- Ratio or Fraction (i.e. 1:72 or 1/72) – The number on the right shows how many units (Inches, centimetres it doesn’t matter) on the life sized object are equivalent to one on the model. So a 1/100th model that stands 1cm tall represents a real object 100cm tall.
- Size (i.e. 15mm or 28mm) – This is usually taken as the height of the average male figure and is measured from the sole of the foot to eye level. But this isn’t standard across the industry and a lot of variation has crept in resulting in “scale creep”.
Fraction | Size to Eye | Size to Scalp | Common Applications (with Example Manufacturers) |
---|---|---|---|
1/268 | 6mm | 6.5mm | Equivalent to 1/285 scale and 1/300 scales. Popular for ‘Micro armour’ games. Timecast call their 6mm buildings 1/260th scale. |
1/220 | 7mm | 7.9mm | Z scale model railroad scale where 1.385 mm = 1 foot - Building in this scale can be used with 6mm figures |
1/200 | 8mm | 8.7mm | 20th Century armoured vehicles and aircraft |
1/161 | 10mm | 10.7mm | Fantasy, historical and science fiction. (Pendraken Miniatures) |
1/160 | 10.06mm | 10.8mm | N scale model railroad scale. Trees in this scale work well with 10-15mm models. |
1/144 | 11.2mm | 12mm | Official FOW Aircraft scale and a popular scale for Die-Cast Model Airplanes (Battlefront / Revell / Corgi |
1/107 | 15mm | 16.2mm | Popular Wargaming scale. Official FOW infantry scale. Figures from Battlefront & Peter Pig are comparible in height but the latter are occasionaly described as 'better proportioned' because they are slimer. (Battlefront / Old Glory / Peter Pig) |
1/100 | 16.1mm | 17.3mm | TT Gauge. Alternative for 15mm |
1/87 | 18.5mm | 19.9mm | HO scale. HO Buildings are suitable for 15mm models (Hornby / Airfix / Revell) |
1/80.5 | 20mm | 21.5mm | Skirmish-level 20th Century Wargaming. |
1/76 | 21.2mm | 22.8mm | OO scale. Plastic miniatures and kits are available in this scale for aircraft, ground vehicles, and soldiers. Suitable for use with 20mm figures (Hornby) |
1/72 | 22.4mm | 24mm | Popular for die-cast toys and plastic kits. Buildings & vehicles are compatable with 20mm Figures (Revell) |
1/64 | 25mm | 27mm | S Gauge. Traditional Wargaming scale. Fantasy Wargaming, historical skirmish-level games, science fiction, and for use with role-playing games. |
1/58 | 28mm | 29.8mm | Sometimes referred to as "large" 25mm figures. Popular size for roleplaying models. (Games Workshop / Perry Miniatures / Hasslefree) |
1/54 | 30mm | 32mm | Another scale used for pre-20th Century miniatures.(Enigma Miniatures) |
1/50 | 32mm | 34.6mm | LoTR’s models (Mithril Miniatures) |
1/48 | 33.5mm | 36mm | US O Gauge which is 0.25 inches to the foot and referred to as "quarter inch scale". Popular for plastic aircraft kits. (Tamiya) |
1/43.5 | 37mm | 39.8mm | British O Gauge based on 7mm to the foot |
1/40 | 40mm | 43.3mm | ACW & Napoleonic figures (Old Glory / Eureka Miniatures / North Star Figures) |
1/38 | 42mm | 45.5mm | Roughly corresponds to old B Range (Irregular Miniatures) |
1/35 | 46mm | 49.4mm | Plastic kits of armour. (Tamiya) |
1/32 | 50.3mm | 54.1mm | I scale. |
1/30 | 54mm | 57.7mm | Sometimes called "Toy Soldier" scale |
Model gamers should always beware of different companies selling models of the same scale. As already stated there is a lot of assumption involved in determining the right height for a human figure and some variation in model height may be acceptable, even desirable. However items of a fixed size (Weapons for instance) may vary in size dependent on how a particular manufacturer has calculated scale. The best advise I can give is to directly compare models to determin compatability before you purchase.