Scale

The most common ship scales are:

1:96  (metric = 1:100),  one inch = 96 inches.  A six foot man is about 3/4 inches tall (in scale)

1:192 (metric = 1:200), one inch = 192 scale inches,  A six foot man is about 3/8 inches tall (in scale)

1:350 (metric = 1:400),  one inch = 350 scale inches.  A six foot man is about 2/10 inches tall (in scale)

1:700 (also 1:720), one inch = 700 scale inches.  A six foot man is 1/10 inch tall.

There are some kits in aircraft scale 1:72 -- six feet = 1 inch.

There are also kits in 1:1200  -- one inch = 100 feet

Dimensions : the size of the subject and the scale determines the size of the model.     As ship modelers we  routinely have subjects that range from 35 feet and shorter (LCVP) up to 1100 feet and longer (Nimitz class carrier).

 

An easy way to think of any scale is that it is a ratio.  A 1:700 New Jersey model would be as follows: 700 USS New Jersey models = 1 Real USS New Jersey.  If the New Jersey was 700ft long, which it isn't, the model would 1 ft long.  Take the original length and divide by the scaling number and you get the length of the model.  In the reverse, take the length of the model and multiply by the scale number and you get the length of the real thing.

   Thanks guys, I just needed a kick start on this stuff makes it easier to figure shelf space vs ship size.   Karl

Glad to help.

Scales are also commonly referred to the number of inches (or fraction of inch) to the foot.

1:192 scale = 1/16 inch to the foot (12x16=192)

1:96 scale = 1/8 inch to the foot

1:48 scale = 1/4 inch to the foot (1/4 inch scale)

1:32 scale = 3/8 inch to the foot

1:16 scale = 3/4 inch to the foot

1:8 scale = 1.5 inches to the foot

1:4 scale = 3 inches to the foot

1/4 scale is NOT the same size as 1/4 inch scale.