Models and scale models always have a scale.
A scale is used to ascertain the size of a model based on the size of the real object. You simply need to multiply the size of the real object by the scale.
For example, the model of a boat which measures 100' from front to back will measure:
100' X 1/200 = 0.5' (6 inches) on a 1:200 scale
100' x 1/350 = 0.28' (3" 3/8) on a 1:350 scale
100' x 1/700 = 0.14' (1" 5/8) on a 1:700 scale
To give you an idea, here are the sizes of some models.
The most common scales are shown in red.
| Airplanes (wingspan x length) | Actual Size | 1:144 | 1:72 | 1:48 | 1:32 | 1:24 |
| WW2 Fighter (ex : P51 Mustang) | 37,1' x 32,2' | 3,1 in x 2,7 in | 6,2 in x 5,4 in | 9,3 in x 8 in | 13,9 in x 12,1 in | 18,5 in x 16,1 in |
| WW2 bomber (ex : Boieng B17) | 103,7' x 74,1' | 8,6 in x 6,2 in | 17,3 in x 12,4 in | 25,9 in x 18,5 in | 38,9 in x 27,8 in | 51,8 in x 37,1 in |
| Modern Jet (ex : F22 Raptor) | 44,5' x 62' | 3,7 in x 5,2 in | 7,4 in x 10,3 in | 11,1 in x 15,5 in | 16,7 in x 23,3 in | 22,2 in x 31 in |
| Commercial plane (ex : Boeing 747) | 195,5' x 231,6' | 16,3 in x 19,3 in | 32,6 in x 38,6 in | 48,9 in x 57,9 in | 73,3 in x 86,9 in | 97,8 in x 115,8 in |
| Helicopter (ex : AH 64 Apache) | 48' x 58,3' | 4 in x 4,9 in | 8 in x 9,7 in | 12 in x 14,6 in | 18 in x 21,9 in | 24 in x 29,1 in |
| Land vehicles (length x width) | Actual Size | 1:72 ou 1:76 | 1:43 | 1:50 | 1:35 | 1:18 |
| Car (ex : chevrolet Camaro) | 15,7' x 6,2' | 2,6 in x 1 in | 4,4 in x 1,7 in | 3,8 in x 1,5 in | 5,4 in x 2,1 in | 10,5 in x 4,2 in |
| Tractor | 19,7' x 9,8' | 3,3 in x 1,6 in | 5,5 in x 2,7 in | 4,7 in x 2,4 in | 6,7 in x 3,4 in | 13,1 in x 6,6 in |
| Tank (ex : M4 Sherman) | 20,6' x 8,6' | 3,4 in x 1,4 in | 5,7 in x 2,4 in | 4,9 in x 2,1 in | 7,1 in x 2,9 in | 13,7 in x 5,7 in |
| Motorcycle | 8,2' x 2,6' | 1,4 in x 0,4 in | 2,3 in x 0,7 in | 2 in x 0,6 in | 2,8 in x 0,9 in | 5,5 in x 1,7 in |
| Figurines (height) | Actual Size | 1:72 ou 1:76 | 1:48 | 1:32 ou 1:35 | 1:24 | 1:8 |
| Height | 5,9' | 1 in | 1,5 in | 2,2 in | 3 in | 8,9 in |
| Ships (lenght x width) | Actual Size | 1:1200 | 1:700 | 1:350 | 1:200 | 1:150 |
| 3 masted ship (ex : USS Consitution) | 203,4' x 42,7' | 2 in x 0,4 in | 3,5 in x 0,7 in | 7 in x 1,5 in | 12,2 in x 2,6 in | 16,3 in x 3,4 in |
| Liner (ex : Titanic) | 882,5' x 91,9' | 8,8 in x 0,9 in | 15,1 in x 1,6 in | 30,3 in x 3,1 in | 53 in x 5,5 in | 70,6 in x 7,3 in |
| Battleship (ex : Bismarck) | 820,2' x 118,1' | 8,2 in x 1,2 in | 14,1 in x 2 in | 28,1 in x 4 in | 49,2 in x 7,1 in | 65,6 in x 9,4 in |
| Submarine (ex : U Boot VII) | 216,5' x 19,7' | 2,2 in x 0,2 in | 3,7 in x 0,3 in | 7,4 in x 0,7 in | 13 in x 1,2 in | 17,3 in x 1,6 in |
| Aircraft carrier (ex : USS Enterprise) | 1118,8' x 255,9' | 11,2 in x 2,6 in | 19,2 in x 4,4 in | 38,4 in x 8,8 in | 67,1 in x 15,4 in | 89,5 in x 20,5 in |
| Trains (length) | Actual Size | HO (1/87) | N (1/160) | Z (1/220) | TT (1/120) | G (1/24) |
| Locomotive | 55,8' | 7,7 in | 4,2 in | 3 in | 5,6 in | 27,9 in |
| Car | 72,2' | 10 in | 5,4 in | 3,9 in | 7,2 in | 36,1 in |
