Hi cgutzmer
Could you or Dragos post some pictures of the models you were talking about? It would help me get a sense of the visual scale of the game. The game you're describing in your original post could be interpreted in too many ways... it could be a version of "Risk", for example, or a even a trading card game. Is there a compelling reason to use models, other than "cool game pieces?"
In Warhammer-type games, for example, the models are very important because the way they interact with the game terrain affects the mechanics of combat. Is this along the lines of what you're thinking?
And the game board itself -- will it be modular? Will it have varying conditions (atmospheric turbulence, gravity wells, land obstructions)? Or will it be more like a chessboard?