1/24-1/25

Several years ago I read the following explaination:

1/24th scale is 1/2 inch equals 1 foot.  (1 inch equals 1 foot would be 1/12th scale)

The common scale that car designers and engineers used for models is 1/10 scale.  The 1/25th scale is 2 1/2 times smaller than the engineering model.

Engineer scales are marked off in multiples of 10.  The common scales in use are 1:10, 1:20, 1:30, 1:40, 1:50, 1:60.  The metric system is simular but uses some other scales in addition to the even 10s: 1:25, and 1:75 for example.

If you were ever wondering about 1/32nd scale..... it works out to be 3/8 inch equal 1 foot.

Sure would be nice if someone that has access to the inside scoop could find out for us... better yet, if the companies would stick to one size.

It makes no sence to have two Corvettes sitting next to each other on a shelf, one in 1:24th scale and the other 1:25th scale and both made by the same company.

At first I thought, well maybe they're making the larger cars in 1:25th scale and the smaller cars in 1:24th scale. But no, next to me sits a '70 Buick GSX in 1:24 scale and a '68 Vette in 1:25 scale. Their sizes just don't look right sitting next to each other. Oh well...

and the debate lingers on

Metric......is for wimps, and commies

:)

It could have been a ploy to appease both markets, each building thier kits to suit the other. Or, could be a result longstanding from the debate of what would be the standard measuring system for the industry. Seems odd that they would continue to use the american standard seeing how 99% of industry uses the metric system as a standard. But, as with everything else it is an opinion and we all know where that could end up.

Wow!
I hadn't realized that it was that tough of a question! Although glheald's answer seems to make sense, LeeTree brought up a lot more questions! Hmmm....maybe a letter to the editor might be in order....

Carlos

The answer to your quandry lies much deeper than you and I could possibley imagine. I must meditate on this....

I have no idea, Carlos. It seems there's been an age-old dispute between the American model manufacturers (who seem to favor the 1/25 scale) and their Japanese and European counterparts who prefer the 1/24th scale. Oddly, it wouldn't seem to be immediately related to the different measurement scales, since 1/25 is more readily divisible on the metric scale than is 1/24 (1meter equals 25 mil. vs 1 meter equals 24 mil.), and likewise, 1/24 is more easily calculated on the American scale of inches/feet/yards (one foot equals 1/2 inch).
It would make some sense to me if the American manufacturers preferred 1/24 and the Japanese/Europeans used 1/25. I'm sure somebody on this board knows a lot more than me on the subject, 'cause it's a mystery to me.
Glenn

Ah, Carlos..........
You ask a question that has no apparent answer.
Why 1/24 instead of 1/25? And then again, why are most F1 cars molded in 1/20 scale? Is there anyone out there who has an answer? Does anyone have a contact at Revell-Monogram (like FSM's Lawrence Hansen) who might have an idea on the historical decisions that were made that decided 1/24 and 1/25 were the major scales for autos (besides the size of the models) and why not have a standard scale instead of two, or three??
Good question, carlos,
Cheers,
LeeTree