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Model Kit Scales Explained: 1/35, 1/48, 1/72, 1/350 and 1/700
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The scale on a model kit box tells you how much smaller the model is than the real thing. A 1/35 model is one thirty-fifth the size of the original. A smaller number after the slash means a bigger model. That is the whole idea, but which scale you choose has a big effect on how the finished model looks, how hard it is to build and how much space it takes.
How big is each scale?
Here is how large some well-known subjects end up in the common scales (rounded):
| Scale | Typical subjects | Tiger I tank (8.5 m) | P-51 Mustang (9.8 m long) | Battleship Bismarck (251 m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/16 | Large tanks, RC tanks | 53 cm | 61 cm | - |
| 1/32 | Large aircraft, figures | 27 cm | 31 cm | - |
| 1/35 | Tanks, vehicles, figures | 24 cm | 28 cm | - |
| 1/48 | Aircraft, small tanks | 18 cm | 20 cm | - |
| 1/72 | Aircraft, wargaming tanks | 12 cm | 14 cm | 3.5 m (not made) |
| 1/350 | Warships | - | - | 72 cm |
| 1/700 | Warships, waterline fleets | - | - | 36 cm |
The pattern is simple: divide the real length by the scale number. A 9.8 m Mustang in 1/48 is 9.8 / 48 = about 0.20 m.
1/35: the armor standard
Almost all military vehicles, figures and diorama accessories are made in 1/35. If you want to build tanks with crew figures, jerry cans and a base, this is the scale. Models are big enough to show detail and to paint comfortably.
Tamiya Tiger I Early Production
Tamiya Willys MB Jeep
Tamiya German Infantry Set, Mid-War
Tamiya M26 Pershing
1/48: the aircraft favorite
1/48 is the most popular scale for single-engine aircraft. Cockpits are large enough to detail, and a collection still fits on a shelf. Tamiya also makes a 1/48 armor range that matches its aircraft.
Tamiya P-51D Mustang, 8th Air Force
Tamiya Spitfire Mk.I
Tamiya F-16CJ Fighting Falcon
Tamiya M4A3E8 Sherman Easy Eight
1/72: build a whole collection
1/72 models are small, quick and usually inexpensive. It is the classic scale for big bombers, since a 1/48 Lancaster would be enormous. It is also popular with wargamers.
Revell Avro Lancaster Mk.I/III
Tamiya P-51D Mustang
Revell Tiger I Ausf.H
Revell SR-71 Blackbird
1/32 and 1/24: showpieces
Large-scale aircraft are spectacular and often include engine detail, but they take longer, cost more and need display space.
Tamiya P-51D Mustang
Tamiya Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero Model 21
Revell Spitfire Mk.IXc
Tamiya F-14A Tomcat Black Knights
1/350 and 1/700: warships
Real warships are huge, so ships use much smaller scales. 1/350 gives a large, detailed model; a battleship will be well over half a meter long. 1/700 is the scale for collecting fleets. Many 1/700 kits are "waterline" models that sit flat on a sea base. Our warship guide goes into more detail.
Tamiya Battleship Bismarck
Tamiya Fletcher Class Destroyer
Tamiya Battleship Yamato
Tamiya USS Yorktown CV-5
What about block sets, die-cast and RC models?
Brick-built sets are not always made to a fixed scale; we list them as "Brick-built" unless the maker states one. Die-cast weapon kits such as Goat Guns are often 1/4 or 1/3 scale, so a rifle is 25 to 35 cm long. RC tanks are commonly 1/16 or 1/24, and RC planes are listed by wingspan. You can filter every catalog page by scale using the filters on the left.
Which should you choose?
- First tank: 1/35 (or 1/48 for something smaller).
- First aircraft: 1/48 single-engine fighter.
- A collection on a small shelf: 1/72 aircraft or 1/700 ships.
- One big centerpiece: 1/32 aircraft or 1/350 ship.
Tip: Stick to one scale per subject type. A row of 1/48 fighters, or a shelf of 1/35 armor, looks far better than mixed scales side by side.
Can you mix scales in a display?
You can, but it rarely looks right side by side. A 1/72 Tiger next to a 1/35 Sherman makes the Sherman look like a giant. The exception is a deliberate "forced perspective" diorama, where smaller-scale models are placed in the background to suggest distance.
Figures are the easiest way to check scale. A 1/35 figure of an average soldier is about 5 cm tall; a 1/72 figure about 2.5 cm. If you buy accessories, figures or bases, match them to your model's scale.
Does scale affect price?
Generally, larger scales cost more because the model has more plastic and more parts. But subject matters too: a 1/700 aircraft carrier can cost more than a 1/48 fighter. Modern kits with new tooling also tend to cost more than re-releases of older kits of the same size.
Go deeper:
Quick answers
What does 1:35 mean?
It means one unit on the model equals 35 of the same unit on the real thing. 1:35 and 1/35 are the same scale written two ways.
Is 1/72 bigger than 1/48?
No. The bigger the number after the slash, the smaller the model. 1/72 is smaller than 1/48.
What scale are COBI sets?
Many COBI vehicle and aircraft sets are designed around 1/35 or 1/48 proportions, and some state the scale on the box. Others are simply brick-built. We list the stated scale when there is one.
What scale should I choose for a diorama?
1/35. It has by far the largest choice of figures, buildings, accessories and vehicles.
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