1:32 scale

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Scalextric 1:32 scale TVR & Porsche slot cars on track 2ScalextricCars.jpg
Scalextric 1:32 scale TVR & Porsche slot cars on track

1:32 scale is a traditional scale for models and miniatures, in which one unit (such as an inch or a centimeter) on the model represents 32 units on the actual object. It is also known as "three-eighths scale", since 38 inch represents a foot. A 6 ft (183 cm) tall person is modeled as 2+14 in (57 mm) tall in 1:32 scale.

1:32 was once so common a scale for toy trains, autos, and soldiers that it was known as "standard size" in the industry (not to be confused with Lionel's "Standard Gauge"). 1:32 is the scale for Gauge 1 toy and model trains. It was the scale of some of the earliest plastic model car kits. It is a common scale for aircraft models and for figure modeling, where it is called 54 mm scale, from the height of the human figure. 1:32 was used for equipment to match 54 mm toy soldiers for miniature wargaming and was common in scale military modeling such as tanks and armored cars until it was largely replaced by 1:35 scale.

1:32 is now considered to be the 'Normal' scale for agricultural models such as Britains or Siku

1:32 scale is also the preferred scale for modeling aircraft as this “large scale” benefits the builder with the opportunity to better detail his kit or scratch built aircraft project.

1:32 aircraft models also have their own contest category in modeling competitions as per IPMS rules, and 1:32 scale category is considered the top tier in aircraft modeling contest categories.

1:32 is a useful scale for scratch modelling or railways. As well as standard gauge gauge 1 using 45 mm / 1.772 in track, narrow gauge modellers use 0 gauge (32 mm / 1.26 in) track for 42", 1m and 36" prototype gauges. Also H0/00 track at 16.5mm is used to represent models of 20 in / 508 mm gauge railways.

Today, 1:32 is associated with slot car scale. [1] A standard for tabletop rail-racing in the mid-1950s, it was adopted by the original slot car manufacturers, Victory Industries and Scalextric. [2] Fewer 1:32 car model kits are manufactured today, making scratch building slot cars quite a bit more difficult than it used to be.

See also

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Railway modelling or model railroading is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale.

Model car

A model car, or toy car, is a miniature representation of an automobile. Other miniature motor vehicles, such as trucks, buses, or even ATVs, etc. are often included in this general category. Because many miniature vehicles were originally aimed at children as playthings, there is no precise difference between a model car and a toy car, yet the word 'model' implies either assembly required or the accurate rendering of an actual vehicle at smaller scale. The kit building hobby became popular through the 1950s, while the collecting of miniatures by adults started to pick up momentum around 1970. Precision-detailed miniatures made specifically for adults are a significant part of the market since the mid-1980s.

G scale

Large scale or G scale is a track gauge for model railways which is often used outdoors because of its size and durability. These garden railways use a fixed track gauge of 45 millimetres (1.75 in) to accommodate a range of rail transport modelling scales between narrow gauge (~1:13‒1:19‒1:20), metre gauge (1:22.5), Playmobil trains (~1:24), and standard gauge (~1:29–1:32).

OO gauge

OO gauge or OO scale is the most popular standard-gauge model railway standard in the United Kingdom, outside of which it is virtually unknown. OO gauge is one of several 4 mm-scale standards, and the only one to be marketed by major manufacturers. The OO track gauge of 16.5 mm corresponds to prototypical gauge of 4 ft 1+12 in, rather than 4 ft 8+12 in standard gauge. However, since the 1960s, other gauges in the same scale have arisen—18.2 mm (EM) and 18.83 mm (Scalefour)—to reflect the desire of some modellers for greater scale accuracy.

Scale model Physical representation of an object

A scale model is most generally a physical model of an object that maintains accurate relationships between its important aspects, although absolute values of the original properties need not be preserved. This enables it to demonstrate some behavior or property of the original object without examining the original object itself. The most familiar scale models represent the physical appearance of an object in miniature, but there are many other kinds.

O scale

O scale is a scale commonly used for toy trains and rail transport modelling. Introduced by German toy manufacturer Märklin around 1900, by the 1930s three-rail alternating current O gauge was the most common model railroad scale in the United States and remained so until the early 1960s. In Europe, its popularity declined before World War II due to the introduction of smaller scales.

HO scale

HO or H0 is a rail transport modelling scale using a 1:87 scale. It is the most popular scale of model railway in the world. The rails are spaced 16.5 mm (0.650 in) apart for modelling 1,435 mm standard gauge tracks and trains in HO.

N scale

N scale is a popular model railway scale. Depending upon the manufacturer, the scale ranges from 1∶148 to 1∶160. In all cases, the gauge is 9 mm or 0.354 in. The term N gauge refers to the track dimensions, but in the United Kingdom in particular British N gauge refers to a 1∶148 scale with 1∶160 track gauge modelling. The terms N scale and N gauge are often inaccurately used interchangeably, as scale is defined as ratio or proportion of the model, and gauge only as a distance between rails. The scale 1∶148 defines the rail-to-rail gauge equal to 9 mm exactly, so when calculating the rail or track use 1∶160 and for engines and car wheel base use 1∶148.

TT scale

TT scale is a model railroading scale, whose name stands for table top.

Slot car

A slot car or slotcar is a powered miniature auto or other vehicle that is guided by a groove or slot in the track on which it runs. A pin or blade extends from the bottom of the car into the slot. Though some slot cars are used to model highway traffic on scenic layouts, the great majority are used in the competitive hobby of slot car racing or slot racing.

Model figure

A model figure is a scale model representing a human, monster or other creature. Human figures may be either a generic figure of a type, a historical personage, or a fictional character.

Garden railway

A garden railroad or garden railway is a model railway system set up outdoors in a garden. While G is the most popular scale for garden railroads, 16 mm scale has a dedicated and growing following especially in the UK. Model locomotives in this scale are often live steam scale models of British narrow gauge prototypes. 16 mm scale track, the same gauge as O gauge is probably now more popular in the UK than G scale.

Live steam

Live steam is steam under pressure, obtained by heating water in a boiler. The steam is used to operate stationary or moving equipment.

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1:64 scale is a traditional scale for models and miniatures, in which one unit on the model represents 64 units on the actual object. It is also known as "three-sixteenths scale", since 3/16 of an inch represents one foot. A human is approximately 1+116 inches (27 mm) tall in 1:64 scale. The scale originated by halving the very common 1:32 scale, which was known as "standard size" in some hobbies.

1:24 scale

1:24 scale is a size for automobile models such as injection-molded plastic model kits or metal die-cast toys, which are built and collected by both children and adults. 1:24 means that a unit of measurement, such as one inch or one centimeter, on the model represents 24 units on the actual object. An example would be one inch of length on a model automobile would represent 24 inches on the real vehicle. Primarily automobile models are made in this scale, with a few examples of tractor trailers and other larger equipment. In the United States there is a very minor variation of the 1:24 scale, where many automobile plastic model kits are scaled at 1:25.

1:72 scale is a scale used for scale models, most commonly model aircraft, corresponding to one sixth of an inch representing one foot. In other words, 72 of a given model placed end to end would represent the length of the real thing. In this scale, a man who is six feet tall would be exactly one inch in height. The scale was popular for aircraft because small fighters and large bombers were represented, and was practically the only choice of scale if a modeler wanted to have all aircraft types represented in the same scale.

SE scale

SE scale is a designation used by some modellers to describe miniature (model) trains which run on either Gauge 1 track or O gauge track. In SE scale, 7/8 of an inch equals one foot, which is a ratio of 1:13.7. On 45 mm gauge track this represents real life narrow gauge railways that are 2 ft gauge, while on 32 mm gauge track this represents 18 in railways.

Aurora Plastics Corporation American Toy Company

The Aurora Plastics Corporation was a U.S. toy and hobby manufacturing company. It is known primarily for its production of plastic scale models of cars, airplanes, and TV and movie action figures in the 1960s. Its principal competition in modeling were various other plastic modeling firms like Revell and Monogram.

References

  1. Schleicher, Robert (2002). Slot Car Bible. US: Voyageur Press. ISBN   9781610606738.
  2. Dempewolff, Richard F (1963). Table-Top Car Racing (1st ed.). US: Popular Mechanics. LCCN   62015099. OCLC   1283813.