction equipment lines for Caterpillar, John Deere, etc.

[Northern Monkey]

Just to be contrary, I would suggest 20mm, I have a bunch of matchbox/hotwheels etc cars and the Northstar and Elheim miniatures scale perfectly:

https://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=282&page=1

https://www.elhiem.co.uk/ourshop/cat_1494252-POST-APOCGazlands.html

 

 

My attempt at a Blog: http://ablogofwar.blogspot.co.uk/

[OldBen1]

I guess I’m not as picky.  I like 15mm miniatures with matchbox cars.  I have tons from 1920s  to futuristic and I think they go well together.  I usually try to spray them with a Matt varnish to cut down on the sheen.  North star is selling some cool post apocalyptic accessories.  I have also noticed that there are quite a few new matchbox cars that are coming out that have a post apocalyptic flare, lots of exhausts and guns.  A lot of them are at the local supermarket!  A quick and dirty paint jobs and you’re done.

[Sane Max]

yup, agree with Old Ben, I use several Matchbox Cars dulled down and touched up for AK47 games. They fit well.

[Author]

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