Model Kit
Model Kit
The History of Scales in Plastic Kits
A Scale Model is a replica or copy of an object that is either larger or smaller than the original. Commonly the scale model is a smaller version of the original and is produced to provide a guide for making a full size version or as a hobby or toy.
Model makers often make models for the following professions;
For architects who require a smaller version to build from.
For engineers to evaluate design performance at an early stage
For salesman to provide scaled down versions of an item for demonstration
Film makers to recreate elaborate sets
Toy makers and hobbyists make a wide variety of models including die-cast models, injection moulded, model railroads, fantasy creatures and Remote Control vehicles etc for their own enjoyment.
Scales and Size
Hobbyists' Scale Models are from those created by the companies which made the full-sized products. Originally, a "scale" was a physical measuring instrument. First among scales are the rulers that are triangular in cross-section and called architect's scales or engineer's scales. The terminology used was of this manner: "scale size to full size", or the reverse. An architect's scale was used to make the first affordable models: doll houses and their furniture. Its popular scales for these miniatures were "one inch to the foot" and "one-half inch to the foot"; there is also "three-quarters inch to the foot".
The proportion of the model to the prototype was originally called "size", as in "full-sized" or "half-sized", as used on a blueprint for making something that would fit on a workbench.
Phrases used are those of "larger" and "smaller" scales. The scale of 1/8"-to-the-foot is a larger scale than 1/16"-to-the-foot, even though the denominator is smaller. So a larger model is made to a larger scale. You Can remember this in that a full-size, or full-scale, model is larger than a half-size model.
The History of Plastic Model kits
For aircraft recognition in the Second World War, the RAF selected models to the scale of "one-sixth inch to the foot" (which was two British lines, a legal division of length which didn't make it to America, besides being a standard shipyard scale). Although some consumer models were sold pre-war in Britain to this scale, the airmens' models were pressed out of ground-up old rubber tires. This is of course the still-popular 1:72 scale. It wasn't predestined to succeed; there were competitors.
The US Navy, in contrast, had metal models made to the proportion 1:432, which is "nine-feet-to-the-quarter-inch". At this scale, a model six feet is about half a statute mile; and seven feet about half a nautical mile.
About the Author
Chris Tyrrell writes for ABC Modelsport who stock a wide variety of plastic kits and radio controlled toys. Visit the website for more details.
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SIGNAL ANIMATION ACTIVATION CONTROLER RANDOM LIGHT LEDs |  |
1 Bid | US $24.95 | 20m |
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HO Scale MODERN HIGHWAY OVERPASS w PIERS 150 ft KIT | |
0 Bid | US $29.95 | 25m |
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Campbell Scale Models Passenger Platforms HO 786 | |
0 Bid | US $5.00 | 37m |
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Finished Preiser HO Model 650 Karussell Carousel | |
1 Bid | US $8.99 | 52m |
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1956 LINDBERG LINE AIRPLANES Scale MODEL KITS TOY AD | |
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US $14.99 | 55m |
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1 87 HO Roco Minitanks 428 hummer humvee | |
0 Bid | US $10.50 | 3h 23m |
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302 KIT Mack 15 Ton Industrial Gas Oil Electric LOCO | |
0 Bid | US $15.99 | 5h 26m |
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241 KIT 1914 Model T Touring Car w Driver RR WHEELS | |
0 Bid | US $14.99 | 5h 27m |
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240 KIT 1928 FORD MODEL A CLOSED CAB PICKUP TRUCK | |
0 Bid | US $12.99 | 5h 27m |
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238 KIT 1923 FORD MODEL TT STAKE BED 1 TON TRUCK | |
0 Bid | US $12.99 | 5h 29m |
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239 KIT 1929 FORD MODEL AA 1 TON OIL TANK TRUCK | |
0 Bid | US $12.99 | 5h 29m |
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STOCK PEN HO SCALE LIFE LIKE KIT 1378 NEW IN BOX | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 5h 31m |
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HARDWARE STORE BACHMANN HO PLASTICVILLE KIT 2643 NEW | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 5h 32m |
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ACE SUPERMARKKET CONVIENCE STORE LIFE LIKE KIT 1330 | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 5h 33m |
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KFC KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN DRIVE IN LIFE LIKE KIT1394 | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 5h 35m |
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MT VERNON MANUFACTURING CO LIFE LIKE KIT 1337 NEW | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 5h 36m |
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NEW FALLER 110072 AROUND THE STATION ACCESSORY SET | |
0 Bid | US $22.83 | 6h 37m |
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NEW KIBRI HO 9159 ASSORTED MOTOR SAIL ROW BOATS x8 | |
2 Bids | US $6.17 | 6h 39m |
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NEW KIBRI N 7024 TOWN CHURCH ST HOCHSTADT | |
0 Bid | US $9.13 | 6h 43m |
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NEW KIBRI HO 8749 COURT BUILDING MANOR HOUSE | |
1 Bid | US $18.26 | 6h 46m |
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NEW KIBRI N 7701 RAILWAY STATION HOLZKIRCHEN HUGE | |
1 Bid | US $45.68 | 6h 49m |
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NEW KIBRI HO 8136 GARAGE FOR EIGHT TRUCKS | |
0 Bid | US $13.70 | 6h 58m |
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NEW KIBRI HO 9456 MANUAL TURNTABLE | |
0 Bid | US $9.13 | 7h 2m |
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NEW FALLER HO 131251 GOODS SHED SCHENKER | |
1 Bid | US $9.13 | 7h 7m |
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KIBRI RAILWAY STATION BUILDING KIT N SCALE | |
0 Bid | US $31.98 | 7h 26m |
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VINTAGE WOOD CRAFTSMAN TRUSS ROD REEFER KIT BY CRM | |
0 Bid | US $7.35 | 8h 57m |
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THREE STALL ROUNDHOUSE KIT Deconstructed | |
0 Bid | US $6.50 | 9h 8m |
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Motor car house JV Models HO wood kit | |
0 Bid | US $3.75 | 9h 27m |
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MODEL POWER TRACK SIDE MAINTENANCE BUILDINGS KIT NEW | |
0 Bid | US $8.99 | 9h 30m |
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FALLER B 532 HO SCALE BRIDGE MIB GERMANY | |
1 Bid | US $2.95 | 9h 43m |
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Vintage PROFIL TRAGER SUPPORTING GIRDER 540 1 Germany | |
1 Bid | US $1.95 | 9h 44m |
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Roco Komo 1 87 WW2 Soviet SU 100 x 2 | |
1 Bid | US $20.00 | 10h |
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Roco Komo 1 87 WW2 Soviet SU 85 44 x 2 | |
1 Bid | US $20.00 | 10h 2m |
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n scale CS MODELS 100 ton 4 bay undecorated hopper NEW | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 10h 2m |
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Roco Komo 1 87 WW2 Soviet BT light tanks x 2 | |
3 Bids | US $26.00 | 10h 6m |
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Roco Komo 1 87 WW2 Soviet BT 7M tanks x 2 | |
3 Bids | US $26.00 | 10h 12m |
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Roco Komo 1 87 WW2 Soviet Zis 5 trucks x 2 | |
2 Bids | US $22.50 | 10h 16m |
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Model Power1542 Building Cleaning Company KIT | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 10h 24m |
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McKean UNION PACIFIC P Standard PS 1 40 Boxcar Kit | |
0 Bid | US $7.95 | 10h 43m |
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MEMORY LANE STUDIOS HO U A THE PRIVY WOOD MODEL KIT | |
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US $55.00 | 10h 44m |
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ATHEARN HO R T R NW 50 COMBINATION DOOR BOXCAR 56068 | |
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US $19.00 | 10h 48m |
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WALTHERS CORNERSTONE HO U A GOLDEN VALLEY FREIGHT HOUSE | |
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US $44.00 | 10h 50m |
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HELJAN N SCALE U A FOUNDRY PLASTIC MODEL KIT | |
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US $27.00 | 10h 53m |
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TWO Unbuilt Kits Athearn 86 4 door Boxcar UNDEC | |
1 Bid | US $5.00 | 11h 10m |
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Unbuilt Kit Athearn 86 4 door Boxcar N W Blue | |
0 Bid | US $5.00 | 11h 22m |
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O Gauge BULK OIL STORAGE TANK KIT Custom Built OOAK | |
1 Bid | US $29.99 | 11h 24m |
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HO SCALE TRAINS COALING TOWER MODEL RAILROAD BLDING KIT | |
3 Bids | US $5.11 | 11h 25m |
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Unbuilt Kit Athearn 86 4 door Boxcar MoPac Eagle | |
1 Bid | US $5.00 | 11h 32m |
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O Gauge LIQUID OXYGEN STORAGE TANK Custom Built OOAK | |
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US $39.99 | 11h 33m |
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O Gauge SIDE BY SIDE VERTICAL TANK Custom Built OOAK | |
1 Bid | US $49.99 | 11h 44m |
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Unbuilt Kit Walthers HO DIFCO Side Dump gondola UP | |
1 Bid | US $5.00 | 11h 45m |
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Unbuilt Kit Walthers HO 39 Airslide Multifoods | |
0 Bid | US $5.00 | 11h 48m |
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O Gauge SPHERICAL STORAGE TANK Custom Built OOAK | |
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US $169.99 | 11h 51m |
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Unbuilt Kit Accurail 50 boxcar HOUSATONIC Railway | |
7 Bids | US $20.50 | 11h 54m |
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NEW TRAVELING CRANE COAL STATION Deluxe N Scale Kit | |
12 Bids | US $36.80 | 11h 55m |
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NEW GLACIER GRAVEL COMPANY Walthers N Scale Kit | |
11 Bids | US $24.01 | 11h 57m |
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Retired FACTORY OFFICE N Scale Penny Auction | |
8 Bids | US $5.50 | 11h 59m |
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O Gauge TWIN HORIZONTAL STORAGE TANK Custom Built | |
2 Bids | US $21.38 | 12h 1m |
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Detailed FACTORY BUILDING with FIGURE N Scale | |
5 Bids | US $8.50 | 12h 1m |
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Detailed INDUSTRIAL TANK FARM by Walthers N Scale | |
10 Bids | US $21.90 | 12h 3m |
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Parts 100 Athearn type blue box kit wheelsets | |
1 Bid | US $4.24 | 12h 4m |
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Weathered INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE with FIGURES N Scale | |
7 Bids | US $5.50 | 12h 7m |
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NEW INDUSTRIAL WALKWAYS Etched BRASS N Scale Kit | |
9 Bids | US $11.05 | 12h 8m |
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NEW WATER TOWER JV Models WOOD N Scale Kit | |
11 Bids | US $9.67 | 12h 9m |
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NEW INDUSTRIAL STAIRWAYS Etched BRASS N Scale Kit | |
8 Bids | US $11.05 | 12h 10m |
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NEW 2 BUNK HOUSES JV Models WOOD N Scale Kit | |
6 Bids | US $8.50 | 12h 11m |
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