Why the variety in scales?

[aurfalien]

Hi,

While I believe that variety is the spice of life, I'm curious as to why the soo many diff scales; 1/4, 1/8, 1/12, 1/16, 1/20, 1/24, 1/25, 1/32, 1/64 etc...

And why in particular does 1/24 seem to have the most subject matter?

A work college mentioned that he prferes 1/24 as you can hold it in your hand vs 1/12 which is too big for his tastes.  he also said the larger the scale, the less you can fudge with it.

[Greg Myers]

You forgot 1/6, 1/18 and 1/35.

Nothing more frustrating when you are collecting something in one scale and they go and change the scale on the next release. 

I really like the BIG engine kits (?) by Liberty ( Hawk, Revell and any one else that has done these kits) but when they switched scales on their HEMI kits I was at a loss. The last kit, one that I was really waiting for, the 990 Super Stock version, comes out in 1/4 scale not 1/6 like all the rest.

Oh yeah, first off , why 1/6 when there are so many vehicle kits in 1/8 that they would fit in ? 

[Yenkocamaro]

You also forgot 1/43rd. I always wondered why Monogram did 1/24th, when it was so close to 1/25th? Even more questionable, was Revells 1/20th scale and didn't MPC make some 1/20 scale model kits? Now that I'm older, and my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be, I appreciate the bigger scales.

 

Cheers,

Lance

[Ace-Garageguy]

1/8 makes a pretty spectacular model, and if done well, they photograph like the real thing. (That reminds me...I need to get payment sent off for a 1/8 '32 Ford)  

You rarely see 1/4 for anything other than flying model planes, to the best of my knowledge. I have a 1/4 Spitfire kit that's too big to build in the house.

Frankly, I've often wondered why so many aircraft kits are 1/32 while most armor is 1/35. I'd buy more of both if the scales were the same.

Then there's the question of why 1/25 and 1/24 exist, being so close together. 1/25 is more of an 'engineering' scale, as many engineering drawings were done in 1/10 scale (dimensioned in tenths of inches rather than in common 'ruler' fractions), so conversion to 1/25 was simple. 1/24 is more a common household 'ruler' scale using inches...so why 1/24 is popular for European and Asian models beats me. And why is railroad G-scale a 1:22.5 ratio? Very curious.

1/12, 1/16 and 1/20 don't have much in the way of subject matter, and again, I've often wondered why bother with designing in scales that aren't very popular.

And as Greg said about the engine kits: "why 1/6 when there are so many vehicle kits in 1/8 that they would fit in ? ". They DO make impressive desk models, but it kinda seems they'd sell more if they DID fit in the 1/8 kits.

Who really knows? There doesn't seem to be much logic to any of it.

Edited April 14, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[aurfalien]

Very interesting feedback.

It would be cool if some one from MFH, Tamiya or Revell would chime in since they all produce in many scales.

[afx]

The volume of vintage race cars in 1/43 scale is mind blogging. I wish even a fraction of them were available in 1/24 scale.

[Greg Myers]

and let's not forget the infamous "Box" scale back in the day.  What ever it took to "fit" in the box. 

[Harry P.]

From scalemodelguide.com:

1/6
RC aircraft & tanks; military vehicles; Engines
Only a few military vehicles are available at this scale

1/12 (this is also known as "dollhouse scale", dollhouse furniture and accessories come in this scale)
Motorbikes; Cars

1/16
Military Vehicles
An increasing number of tanks are being produced in this scale.  These tend to either be highly detailed with interiors, or intended for radio control.

1/24
Cars; Trucks; Aircraft; Military Vehicles
Cars & trucks dominate this scale but there are a few fighter planes and smaller military vehicles

1/25
Cars; Trucks

1/32, 1/35
Aircraft; Military Vehicles
Although these two scales are very close, 1/32 has been popular for aircraft (mostly fighters) while 1/35 has been the most popular scale for armor/military vehicles.

1/43
Cars

1/48
Aircraft; Military Vehicles
Traditionally this was the preserve of aircraft models.  However, the introduction of a range of 1/48th scale military vehicles by Tamiya in 2004 has made this a popular scales for this genre.  This makes it the one scale where there is a wide range of both aircraft and vehicles, so diorama makers who want to display both aircraft and vehicles together will be showing a lot of interest in this scale.

1/72, 1/76
Aircraft: Military Vehicles
1/72 is a very popular scale for aircraft modelers for both fighters and bombers.  It is easy to make a large collection of 1/72 scale fighters and for larger aircraft this is the only scale where a lot of detail can be incorporated without the model becoming too big. Military vehicles are available in both 1/72 and 1/76 which is a pity because they are very similar, but there is enough difference to stop most modellers wanting to display both scales side by side.

1/87
Military Vehicles
Many are sold almost completed and intended for wargaming.

1/100
Aircraft
A few Revell/Monogram kits available

1/125
Airliners: Spacecraft

1/144
Aircraft: Various
There is a wide range of large aircraft available.  There are also a few models available at this scale in other genres such as spacecraft, submarines and large military vehicles.

1/200
Ships; Airliners
Only a few available.

1/300
Airliners
Only a few available.

1/350
Ships
Probably the most poplular scale for marine modelers.

1/400, 1/600
Ships
A few available in each scale

1/700
Ships
Another popular scale for ships with many models available

1/1250
Ships
Only a few available

They forgot to mention 1/8 scale (cars) and 1/9 scale (motorcycles).

[Foxer]

seems they missed a few ..

 

like 1/18  ... all those diecast cars filling my LHS

and 1/87 has about everything as it's HO railroad

I don't want to get into other Railroad scales .. oh my ... so many lost sales with the scale fickleness!

[Harry P.]

seems they missed a few ..

 

like 1/18  ... all those diecast cars filling my LHS

and 1/87 has about everything as it's HO railroad

I don't want to get into other Railroad scales .. oh my ... so many lost sales with the scale fickleness!

Their list is scales of model kits. I don't think there are any 1/18 kits out there. And they did include 1/87.

[sjordan2]

Their list is scales of model kits. I don't think there are any 1/18 kits out there. And they did include 1/87.

I have a few 1/18 kit versions of Bburago diecasts, such as the Bugatti T59 and Alfa Zagato 1750. Tamiya has also made several 1/18 race car kits. Some of Bburago's 1/18 kits, like the XK-E, have been co-branded with Testors.

Edited April 14, 2016 by sjordan2

[Pete J.]

Interesting how this keeps popping up.  To understand scale you have to go back to when engineers and draftsmen made drawings with pencil, paper, triangles and all the scales were done manually.  You can still buy the old style scales(rulers).  These are triangular rulers that have a dozen scales on each one. http://www.staples.com/Staedtler-Mars-12-Architect-s-Triangular-Scale/product_274746 They come in two types.  Engineers and Architects. Engineers scales are divided in 10ths and architects are in 12ths.  This is because engineering drawings are done in tenthousands of an inch and architectural drawings are in feet and inches.  Both are in portions of demarcations per inch.  For instance 1:12 is 12 scale inches per inch or one foot to the inch.  1:24th is the same 24 inches per inch or two feet per inch.  Technically it is a proportion and should be written 1:24 and not 1/24 but that is how it is written on the scales so it carries over.  I firmly believe it is to confuse the uninitiated.  My thoughts on how the common modeling scales came to be is that it was easier for some people to think in inches and they used an architects scale.  Others would make the drawings for the machinists making the molds and would make the drawings in 10,000ths of an inch.  In either case they would work in one of the common scales on the ruler/scale that they had and not work in some odd scale that they would have to create to use.  With the advent of computers and CAD scale became something that could be easily adjusted with the touch of a button so that is not as important in creating molds and such anymore, but that is some of the history of scale.

[sjordan2]

It strikes me that the difference between 1:24 US and 1:25 European kits may have something to do with scale conversions vis-a-vis our measurement system and the metric system.

[Harry P.]

I have a few 1/18 kit versions of Bburago diecasts, such as the Bugatti T59 and Alfa Zagato 1750. Tamiya has also made several 1/18 race car kits. Some of Bburago's 1/18 kits, like the XK-E, have been co-branded with Testors.

I guess there are a few kits out there in 1/18 scale... but those are more "unassembled diecasts" than plastic model kits, which I think that list was specifically referencing.

[sjordan2]

I guess there are a few kits out there in 1/18 scale... but those are more "unassembled diecasts" than plastic model kits, which I think that list was specifically referencing.

The thing is, like many other kits such as the XK-120 from Monogram, the Bburago main body shell is the only part that's metal; all other parts are plastic including classic fenders, so it's a personal definition as to whether or not it's a plastic kit or a metal kit. But there's a lot more metal in a Hubley classic kit.

Edited April 14, 2016 by sjordan2

[sjordan2]

I might add that Bburago scales are like a box of chocolates. Based on factory measurements, the supposedly 1:18 Bugatti T59 is closer to 1:15-14. It appears that Bburago Classic diecasts, from the Bugattis to the Alfas to the Mercedes SSK, are scaled so that the one-size-fits-all wire wheels can be used for any of them.

And some people here who build smaller kits have mentioned that some companies fudge scale a bit so they can fit in existing box sizes.

Edited April 14, 2016 by sjordan2

[Snake45]

It strikes me that the difference between 1:24 US and 1:25 European kits may have something to do with scale conversions vis-a-vis our measurement system and the metric system.

I've had the same thought, then wondered why 1/25 (easy metric conversion) is mainly American and 1/24 (easy foot/inch conversion) is mostly European.

[sjordan2]

I've had the same thought, then wondered why 1/25 (easy metric conversion) is mainly American and 1/24 (easy foot/inch conversion) is mostly European.

Good point.

[Exotics_Builder]

I guess there are a few kits out there in 1/18 scale... but those are more "unassembled diecasts" than plastic model kits, which I think that list was specifically referencing.

 

[aurfalien]

 

It's too bad this wasn't issued in 1/24.  However there are a few 906 issues which according to what I've read, aren't that diff from the 910.  Some Wiki;

The main difference to the original 906 is the use of 13 inch wheels and tyres as in F1, plus a single central nut instead of the 5 nuts as in a road car. This made the car unsuitable for street use, but it saved time in pitstops. Overall, the 910 was lighter and shorter than the 906.

I have both the LS 906 and the FPPM 906.  However my LS 906 is missing the roof/a-pillar so I'll make a convertible CanAm-ized concept out of it

 

Edited April 14, 2016 by aurfalien

[Ramfins59]

They're not kits, but I have a couple of Welly diecast cars in 1/26 scale which are just slightly smaller than 1/25.  I have 1/24, 1/25 & 1/26 scale cars in my 1950's cars collection.  The slight difference in size does not really bother me because I can fill in the "holes" in my collection with the different scale cars.

[Southside Customs Garage]

Hi all,

Just for information, in my country (Indonesia), mostly used 1/24, difficult to find 1/24 up, we must buy it from others country,

But i have 1/25 1969 Camaro SS 427-L72 Streetburner, and i bought it from ebay,

[Pete J.]

It strikes me that the difference between 1:24 US and 1:25 European kits may have something to do with scale conversions vis-a-vis our measurement system and the metric system.

That is partially it because a 1:24 scale works evenly in the English measuring system(which we use here in 'merica) of feet and inches and 1:25 works evenly in a metric system(that the rest of the world uses) where everything is a function of 10 or 100. The actual increments are relevant only to the final size.  All scales are proportion - 1:1 full size, 1:4 quarter scale or 25% etc.

[Snake45]

They're not kits, but I have a couple of Welly diecast cars in 1/26 scale which are just slightly smaller than 1/25.  I have 1/24, 1/25 & 1/26 scale cars in my 1950's cars collection.  The slight difference in size does not really bother me because I can fill in the "holes" in my collection with the different scale cars.

Yeah, I have a diecast '65 Riviera that's billed on the bottom as 1/26. I suspect my diecast '70 GSX is 1/26 too, as it seems to be a hair undersized compared to say AMT '69 and '72 Chevelles, but it's less noticeable than the size difference with the Monogram 1/24 '70 GSX.

Some "1/25" kits are slightly out of scale, too. The MPC (now AMT) '69 Mustang is noticeably undersized, maybe about 1/27.

[Greg Myers]

Yeah, I have a diecast '65 Riviera that's billed on the bottom as 1/26. I suspect my diecast '70 GSX is 1/26 too, as it seems to be a hair undersized compared to say AMT '69 and '72 Chevelles, but it's less noticeable than the size difference with the Monogram 1/24 '70 GSX.

Some "1/25" kits are slightly out of scale, too. The MPC (now AMT) '69 Mustang is noticeably undersized, maybe about 1/27.

Well as humans , seems there will always be some " outta scale" kits  once you start measuring up what's in front of you. Some of the Revell John Buttera street rod kits come to mind.

Edited April 15, 2016 by Greg Myers