My conversion

[Krimson]

After many years wargaming in 28mm I have decided that it no longer works for me:
Too much emphasis on individual figures
Units that are so small that battles look like a set from Sharpe
Escalating costs making it a very expensive hobby
Tables that can never be large enough to allow for cavalry, buildings, and lots of trees
So my first step is to start on replacing my ACW figures
What I  have always disliked about smaller figures in the past has been the tendency to make units look like ants thin lines of diminutive bodies
So I am going for a scale of around 1 figure being about 10 figures so units are of a reasonable mass so my Union ACW battalions are of 30 figures which works out at about 1 figure equlas 8 for most OoB where units in the field are down to around 200 figures, bigger units will be 42 smaller 18
When we get to Napoleonics I want French in 3 rows
I want artillery with full supporting paraphernalia and I still want a table to allow cavalry to manoeuvre
And I want buildings and trees to look the part
As things develop I shall let you know how I get on. I am currently turning out a battalion a week so almost got the first Union brigade done
Goal is to get both sides on the table before my very good friend Bryce of Greystreak fame on WD3 finishes his Russians, which he started 5 years ago!
Krimson

[Steve J]

After many years wargaming in 28mm I have decided that it no longer works for me:
Too much emphasis on individual figures
Units that are so small that battles look like a set from Sharpe
Escalating costs making it a very expensive hobby
Tables that can never be large enough to allow for cavalry, buildings, and lots of trees

First of all welcome on board Krimson.

I agree with your sentiments as expressed above. I'm in the process of explaining my conversion to 10mm on my Blog (yet to be posted), but so good to hear I'm not alone .

[Techno]

Welcome Krimson.
Cheers - Phil.

[nikharwood]

Welcome Krimson - you've picked the right path 

[Last Hussar]

Welcome Krimson.  10mm IS the battle scale.  Leave the old fogeys with 28mm  

The great thing about converting down from 28mm is that you have 2 ways you can go.  You can do a straight swap, 1 figure for 1 figure, and use cm instead of inches- if you have those kind of rules in inches.  This is the 'budget version' - my 36 man WSS bns cost (at current prices) £4.80.  That would be about £36 in 28's.  It makes the table huge.  If you play 'inch rules' on a 4 x6 table, that is 120 x 180cm if you just read all distances as cm (ie don't convert, where it says move 12", move 12 cm instead).  Thats the same as 10 ft by 15 ft if playing inches - Think that might be big enough for your cavalry!    Cavalry in Black Powder can move 54" a turn on a good command roll.  Because we need to reach the middle most tables are not this wide.

Recent game of Black Powder WSS I played on my dining table - about 9 x 3 foot, we had 20+ bns of foot , and approx 16 cavalry regiments.  EACH.  Can't imagine doing that in 28mm!

Your other option is to keep the ground scale, and, as you have noted, put more figures in the same area.  Rules often say "if playing in 6 or 10mm halve the measurements" (similar to above).  If you don't you get real H&M look.  A 28mm has a footprint of 20mm approx.  In the same area I can get 2 lines of 3.  The cost is the same (so no saving admittedly), but for the same price as a 12 man bn, you can have a 72 man bn!  My ECW rules say 4 15mm men on a base.  I get 16 pike men on the same base, for the same cost! Now that looks like a pike block!

Yes there is more painting, but they paint so muh quicker.    I hate painting, but one weekend I managed 3 bn - 108 figures -  in about 36 hours (total, that includes eating sleeping etc Sat morning to Sunday evening).  The equivalent 'footprint' would have been 18 28mm - cant see me doing that in a week end.

Word of advice - don't compare yourself to Nick's painting.  It's depressing. "I did these in the dark with a 2 inch brush - that's why there are no fingernails"

The other advantage of 10mm is you can afford to experiment - you are likely always to have a few spare figures around.  I decided to have tank commander in the hatch of a PzIII.  I just snipped a officer figure in half, where as 28s you carefully count exact numbers, so never have a spare.

You can afford to do all sorts of stuff.  You get 2 artillery pieces for £4, with limbers.  I have one unlimbered, and one limbered, and just swap - looks much better then trailing a seperate base, with it's crew all around it loading it on the move.  You can use the horses from the unused limber to make a 4 horse team. I could afford to buy 18 officer figures to use as 'First Fire' markers.  My Commander in Cheif stand is 60mm square, with a carriage, C in C on hourse back, 2 officers, mounted standard bearer, and lackey holding horses.

Also you are about to gain a load of storage room - Even if you go for using the 28mm foot print - so the area of the box is the same, the figures are a 1/3 of the height, so storage is so much easier.  I keep mine in Really Useful Boxes, with hobby tray inserts (3x5 compartments, 60mm square.  My entire WSS army (18 foot bn, 15 Hourse, 7 command stands, one CinC in his carriage, 4 cannon, limbered and unlimbered) in one 4 tray box (A4 size, 6 inches/15cm High).  And I have spaces (Yes Leon, I need more lead...)

Also 10mm is N Gauge, so terrain - trees, buildings etc are easy to find.

PLUS Pendraken are really good - There is loads of detail if you want it, but not so much that it clutters the figure.  And Leon is really helpful if you need help with an order.

[Leon]

Hi Krimson, welcome to the Forum!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Welcome to the best scale there is!

[Nosher]

Welcome to the Madhouse Krimson

I love my 10's too but equally love my 28's However my 10's are for massed battles whereas my 28's are largely for skirmish games such as Bolt Action, SAGA, Dux Bellorum/Britanniarium and A World Aflame (next up).

Does anyone remember when Miniature Wargames used to photo 15mm in the background with 20/25mm in the foreground of pictures??

[Hertsblue]

Does anyone remember when Miniature Wargames used to photo 15mm in the background with 20/25mm in the foreground of pictures??

Unfortunately, yes! 

Welcome, Krimson. If I were starting out again I would certainly go for 10mm.