Mad Scale Guide

We take care of the math, so you can focus on the game.

The Golden Rule of Miniatures

In the tabletop world, "scale" can be notoriously tricky to pin down because different creators measure things differently. To make sure you always know exactly what you are getting, we use a universal industry standard: we measure our miniature scales from the sole of the foot straight to the center of the eyes of a standard, average-sized human adult. We scale every miniature to the right size so your heroes, NPCs and foes look naturally proportioned right out of the Mad Miniatures box. Because we scale dynamically based on realistic fantasy anatomy, a human soldier will hit the millimeter mark of your chosen scale, while characters like children or dwarfs will naturally be shorter. On the flip side, creatures like orcs, monsters, and towering trolls will be appropriately massive, bulky, and imposing on the battlefield. You choose your baseline scale - we make sure the rest of the world scales around it.

Our Miniature Scales

28 mm Scale (~ 1/60 Real-World Ratio)

  • The Eye-Line Height: A standard standing human measures 28 mm from the soles of their feet to the center of their eyes.
  • Best Used For: Classic tabletop wargames, large-scale army deployments, and historical modeling where precision formation matters.

32 mm Scale (~ 1/54 Real-World Ratio)

  • The Eye-Line Height: A standard standing human measures 32 mm from the soles of their feet to the center of their eyes.
  • Best Used For: Modern skirmish games, high-detail roleplaying campaigns (like D&D), and centerpiece encounters. This is our default standard across our core fantasy and sci-fi lines.

32 mm Heroic Scale (~ 1/50 Real-World Ratio)

  • The Eye-Line Height: While technically in the 32 mm family, "Heroic" geometry amplifies the model's presence, standing roughly 35 mm to the eye line.
  • Best Used For: High-impact gameplay where details need to pop from across the room. Proportions are bulkier with thicker weapons, pronounced facial features, and distinct armor textures that make painting an absolute joy. Perfect for heroes and bosses. 

Tabletop Terrain & The Architect’s Touch

Our structural terrain and scatter scenery are meticulously scaled to 28mm and 32mm to seamlessly mirror our miniatures line. However, a common question modelers ask is why two structures in the exact same scale can occasionally vary in their visual appearance.

The answer lies in individual design concepts and world-building philosophy:

Real Worlds Aren't Mass-Produced: Just like in history or fantasy lore, architecture adapts to the culture that built it. A fortress designed by a master military engineer will feature thick, heavy walls and narrow slits, whereas a bustling city tavern will boast grand arches, high ceilings, and wider doorways - even though both are technically built for the exact same 32mm citizens.

Instead of forcing every single brick from different artists into a rigid, artificial mould, we preserve the unique artistic style of our world-class designers. This stylistic variety gives your tabletop an organic, immersive depth. When you look across your finished table, it won’t look like a single repeated 3D file - it will look like a real, living settlement.

The Epic Scale — 32mm Oversize

If you want the ultimate tactical tabletop experience, our 32mm Oversize tier is engineered for pure immersion. This is the original, signature scale of the Helwick range, designed specifically to bridge the gap between stunning aesthetic detail and actual, unhindered gameplay.

Here is how we deploy our Helwick collection:

  • Helwick Surface Buildings: To ensure complete flexibility for your existing armies, we print Helwick's stunning surface structures in three distinct sizes: 28mm, 32mm, and the flagship 32mm Oversize.

  • The Helwick Modular Underworld: The massive, interlocking dungeon module system - the subterranean heart of Helwick - is offered exclusively in 32mm Oversize.

Why Choose 32mm Oversize?

Traditional true-to-scale buildings often create a frustrating tabletop bottleneck. While a miniature might look right standing next to a standard 28mm wall, once you put that model on a chunky 25mm or 32mm plastic gaming base, it physically cannot fit through the doorways, corridors, or arches. Characters get stuck, miniatures tip over, and roofs have to be permanently removed just to move a squad.

32mm Oversize completely solves this. By expanding the architectural boundaries beyond standard "Heroic" proportions, this epic scale guarantees that your miniatures can easily maneuver through hallways, clear doorways, and occupy rooms while remaining securely on their gaming bases. It delivers a massive, sweeping presence on your table and creates a truly immersive, uncompromised adventure where the terrain functions exactly like a real tactical environment.

Custom Scaling — Looking for Another Size?

If your favorite game system runs on a different scale than our standard line-up, you don’t have to miss out. Because we manage our own printing pipelines right here at Mad Miniatures, we have the ability to adapt to your needs.

If it is within our technical means, we will custom-scale it for you. Whether you need a massive fantasy centerpiece scaled down to fit historic 1/72 scale battlefields, or a specific squad upscaled to dominate a display shelf, we are happy to look at the math and see if a custom print run is possible for your project.

Get a Custom Quote: Have a specific scale or real-world ratio in mind? Reach out to our team here with the name of the product and your desired target size. If the design geometry allows for it, we’ll custom-print your order to match your exact battlefield specifications!

Please note that because custom scaling requires some manual reworking of the print files and  of course print time itself, custom orders carry a production lead time of approximately one to two weeks before shipping.