Scale
15mm vs 28mm: which scale, and how to paint each
The two most common scales for historical land wargames look and paint very differently. Here's how to choose, and what to change at the painting desk.
The scales
| 28mm | 15mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratio | Around 1:56 (Warlord's Bolt Action) | 1:100 (Battlefront's Flames of War) |
| What fits on a table | A platoon or reinforced company | A company or more |
| Painting time per figure | Longer, more detail to pick out | Shorter, but many more figures |
| Look on the table | Individual characters and vehicles | Formations and landscape |
Painting 28mm
You can paint faces, webbing, insignia and multiple highlights, and people will see them. Layering and edge highlights pay off. Spend time on faces and squad leaders.
Painting 15mm
- Brighter and lighter. Small figures look darker on the table. Mix colours a shade or two lighter than the real thing.
- Contrast over detail. A strong base coat, a wash and one highlight is usually enough.
- Paint in batches. Mount figures on sticks or strips and paint one colour across all of them.
- Simplify camouflage. Bolder, simpler patterns read better at arm's length.
Which should you pick?
Pick the scale your local group plays. If you're starting fresh, 28mm suits skirmish and platoon games where each figure matters; 15mm suits bigger battles and more armour. Ask your local club or store what's played.
Sources
- Warlord Games: A question of scale — Bolt Action 1/56 (28mm)
- Battlefront: Flames of War — Flames of War models and periods
- miniatures.de: German Wehrmacht camouflage patterns 1938-1945 — scale colour: why small models are painted lighter
Sources checked October 25, 2026. Figures are quoted as the source gives them; where sources differ we say so.