So how accurate are scales question

Considering a HMMWV originally was a 1 1/4 ton truck and the halftrack is an 8 ton vehicle, I'd say there was a significant difference between the two. Older kits like the Tamiya halftrack are normally not as accurate scale-wise to more recent kits. Many of the old tamiya 1/35 scale military range were originally designed to house a motorized gearbox and batteries. Because of this, there were some liberties taken with scale. Simply put, they had to make a standard gearbox and two C cell batteries to fit inside the kits.

Modern kits (made within the past few years) are more accurate in size. If you bought the same military vehicle kit from two different manufacurers, the size difference is often negligible.

Hi-

To me scale is one of the coolest points in kit building.  Being able to see the size difference between subjects of the same scale makes me appreciate them all the more.

Example: I have 2 kits. One is of the USS Arizona, a pre-WWII battleship, and the other is of the USS John C. Stennis, a modern nuclear aircraft carrier.  Both are 1/700 scale and it's amazing to me that the Arizona will fit ON the flightdeck of the Stennis with room to spare it's that big!

Remember- People show scale.

Along time ago it was pointed out to me that the best way to show scale, ANY scale, is to pose a human figure(s) next to your subject because we all know how big a normal man is suppose to be. 

Back to my example: Eduard sells several different types of Photo-Etched 1/700 crew sets. I myself have the aircraft carrier set which consists of some 440 VERY tiny pre-painted sailors.

Just be Warned!!  1/35 scale figure painting is a completely separate subject unto it's self. Entire books have been written on just How-To paint figures, and it ain't easy. Least not for me. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy building 1/35 kits and Good Luck.

-Ray 

True that people show scale. Even though my 1/72 scale aircraft are displayed on simple shelves, I tacked a few figures here and there amongst the craft and those viewing my collection can get a better idea as to just how big an F-15C really is. I was even amazed at the difference in sizes myself when I began to display a few WWII planes next to modern warplanes. Even WWI German tanks, as big as some of them were, seem dwarfed by modern machinery.

Scale is an interesting thing and it can get even more interesting when you try to fit aftermarket components into a kit.

If an aftermarket manufacturer makes a cockpit in perfect scale, then you'll probably find yourself grinding the kit plastic to paper thin proportions to accomodate it as kit styrene is not the scale thickness of sheet metal or composite materials.

Anyway, for showing scal in the picture of a model, I think a lot of people go about it the wrong way. The finger only works if you know how big it's owner is. a coin only works if you know how big it is, if you're not in the country where that coin is used it may be a worthless comparison to you.

Use something universal: a #11 Xacto blade or a standard wooden safety match beside your build would be ideal, they are pretty much the same worldwide.