[dreamingmuscle]

I want to start building scale models from scratch. Mostly buildings/garages and such. I want to build them around the same size as the most popular models cars and trucks out there so 1:18th to 1:24th is the scale I'm looking for.

So my question is. How does the math work when converting these scales to real world measurements?

Glen

[Stuart]

1:18 scale: 1 foot = 2/3 inch.
1:24 scale: 1 foot = 1/2 inch.

Rulers with 1/2 inch scale on them are easy to find at most any stationery store. I don't know about rulers with 2/3 inch scale, but I assume they are available at hobby stores.

[Keith Seymore]

Bjorn might be able to comment, too, but I think the scales we used in "drafting" class (the triangular shaped ones) had the various different markings on them, and should be available at a Drafting/Drawing supply store.

K

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Bjorn might be able to comment, too, but I think the scales we used in "drafting" class (the triangular shaped ones) had the various different markings on them, and should be available at a Drafting/Drawing supply store.

K

They'll have 1/2 inch scale, but not 2/3 inch scale (there are two kinds, architectural and engineering - architectural scales have 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, etc. while the engineering scales have 1/10, 1/20, 1/30, etc.) Office Depot or any of those kinds of stores will have them for sale, but 1:18 or 2/3 scale is oddball enough in the real world that I think you'll only find them at a hobby store that caters to modelers.

[gtoric]

Here's another way of looking at scale ratios. In 1/12 scale, one scale inch would equal twelve full-scale inches, or 1 to 12, thus 1:12 or 1/12th scale. A 1/12th scale car that measured 18" long would represent an 18' long real vehicle.

I measured the overall length of my 1970 GTO promo, which came to just over 8".
Take 203" (overall length of a '70 GTO) divide by 8.1" and you get 25.06, or 1/25th scale.

[Andre]

The way I always remember it (similar to gtoric) is that the real object is X times bigger than the model.

IE: a real GTO is 25 times bigger than a 1/25th model
a real GTO is 12 times bigger than a 1/12th model

[Bjorn]

Originally Posted by Stuart

They'll have 1/2 inch scale, but not 2/3 inch scale (there are two kinds, architectural and engineering - architectural scales have 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, etc. while the engineering scales have 1/10, 1/20, 1/30, etc.) Office Depot or any of those kinds of stores will have them for sale, but 1:18 or 2/3 scale is oddball enough in the real world that I think you'll only find them at a hobby store that caters to modelers.

correct , but the 1/20, 1/30 is 1' = 20 feet, 1" =30 feet....
you can also get US scales w1/32" = 1'-0" and 1/18" = 1'-0"...those are NOT 1:18 or 1:32 scales but in feet/inches

you can also get a metric architectural scale (maybe not in this country? I have mine since before coimng here) but those are 1: scales...
like 1:5 (50, 500), 1:1(10,100) , 1:2 (20,200) , 1:2.5(25, 250) ,1:3 (30,300), 1:4(40,400)

[Bjorn]

Originally Posted by Andre

The way I always remember it (similar to gtoric) is that the real object is X times bigger than the model.

IE: a real GTO is 25 times bigger than a 1/25th model
a real GTO is 12 times bigger than a 1/12th model

thats correct! (not the 1" = 25 feet)

[gtoric]

1":25' would be 1/300th scale.