A BRIEF OVERVIEW of MEASUREMENT

and SCALES USED

In the
MODEL SHIPBUILDING COMMUNITY

PREPARED FOR MSW

CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION

2 HISTORY OF MEASUREMENT

3 SYSTEMS OF MEASUREMENT – IMPERIAL

4 SYSTEMS OF MEASUREMENT – METRIC

5 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RATIOS AND SCALES

6 CHOICE OF SCALES

7 PREFERRED SCALES – IMPERIAL

8 PREFERRED SCALES – METRIC

9 MODELLING SCALES AND RATIOS IN USE

 INTRODUCTION

Measurement, Ratios and Scales are all intrinsically linked in the world of model ship building just
as they are in other disciplines. A clear understanding of what they all are, and what they mean, will aid the
process of modelling probably as importantly as the actual modelling itself.

The Oxford definitions of the three are:

Measure “Ascertain extent or quantity of (thing) by comparison with fixed unit … especially detailed
dimensions”. These dimensions can be feet, inches, millimetres etc. the unit is whatever we
choose it to be.
Ratio “Quantitative relation between two similar magnitudes determined by the number of times
one contains the other integrally”. The important point here is similar, so millimetres
against millimetres and not inches against feet.
Scale “Represent in dimensions proportional to the actual ones; increase, reduce, in size” Here
the units need not be the same, and we can use inches (or fractions of) to represent feet.

With the internet increasingly drawing peoples of different countries closer together (especially like
minded people as ship modellers at MSW), it can, naturally, create confusion when one set of people use a
different system of measurement to the others. What happens, on both sides, is that because neither fully
understands the measurement units of the other, confusion reigns.

HISTORY OF MEASUREMENT
The earliest known uniform systems of weights and measures seem to have all been created
sometime in the 4th and 3rd millennia BC among the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Indus
Valley. Many systems were based on the use of parts of the body and the natural surroundings as
measuring instruments. Our present knowledge of early weights and measures comes from many sources.

SYSTEMS OF MEASUREMENT - IMPERIAL

The U.S. system of units is similar to the Imperial system which was used officially in the United
Kingdom until 1995. Both systems derive from the evolution of local units over the centuries, as a result of
standardization efforts in England; the local units themselves mostly trace back to Roman and Anglo-Saxon
units.

SYSTEMS OF MEASUREMENT - METRIC

A number of metric systems of units have evolved since the adoption of the original metric system
in France in 1791. The current international standard metric system is the International system of units. An
important feature of modern systems is standardization. Each unit has a universally recognized size.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RATIOS AND SCALES

The metric system uses ratios to determine relative sizes as the common unit is the millimetre – all
sizes are a combination of millimetres, a metre is 1000 millimetres and a kilometre is 1000 metres. The
Imperial system uses relationships to determine relative sizes, so we can have ¼” representing 1’-0”. Note
that the units, inches and feet, are different. This is the fundamental difference between the two systems.

The usual symbols used are

: (proportional) for metric 1 : 100

= (represents) for Imperial ¼” = 1’-0”.

It is shown graphically here, in the Metric System 1

apple is proportional to 5 apples, and in the
Imperial System 1 apple represents 5 oranges.
Neither is right or wrong, they are just different. To
make things a bit more complicated, there are
some Imperial scales that have crept over to the
metric system, especially in modelling. These
‘scales’, such as 1:48, do not exist in the metric system, they are a representation (¼” = 1’-0”) expressed as
a ratio, the nearest metric ratio being 1:50. It is in this ‘carryover’ that confusion arises.

CHOICE OF SCALES

Scale Rationalisation typically falls into 2 categories: Industrial Trade, and Hobbies.
Industrial trade covers areas like building, engineering and naval architecture where universally
accepted scales have been established and are conformed to both in the construction of models and
drawings, in order to facilitate smoother co-operation between commercial parties.
The rationalisation of hobby scales has been more gradual and organic; largely driven by clubs
lobbying industry, as well as tradition, and indirectly, consumer demand. A couple of artificial efforts to
standardise have not been successful: i.e. Tamiya in the 1970's with aircraft models in 1/100th scale, and
Heller with airline models in 1/125th scale. Even though rationalisation in hobby scales sounds appealing, it
has not proved to be historically evident, although there may be some very gradual progress as consumer
demand becomes more organised.

PREFERRED SCALES – IMPERIAL

3
1” = 1’-0” /4" = 1’-0”
½” = 1’-0” 3
/8” = 1’-0”
¼” = 1’-0” 3
/16” = 1’-0”
⅛” = 1’-0”
1
/16” = 1’-0”

PREFERRED SCALES – METRIC

1:1 1:2 1:5

1:10 1:20 1:50
1:100 1:200 1:500

Non preferred
1:15 1:40 1:125

MODELLING SCALES AND RATIOS IN USE

The list below shows the more common (and not so common) ratios and scales used in modelling.
Those in blue apply to ships models.
The List does have some omissions.
Ratio Scale ft Comments

1:2500 0.122 mm A European size for naval wargaming ship models.

1:2400 0.127 mm A British and American size for naval wargaming ship models.
1:1250 0.244 mm A European size for ship models.
1:1200 0.254 mm A British and American size for ship and harbour models.
1:1000 0.305 mm This is a scale used by Germans for pre-finished airliner models. Herpa produces several models in this
scale.
1:720 0.423 mm This was a standard size for ship models produced by Revell and Italeri.
1:700 0.435 mm 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 0.508 mm Popular for ships, especially liners and capital ships. This is the traditional scale for comparative drawings
of ships,
used by the Royal Navy because it's about one-tenth of a nautical mile to the foot.
1:570 0.535 mm 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 0.610 mm This is a scale used by Europeans for pre-finished airliner models. Trumpeter and several Japanese
Companies produce ships in this scale.
1:432 0.706 mm The scale used during the Second World War by the US Navy for aircraft recognition.
1:400 0.762 mm A European size for ship and submarine models and die cast aircraft.
1:350 0.871 mm A Japanese size for ship models. These are typically full-hull models that are substantially more detailed
than 1:700 waterline models.
1:288 1.058 mm A scale for aircraft and rockets.
1:285 1.070 mm The US Army scale for sand-table wargames. It is also the standard used for large-scale historical armour
battles in hobbyist miniature wargaming.
1:250 1.219 mm Used by Heller for model ships.
1:220 1.385 mm Same as Z gauge.
1:182.8 1.667 mm A newer scale utilized in ancient, fantasy and sci-fi hobbyist miniature wargaming. Known as 10mm scale
In wargaming circles.
1:192 1.588mm A popular scale for ships
1:160 1.906 mm American and European model trains in N scale.
1:152 1.906 mm 2mm scale/ British N scale railway modelling.
1:150 2.032 mm Used by Heller for model ships, and proposed by the Japanese to supersede 1:144 scale trains.
1:144 2.117 mm Popular for aircraft, spacecraft. Also some Japanese N scale trains, as well as Japanese giant robot
models and toys.
1:128 2.381 mm A few rockets and some fit-in-the-box aircraft are made to this size.
1:121.9 2.5 mm Very popular scale utilized in modern hobbyist miniature wargaming. Also known as 15mm scale in
Wargaming circles.
1:108 2.822 mm An historic size for ships, also used for rockets and spacecraft.
1:100 3.048 mm A Japanese scale for aircraft, spacecraft, and giant robots.
1:96 3.175 mm An historic scale for ships, also used for spacecraft.
1:91.4 3.333 mm A popular scale for WWII hobbyist miniature wargaming. Known as 20mm scale in wargaming circles.
1:90 3.387 mm A scale proposed by some European manufacturers to supersede HO scale.
1:87 3.503 mm Civilian and military vehicles. Same as HO scale.
1:82 3.717 mm An intermediate scale (H0/00) intended to apply to both H0 and 00 scale train sets.
1:76 4.011 mm Military vehicles. Same as 4 mm scale (00 gauge, etc.).
1:75 4.064 mm Used by Heller for model ships.
1:73.15 4.167 mm Common hobbyist miniature wargaming scale for sci-fi games. Also known as 28mm scale in wargaming
circles. There are also a large number of miniatures in this scale for fantasy wargaming and Role Playing
Games. This scale is popularised by Games Workshop products, but there has been a scale creep over
the years. The current miniatures are "Heroic 28mm" scale, which is closer to 1/48 or 1/50 scale. Due to
this historical influence, many other hobbyist companies are following this practice.
1:72 4.233 mm Aircraft, science fiction, space non fiction, figures, vehicles, and watercraft. Now the most prolific small
scale (i.e. less than 1:35) for plastic injection armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) models. There is a growing
popularity for scratch-built radio control model ships in this scale. More genres are covered in this scale
than any other.
1:64 4.763 mm Ships, die-cast cars. Same as S gauge. Also called 3/16in. scale.
1:60.9 5 mm Common scale for pre-1970s hobbyist miniature wargaming figures. Some companies such as
Privateer Press are producing new figures in this scale. Because 28mm wargaming miniatures have crept
in scale over the years, these new 30mm wargaming miniatures are similar in proportion to the current
28mm wargaming miniatures.
1:60 5.08 mm Used by Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures. A handful of high-detail, Japanese giant robot model kits
Primarily produced by Bandai are of this scale. Some Japanese toy manufacturers also produce aircraft
toys in this scale.
1:50 6 mm Many European diecast construction vehicles and trucks. A small quantity of early Japanese aircraft kits
are also of this scale.
1:48 6.35 mm Known as quarter scale. Mainly military aircraft but in 2005 Tamiya launched a new series of armoured
Fighting Vehicle (AFV) models in this scale. It is used by Americans with the 0 scale. Also the most
popular Lego scale, know as minifig scale.
1:45 6.773 mm This is the scale which MOROP has declared must go with the 0 scale, because it is half the size of the G-
Gauge model railways made by German manufacturers.
1:43 7.088 mm Still the most popular scale for die-cast cars worldwide, metric or otherwise. It originates from the scale
that the British use with the 0 scale.
1:40 7.62 mm 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 8.709 mm The most popular scale for military vehicles and figures. It was originally conceived by Tamiya for
convenience of fitting motorised parts and batteries.
1:34 8.800mm 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.
1:32 9.525 mm Military vehicles; 54 mm toy soldiers are supposed to use this scale as well. Same as Gauge 1.
1:29 10.514mm American model trains running on 45mm Gauge 1 track.
1:28 10.89 mm Biplane fighters.
1:25 12.2 mm Cars, figures. AMT (now combined with Ertl), Revell, and Jo-Han made cars in this scale. This is preferred
in Europe to 1:24. Holland has whole toy villages in this scale.
1:24 12.7 mm Cars, figures. Monogram made cars in this scale; Tamiya still does.
1:22.5 13.547mm G Scale trains made by German manufacturers.
1:20 15.24 mm Cars.
1:19 16.04 mm 16mm scale live steam model railways. This is also the scale for those "four-inch" adventure movie
figurines.
1:18 16.93 mm Cars made from kits; there are also pre-assembled toy military vehicles, fighter planes, and helicopters.
1:16 19.05 mm Live steam trains (ridable), Figures
1:12 25.4 mm Figures, Cars, Live steam trains (ridable)
1:8.3 8.1 mm Live steam trains (ridable)
1:7 42.857 mm 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 50.8 mm Articulated figures (commonly for military/ paramilitary modelling purposes), static display sculpture
(commonly of Anime characters), motorcycles, Rail Cannons, Armoured Vehicles, Military Dioramas.

WITH THANKS TO WIKIPEDIA