When I chose 1/32 as the scale for my scratch-built Denny Steam Gunboat (biggest size I could get in the car) I didn't realise the problem that this would give me in crewing it with realistic 1/32 Royal Navy WWII crew figures.
Yes, I could modify some F.1 pit crew or Postman Pat figures; there was the option of buying from a certain supplier of figures but these seemed more like caricatures. Then I was directed to
http://www.tarrantstoysoldiers.com/mount.html . Tarrants sell their figures as mini tableaux but the figures are available seperately at about £5 each. Not cheap by any means but they are very realistic and well modelled and from several periods.
If stuck, give them a try.