Model making opens the doors to a miniature universe, where we can recreate with meticulous precision objects from reality such as airplanes, ships, cars or historical figures.
The possibilities are as vast as your imagination, and to make your journey through this exciting world a success, choosing the right scale is essential.
In this article, we will introduce you to the world of scales in model making, You will learn what they are, how they are expressed, and what the most commonly used scales are in the different disciplines of model making.
What are scales in model making?
Scales in model making are the mathematical relationship that exists between the size of the real object and the size of its miniature representation. They are expressed as a fraction or a proportion, where the first number indicates the number of times the size of the real object has been reduced and the second indicates the unit of measurement used.
For example, a scale of 1:100 means that the model is 100 times smaller than the real object.
In other words, if a real airplane is 10 meters long, its 1:100 scale model would be 10 centimeters long.
How are scales expressed in model making?
Scales in model making can be expressed in two ways:
- Fraction: The most common way to express a scale is by means of a fraction, for example, 1:100, 1:48 or 1:35.
- Proportion: They can also be expressed as a proportion, for example, 1/100, 1/48 or 1/35.
It is important to note that both ways of expressing a scale are equivalent.
Common scales in the different disciplines of model making
The scale chosen for a modeling project depends on several factors, such as the size of the real object, the level of detail desired, and the available space.
Below, we show you some of the most common scales in the different disciplines of model making:
Model airplanes
In this type of model making, the scales are as follows: 1:72, 1:48, 1:32, 1:24
Ship modeling
Ships are among the largest models used in model making and are usually built in the following scales: 1:700, 1:350, 1:100, 1:50
Model cars
The most common scales in this type of model making are: 1:24, 1:18, 1:16, 1:8
Figure modeling
In figure modeling, these are the most common scales: 1:72, 1:35, 1:16, 1:12
Tips for choosing the right scale
When choosing the scale For your model-making project, keep the following tips in mind:
- Actual object size: If the real object is very large, you may need to choose a smaller scale to make your model manageable.
- Level of detail: If you want your model to be very detailed, you will need to choose a larger scale.
- Available space: Make sure you have enough space to work on your model and to display it once it's finished.
- Experience: If you are a beginner, we recommend starting with a larger scale, as you will find it easier to work with the details.
If you're interested in learning more about scales specifically applied to miniature figures, we recommend reading our complete guide on miniature scales.