It is very confusing because you are comparing exact scale vs fantasy scale. I have been into this stuff way before I started Wargaming, etc. You see I am an old fart (LOL). I have been into GW and D&D since 1982 and I got started in my early 20's then!
GW uses the "puppet scale" principle, I know because I have made tons of puppets and props for stage use, movies and for fun. Puppet scale is a principle that if it looks good at arms length then is works towards the perspective of the human eye and how the brain translates it.
That is why GW minis look so cool with their huge guns, over sized armor, very large broad bodies, heads, hands, etc. Then you pull out a 1/35th scale WW2 kit and see that the figures are very thin and taller then your GW figures yet the rifles and pistols are so small. In fact you cannot accept them in your brain that those dinky little rifles would even cause damage!
The tanks in 1/35th scale are usually bigger in scale VS GW but they look cool if kitbashed correctly.
What scale to use? Use what you think looks best!
Remember this though if you are going to pay $45 for a WW2 tank which you will kitbash to fit into a GW world then why not pay the same for a GW tank that you could do the same? If you get something very discounted then go for it! I am into saving some money. Many are overwhelmed at the cool things that Forgeworld produces and stop dead in their tracks when you get the cost plus shipping! This is where kitbashing comes in. That is all they did at Forgeworld was kitbash then cast it and sell it to us! Tony Cottrell is a modeling genius and he used that talent to create Forgeworld for GW.
I am presently working on two 40K armies. Orks and Imperial Guards. Orks are very cool in 1/35th scale especially WW2 trucks and tanks. I bought a bunch of 1/35th scale tanks all ready assembled on EBAY for about $5 each. I have been cleaning them off and using GW sprues plus a tons of 1/35th scale assessory sprues and a lot of imagination to make my ultimate Cult of Speed army. Orks go well in 1/35th due to their large size. 1/35th scale helmets, backpacks, canteens, etc work very well with Orks or Ogyns! I love the 1/35th scale truck kits because you can actually put ten Orks into one instead of having them stand outside the truck in those lame leftovers from GORKAMORKA! I like those little trucks from the GORKAMORKA game but admit it, it looks dumb to try to pack 10 Orks into one of them!
I made a Ork fighter/bomber from a 1/48th scale WW2 fighter and it was a bit small but I over accessorized it to make it look bigger. I am attempting to totally create one from scrap like they did in a Games Day back several years ago in White Dwarf.
For Imperial Guard I prefer 1/48th scale tanks. They are the closest scale I have found to 40K tanks.
40K tanks are an enigma in their own. GW took WW1 ancient tank concepts and futurized them. Most have open tracks and very flat surfaces with oversized guns. If they were in existance today and not made of some futuristic material they would get blown to bits! Every flat surface on them would be a huge target to take out! Tanks of modern warfare are super sleek and very fast. They have no flat surfaces so shells will deflect most of the time. And they are bigger then standard 40K tanks! The size GW uses is around the size of Sherman tanks.
Remember don't make is so overwhelming that it is not fun and becomes statistics. Just use your talents and have fun, get out there and game with it!!!
By the way I have a lot of leftover tanks 1/35th and 1/48th tanks I will be letting go on EBAY soon.
GW uses the "puppet scale" principle, I know because I have made tons of puppets and props for stage use, movies and for fun. Puppet scale is a principle that if it looks good at arms length then is works towards the perspective of the human eye and how the brain translates it.
That is why GW minis look so cool with their huge guns, over sized armor, very large broad bodies, heads, hands, etc. Then you pull out a 1/35th scale WW2 kit and see that the figures are very thin and taller then your GW figures yet the rifles and pistols are so small. In fact you cannot accept them in your brain that those dinky little rifles would even cause damage!
The tanks in 1/35th scale are usually bigger in scale VS GW but they look cool if kitbashed correctly.
What scale to use? Use what you think looks best!
Remember this though if you are going to pay $45 for a WW2 tank which you will kitbash to fit into a GW world then why not pay the same for a GW tank that you could do the same? If you get something very discounted then go for it! I am into saving some money. Many are overwhelmed at the cool things that Forgeworld produces and stop dead in their tracks when you get the cost plus shipping! This is where kitbashing comes in. That is all they did at Forgeworld was kitbash then cast it and sell it to us! Tony Cottrell is a modeling genius and he used that talent to create Forgeworld for GW.
I am presently working on two 40K armies. Orks and Imperial Guards. Orks are very cool in 1/35th scale especially WW2 trucks and tanks. I bought a bunch of 1/35th scale tanks all ready assembled on EBAY for about $5 each. I have been cleaning them off and using GW sprues plus a tons of 1/35th scale assessory sprues and a lot of imagination to make my ultimate Cult of Speed army. Orks go well in 1/35th due to their large size. 1/35th scale helmets, backpacks, canteens, etc work very well with Orks or Ogyns! I love the 1/35th scale truck kits because you can actually put ten Orks into one instead of having them stand outside the truck in those lame leftovers from GORKAMORKA! I like those little trucks from the GORKAMORKA game but admit it, it looks dumb to try to pack 10 Orks into one of them!
I made a Ork fighter/bomber from a 1/48th scale WW2 fighter and it was a bit small but I over accessorized it to make it look bigger. I am attempting to totally create one from scrap like they did in a Games Day back several years ago in White Dwarf.
For Imperial Guard I prefer 1/48th scale tanks. They are the closest scale I have found to 40K tanks.
40K tanks are an enigma in their own. GW took WW1 ancient tank concepts and futurized them. Most have open tracks and very flat surfaces with oversized guns. If they were in existance today and not made of some futuristic material they would get blown to bits! Every flat surface on them would be a huge target to take out! Tanks of modern warfare are super sleek and very fast. They have no flat surfaces so shells will deflect most of the time. And they are bigger then standard 40K tanks! The size GW uses is around the size of Sherman tanks.
Remember don't make is so overwhelming that it is not fun and becomes statistics. Just use your talents and have fun, get out there and game with it!!!
By the way I have a lot of leftover tanks 1/35th and 1/48th tanks I will be letting go on EBAY soon.
