01 / THE SHORT ANSWER
Scale is a compatibility label before it is a measurement.
A 28mm miniature is usually intended to look appropriate beside other 28mm miniatures. It is not guaranteed to stand exactly 28mm tall. Some companies measure from the soles to the eyes, some to the top of the head, and some use “28mm” for an entire style.
Heroic scale complicates things further. Scaling a realistically proportioned 28mm figure to 114.3% makes it taller, but does not give it a larger head, hands, weapon, or armor.
Use the advertised scale to find the neighborhood. Use an actual measurement to find the address.
02 / REFERENCE CHART
Common miniature scales.
The ratios below are practical approximations. Manufacturers and game systems can depart from them significantly.
03 / QUICK CONVERSIONS
Common STL scaling percentages.
The formula is target ÷ source × 100. These percentages assume the labels are literal measurements. When two manufacturers define scale differently, measure the actual files instead.
04 / MEASUREMENT
Eye level versus full height.
Measure to the eyes
This avoids hats, helmets, hair, and sculpted details that change total height. It is common in traditional and historical wargaming.
Measure to the top
This is easy to check in a slicer, but choose an upright figure without a tall helmet, dramatic pose, or scenic base.
Neither method fixes differences in body proportions. Compare shoulder height, head size, weapon bulk, and base height as well as total height.
05 / STL WORKFLOW
How to resize a miniature correctly.
- 01Import a representative model
Use a normal standing figure, not a crouching pose, mounted character, or banner bearer.
- 02Separate the base
A 25mm game base should usually remain 25mm even when the miniature changes scale.
- 03Measure the actual file
Record eye height or full height and use the same convention for the reference model.
- 04Calculate target ÷ source × 100
For a literal 28mm-to-32mm conversion: 32 ÷ 28 × 100 = 114.3%.
- 05Lock all three axes
Uniform scaling preserves proportions. Changing only Z creates a taller, thinner model.
- 06Print one test
Put it beside the intended army before filling the build plate.
06 / FAILURE PREVENTION
Five expensive assumptions.
Trusting the filename
“28mm” may mean compatibility, eye height, or a product category.
Scaling the base
Game bases can become rules-incompatible when scaled with the figure.
Ignoring thickness
Scaling down thins swords, ankles, fingers, and support contacts.
Keeping old supports
Pre-supports may become too weak or unnecessarily heavy.
Printing the army first
A five-gram test is cheaper than fifty soldiers that look wrong.
Printing smaller on FDM? Read the 0.2mm vs. 0.4mm nozzle guide before the details disappear.
07 / COMMON QUESTIONS
Miniature scale FAQ.
What scale is a 28mm miniature?
28mm is commonly associated with roughly 1:56 to 1:64, but it is not a dependable fixed ratio. It may describe eye height, full height, or compatibility with a product range, and heroic proportions can make the figure look larger still.
What percentage converts a 28mm miniature to 32mm?
A literal 28mm-to-32mm conversion is 114.3%. That makes the model taller in the same proportions; it does not turn realistic anatomy into 32mm heroic anatomy.
How do I calculate an STL scaling percentage?
Divide the target measurement by the current measurement, then multiply by 100. For example, 32 ÷ 28 × 100 = 114.3%. Keep X, Y, and Z linked for uniform scaling.
Should a miniature be measured to the eyes or the top of the head?
Either convention can work, but you must compare like with like. Eye height avoids helmets and hair; full height is easier to inspect in a slicer. Use a normal upright figure and record which method you chose.
Should I scale the base with the miniature?
Usually not. Game bases have fixed footprints for rules and movement. Separate the base before scaling when possible, then put the resized figure back on the correct base size.
Does scaling a model down affect FDM printability?
Yes. Weapons, fingers, ankles, gaps, and support contacts all become thinner. A smaller nozzle may preserve features that disappear with a 0.4mm nozzle, but one test print should come before the full army.
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