What is the most popular model scale?

1:72 is the most popular scale for aircraft models and is widely used for armour and figures. For military vehicles, 1:35 dominates. Railway modellers in the UK primarily use OO gauge (1:76), while wargamers commonly use 28mm (approximately 1:56). The best scale depends on your subject, available space and personal preference.

How do I convert real measurements to scale?

Divide the real-world measurement by the scale factor. For example, a 10-metre wall at 1:72 scale becomes 10,000mm / 72 = 138.9mm (about 13.9cm). This calculator handles the maths automatically for any scale and unit.

What does 1:72 scale mean?

1:72 means that one unit on the model represents 72 of the same units in real life. So 1mm on the model equals 72mm in reality, or 1 inch on the model equals 72 inches (6 feet) in real life.

Can I use this for architectural models?

Yes. Architectural models commonly use scales like 1:50, 1:100, 1:200 and 1:500. Enter your scale as a custom value if it is not in the dropdown list.

ModelCalcs

Scale Calculator — Universal Scale Converter

Convert any measurement between real world and model scale. Supports all common modelling scales from 1:6 to 1:700.

Conversion Direction

Measurement

Unit

Scale

How We Calculate This

Scale conversion uses a simple division or multiplication depending on the direction of conversion.

The formulas

Real to Scale: Scale measurement = Real measurement ÷ Scale factor
Scale to Real: Real measurement = Scale measurement × Scale factor

For example, a real-world aircraft with a 15m wingspan at 1:72 scale: 15,000mm ÷ 72 = 208.3mm wingspan on the model. Conversely, if you measure 208.3mm on a 1:72 model, the real aircraft has a 208.3 × 72 = 15,000mm (15m) wingspan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Real to Scale Converter

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Scale to Real Converter

Convert a model measurement back up to find the real-world equivalent.

Scale Ratio Calculator

Find the scale ratio from a real measurement and its model equivalent.

Mixed Scale Calculator

Convert a measurement from one model scale to another without going back to real size.

Scale Speed Calculator

Calculate the correct scale speed so your model moves at a realistic pace.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.