How does the term scale relate to models?
Scale is the term that is given to a model as a measurement against the prototype (the real subject). The 1 in the equation represents the actual vehicle, aircraft, ship, or any other subject. The 2nd number represents the model. For example; a 1/48 scale model of a P-51 Mustang is only about one quarter the size of the real P-51 Mustang. Another example is that it would take approximately 48 1/48 scale Mustang models lined up nose to tail to equal the length of the real P-51 Mustang. The 1 in the equation always represents the real prototype, and the 2nd number represents the size compared to the prototype of the model. The smaller the 2nd number is, the larger the model will be, likewise the higher the second number is, the smaller the model. A 1/144 scale model of a popular airline aircraft will only have a wingspan of 10-14″, while a 1/72 scale model of the same type of aircraft may have a wingspan of almost two feet or more. The popular scales for aircraft, from smallest to larges
