Model Scale, Part 3 – Architectural Scales

Common architectural scales are in most cases different from standard scales developed by modeling industry, although some of them are come very close.

In United States architects used to scale represented by inch/foot relations and sometimes have little knowledge of unit-less “international scale”. It is not a place and goal of professional model maker to educate architects. We have to speak with architects their language, equally comprehending in both systems.

Below is a table showing some of the most usable architectural model scales along with transcription to standard US inch/foot scales and recommended scales for accessories/scenery elements.

International Scale	1” of the model based equivalent	1′ of the origin based equivalent	Other equivalent	Recommended standard scales for scenery elements
Architectural Models
1:10	1” = 10”			1:9
1:16		3/4″ = 1′		1:16
1:20	1” = 20”			1:22.5
1:25	1” = 25”			1:24
1:24 *	1”= 2′	1/2”=1′		1:24 , 1:22.5
1:32	1”= 2.66′	3/8”=1′		1:32 , 1:35
1:48	1”= 4′	1/4”=1′		1:48 , 1:50
1:50 *	1”=4.16′			1:50 , 1:48
1:75	1”=6.25′	3/16”=1′		1:72, 1:76
1:100*	1”=8.33′	1/8”=1′		1:100, 1:87(HO)
1:125	1”=10′	3/32”=1′		1:122(TT), 1:100
1:150	1”=12.5′			1:160(N)
1:160*	1”=13.33′		3/4”=10′	1:160(N)
1:200*	1”=16.66′	1/16”=1′		1:220(Z)
1:240*	1”=20′			1:220(Z)
1:250	1”=20.83′			1:220(Z)???
Urban Models
1:300	1”=25′			1:287
1:360	1”=30′			n/a
1:384		1/32”=1′		n/a
1:480*	1”=40′			1:500
1:500*	1”=41.66′			1:500
1:600	1”=50′			1:500???
1:1000	1”=83.3′			n/a
1:1200*	1”=100′			n/a
1:2000*	1”=166.6′			n/a
1:2400*	1”=200′			n/a

Table legend: * most recognizable scales; ??? be careful, scale deviation is significant