How far apart should soldiers be in a diorama?

In reality, infantry on patrol maintain 3-5 metre intervals. At 1:35 scale that is 86-143mm. A squad in combat might be closer at 1.5m intervals (43mm at 1:35). Crowds and civilians can be as close as 0.5m (14mm at 1:35).

How many figures fit on a typical diorama base?

A 200x150mm base at 1:35 can comfortably hold 4-8 figures in a casual group, or 2-4 in a spread patrol formation. Overcrowding looks unrealistic unless you are depicting a crowd scene.

Should figures be evenly spaced?

No. Realistic figure placement uses natural grouping with varied spacing. People cluster in odd-numbered groups (3s and 5s look more natural than 2s and 4s). Leave gaps between groups for visual flow.

ModelCalcs

Figure Placement Calculator — Realistic Spacing

Calculate realistic spacing and grouping for figures in your diorama scene based on scale and formation type.

Base Length

Base Width

Number of Figures

Scale

Formation / Grouping

How We Calculate This

The calculator converts real-world interpersonal distances to your model scale to determine realistic figure spacing.

Method

Scale spacing = Real spacing (mm) / Scale factor
Civilian casual spacing: ~0.8m real (23mm at 1:35)
Military patrol: ~3m real (86mm at 1:35)
Crowd: ~0.5m real (14mm at 1:35)

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Base Size Calculator

Calculate the right diorama base dimensions for your subject and scale.

Terrain Calculator

Estimate plaster, foam and scenic materials for terrain features.

Vegetation Calculator

Plan static grass, foliage, tree and ground cover quantities for your scene.

Water Effect Calculator

Calculate resin, water effect and ripple product volumes for water features.

Lighting Calculator

Plan LED quantities, resistor values and power supply for diorama lighting.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.