scale+model

=Scale Model=

toc Read here about the idea of scale in scale models. The relevance of this "scale" to the broader concern of "scale" as an "order of magnitude" is discussed.

=Overview=

A scale model is a physical model, a representation or copy of an object that is larger or smaller than the actual size of the object, which seeks to maintain the relative proportions (the scale factor) of the physical size of the original object. Very often the scale model is smaller than the original and used as a guide to making the object in full size. Scale models are built or collected for many reasons. Professional modelmakers often create models for many professions: Scale models include model buildings, architectural models, dollhouses, house portrait models, model buses and trucks, model cars, model construction vehicles, model railways, model robots, model rockets and spacecraft, model living creatures, model ships and naval wargaming, manned ship models, model tanks and wargaming, engine models. Hobbyists or amateur modelmakers make die-cast models, injection molded, model railroads, remote control vehicles, wargaming and fantasy collectibles, model ships and ships in bottles for their own enjoyment. Scale models can also be objects of art, either being created by artists or being rediscovered and transformed into art by artists.
 * Engineers who require scale models to test the likely performance of a particular design at an early stage of development without incurring the full expense of a full-sized prototype.
 * Architects who require architectural models to evaluate and sell the look of a new construction before it is built.
 * Filmmakers who require scale models of objects or sets that cannot be built in full size.
 * Salesmen who require scale models to promote new products such as heavy equipment and automobiles and other vehicles.
 * Toy, or model, railroading

=Scale Model Ratios= A table of some recognized scales used in scale models.

The terms and the means of writing them down have changed, and for model kits they are now standardized for the European Union. In English-speaking countries, such terms as "1/72" were used, but the format with a colon as "1:72" is often preferred. The slash format is usually avoided with decimal fractions: "1/76.2" is usually not used; it's "1:76.2" instead. That hybrid 00 gauge can also be expressed by explicitly using a mixed system of units as "4 mm:1 ft" or "1 mm:3 in", but the dimensionless form makes comparison with other scales easier.


 * Ratio || Comments ||
 * '1:20000 || Arii produced injection-molded kits in this scale of the very large Zentradi spacecraft from the science fiction anime series Macross. ||
 * '1:4800 || This scale has been used for fictional spacecraft for the board game Star Cruiser, originally from Citadel Miniatures. ||
 * '1:3900 || Star Trek toys and miniatures are available in this scale. ||
 * '1:3000 || A line of science fiction miniatures is produced in this scale by Brigade Models for the board game Starmada. ||
 * '1:2500 || A European size for naval wargaming ship models. Also a popular scale for large fictional spacecraft used in gaming, (esp. Star Trek). ||
 * '1:2400 || A British and American size for naval wargaming ship models. Some science fiction miniatures in this scale. ||
 * '1:2000 || Valiant Enterprises produces its "Fighting Sail" line of "sailing men o'war" and related subjects in this scale. ||
 * '1:1250 || A European size for ship models. ||
 * '1:1200 || A British and American size for ship and harbor models. Airfix used to produce in this scale. ||
 * '1:1000 || This is a scale used by Germans for pre-finished airliner models. Herpa produces several models in this scale. ||
 * '1:720 || This was a standard size for ship models produced by Revell and Italeri. ||
 * '1:700 || This is the scale that Tamiya, Aoshima, Hasegawa, and Fujimi chose to produce the largest series of waterline plastic model ships and submarines. Later Skywave, Dragon and Trumpeter joined in. ||
 * '1:600 || Popular for ships, especially liners and capital ships. This is the traditional scale for comparative drawings of ships, used by the Royal Navy as it is about one-tenth of a nautical mile to the foot. Warship models produced by Airfix ||
 * '1:570 || This scale was used by Revell for some ship models because it was one-half the size of the standard scale for wargaming models used by the US Army. ||
 * '1:500 || This is a scale used by Europeans for pre-finished airliner models. Trumpeter and several Japanese companies produce ships in this scale. ||
 * '1:432 || The scale used during the Second World War by the US Navy for aircraft recognition. ||
 * '1:400 || A European size for ship and submarine models and die cast aircraft. eg Heller products ||
 * '1:350 || A Japanese size for ship models. These are typically full-hull models that are substantially more detailed than 1:700 waterline models. ||
 * '1:300 || A scale closely associated with 1:285 scale. The smallest scale commonly used for micro armor. "6 mm figure scale" for miniature wargaming. ||
 * '1:288 || A scale for aircraft and rockets. ||
 * '1:285 || Also known as "6 mm figure scale", the US Army scale for sand-table wargames. The standard used in hobbyist miniature wargaming, where it is considered interchangeable with 1:300 scale. Commonly used for micro armor. ||
 * '1:250 || Used by Heller for model ships. ||
 * '1:220 || Same as Z gauge. ||
 * '1:200 || A scale used for high-end model aircraft and very detailed paper model ships. 9 mm figure scale. ||
 * '1:182.88 || A newer scale utilized in ancient, fantasy and sci-fi hobbyist miniature wargaming. Known as "10 mm figure scale" in wargaming circles. ||
 * '1:160 || American and European model trains in N scale. Commonly used for mini armor. 10 mm to 12 mm figure scale for miniature wargaming. ||
 * '1:152 || 2mm scale / British N scale railway modeling. ||
 * '1:150 || Used by Heller for model ships, and proposed by the Japanese to supersede 1:144 scale trains. ||
 * '1:148 || British N Model Railroad Scale. ||
 * '1:144 || Popular for aircraft, spacecraft. Occasionally used with NASCAR cars. Also some Japanese N scale trains, as well as Japanese giant robot models and toys. Dollhouse for a dollhouse scale for 1:12 dollhouses. ||
 * '1:128 || A few rockets and some fit-in-the-box aircraft are made to this size. ||
 * '1:121.92 || Very popular scale utilized in modern hobbyist miniature wargaming. Also known as "15 mm figure scale" in wargaming circles. ||
 * '1:120 || TT Model Railroad Scale. ||
 * '1:108 || An historic size for ships, also used for rockets and spacecraft. 15 mm figure scale for wargaming is considered interchangeable with this scale.[1] ||
 * '1:100 || Kits of historic and modern spacecraft. Japanese aircraft, spacecraft, and giant robots. Also referred to as "15 mm figure scale" for use with the mini armor & miniature figurine-based tabletop strategy/skirmish warfare games ||
 * '1:96 || An historic scale for ships, also used for spacecraft. ||
 * '1:91.44 || A popular scale for WWII hobbyist miniature wargaming. Also known as "20 mm figure scale" in wargaming circles. ||
 * '1:90 || A scale proposed by some European manufacturers to supersede H0 scale. ||
 * '1:87.1 || Exact HO (half O of 7 mm = 1 foot) ||
 * '1:87 || Civilian and military vehicles. Same as HO scale. Original nominal 25 mm figure scale; though a 6 foot human in 1:87 is closer to 20mm. ||
 * '1:82 || An intermediate scale (HO/OO) intended to apply to both HO and OO scale train sets. Also used for some military models ||
 * '1:80 || Tomytec made cars, buses and trucks in this scale. ||
 * '1:76.2 || UK model rail scale 4 mm scale (OO Scale, etc.). ||
 * '1:76 || Military vehicles. Used with 4 mm to 1 foot models as well. ||
 * '1:75 || Used by Heller for model ships. ||
 * '1:73.152 || Common hobbyist miniature wargaming scale for sci-fi games such as Warhammer 40,000 and AT-43. Also known as 25 mm and 28 mm figure scale in wargaming circles. ||
 * '1:72 || Aircraft, science fiction, space non fiction, figures, vehicles, and watercraft ||
 * '1:64 || Ships, die-cast cars. Matchbox and Hot Wheels use this scale to describe their vehicles, although the actual scale of the individual models varies from 1:55 to beyond 1:100. Same as S Scale. Also called 3/16in. scale. ||
 * '1:60.96 || Common scale for pre-1970s hobbyist miniature wargaming figures. ||
 * '1:60 || Used by Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures. ||
 * '1:56 || Another common scale for 28 mm figure scale wargaming vehicles - manufacturers in this scale include Wargames Factory ||
 * '1:55 || Used only by Disney-Pixar Cars Die-Cast Line by Mattel. ||
 * '1:50 || Many European diecast construction vehicles and trucks. A small quantity of early Japanese aircraft kits are also of this scale. ||
 * '1:48 || For dollhouse applications, 1:48 is commonly known as quarter scale (as it is one-quarter of the 1:12 "standard" dollhouse scale ||
 * '1:45 || This is the scale which MOROP has defined for 0 scale, because it is half the size of the 1:22.5 Scale G-gauge model railways made by German manufacturers[citation needed]. ||
 * '1:43.5 || Exact O scale of 7 mm = 1 foot. ||
 * '1:43 || Still the most popular scale for die-cast cars worldwide, metric or otherwise. It originates from British 0 scale. ||
 * '1:40 || The very early models of the British Coronation Coach and a few other horse-drawn wagons were made in this scale. Cheap soft plastic soldier figures are also made to this scale; there are a few kits to make vehicles for them. ||
 * '1:35 || The most popular scale for military vehicles and figures. Used heavily by Verlinden Productions. It was originally conceived by Tamiya for convenience of fitting motorised parts and batteries. ||
 * '1:34 || A popular scale for collecting vintage and modern American truck models. Established by First Gear, Inc. in the early 90's with growing popularity in Europe and Australia. ||
 * '1:33 || The most common scale for paper model kits of aircraft. ||
 * '1:32 || Military vehicles; 54 mm figure scale toy soldiers are supposed to use this scale as well. Same as Gauge 1, cars, common for slot cars. Some aircraft (eg Matchbox/Revell) ||
 * '1:30.5 || Often quoted as the alternative to 1/32 scale. ||
 * '1:30 || Toy soldiers and military vehicles including King and Country and Figarti. ||
 * '1:29 || American model trains running on 45 mm Gauge 1 track. ||
 * '1:28 || Biplane fighters. ||
 * '1:25 || Cars, figures. AMT (now combined with Ertl), Revell, and Jo-Han made cars in this scale. In Europe, this is preferred over 1:24. Holland has whole toy villages in this scale. This scale is also standard in most theatre design models used to represent set designs before being built ||
 * '1:24 || Cars, figures. Monogram made cars in this scale; Common scale for non-US companies including Tamiya. ||
 * '1:22.5 || G Scale trains made by German manufacturers. ||
 * '1:20 || Cars, common for Formula One models. ||
 * '1:19 || 16mm scale Live steam model railways. This is also the scale for those[which?] "four-inch" adventure movie figurines. ||
 * '1:18 || Cars made from kits, children's dollhouses. The G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of figures and vehicles is in this scale, although the figures are compatible with 1:16 vehicles rather than 1:18 cars. ||
 * '1:16 || Live steam trains (non-ridable), Figures. Ertl's popular line of farm and construction machinery is produced in this size. ||
 * '1:13 || Aurora "Monster Scenes" and "Prehistoric Scenes" Kits. ||
 * '1:12 || Action figures, Model cars (static and RC driven), Live steam trains (non-ridable), dollhouses for adult collectors, motorcycles ||
 * '1:10 || Motorcycles, Radio-controlled cars ||
 * '1:8 || Cars, motorcycles, Live steam trains (ridable), IC radio-controlled cars, Japanese garage kit figures, Aurora Classic Monster Kits ||
 * '1:7 || Common scale utilized by Japanese companies for figures of anime characters, especially when the portrayed character is supposed to be young in age. ||
 * '1:6 || Articulated figures, such as G.I. Joe, and Dragon, children's fashion dolls like Barbie, static display figures (commonly of anime characters), motorcycles, Rail Cannons, Armored Vehicles, Military Dioramas. ||
 * '1:5 || Glow plug (model engine) & electric Radio-controlled cars ||
 * '1:4 || Glow plug (model engine) & electric Radio-controlled cars, plastic model engines, larger collectible fashion dolls ||
 * '1:3 || Ball-jointed dolls ||

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