[WWI] W^D Models 1/72 RFC figures

[Andy Bannister]

Well, I'm certainly no expert on the history of human growth (nor do I
really care to be!), but a bit of research on the net reveals quite
different findings to yours. According to Wikipedia the average height in
the US has remained stagnant since the 50s. The current average height for
adult males in Canada, the US and those of us in the UK is around 176-177cm
(5' 9" to 5' 10"). In the mid-19th century the average was only 10cm less
than it is today and by 1920 was about 5cm less. In "Global Height Trends in
Industrial & Developing Countries, 1810-1984: An Overview" Joerg Baten
(whoever he is) states that the average height of humans continues to
increase, not a 1/4" per decade loss as you say (and unless I'm mistaken
that equates to 1 inch over the past 40 years, not 2 inches).

So it's not that I ignored the rest of your paragraph, I just viewed it with
a certain amount of cynicism!

Andy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: wwi-bounces at wwi-models.org 
> [mailto:wwi-bounces at wwi-models.org] On Behalf Of Jamie Gagnon
> Sent: 20 January 2009 18:36
> To: World War I Modeling Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [WWI] W^D Models 1/72 RFC figures
> 
> 
> You did a good job of ignoring the rest of that paragraph 
> Andy, like "has 
> continued at about a 1/4 inch per
> decade in most First World nations" That is a further 
> increase of two inches 
> for the last 40 years and does not take into account the 
> period between 1914 
> and 1930. I argued much with my professor in university about 
> the reason; he 
> linked it to a combination of standard of living and 
> politics, I felt that 
> it was far more specific to the efficient distribution of food.
> 
> Jamie
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Andy Bannister" <a.bann at ntlworld.com>
> To: "'World War I Modeling Mailing List'" <wwi at wwi-models.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 1:15 PM
> Subject: Re: [WWI] W^D Models 1/72 RFC figures
> 
> 
> >
> >
> > Jamie wrote:
> >> Actually, in the industrial world there was almost a two 
> inch change 
> >> in the average height of males between 1930 and 1970.
> >
> > I'd hardly call that "quite a bit shorter" and 2 inches in 
> 1/72nd is 
> > negligible.
> >
> >
> > Andy
> >
> > CEO, Editor in Chief, Choreographer, Teaboy www.warpedplastic.co.uk
> >
> > 
>