There are 4 types of scales:

  • 1:n   -  for example 1:8 scale means the figure is one-eighth of the real
  • n"  -  is just the height of a figure, for example a 6″ figure is 6 inches tall
  • Gauge  -   means the distance between the inside edges of the two running rails—the width of the track that the train’s wheels run on
  • Some odd ones  -  such as 
    • 16mm Narrow Gauge, use for modelling narrow-gauge railways at a scale of 16 millimetres on the model for every 1 foot on the real railway
    • Q, ZO, s, HO, TT, N, Z, ZZ, T Scales which are just an alternative way of expressing a 1:n Scale


Note that we do not cover yet for n:1 scales (where the model is larger than the original) and that T-Scale is used for two different 1:n scales .


Some of ours are unusual looking


We have combined these when they represent the same measurement. While that is unorthodox it allows you to find all items, for example 1:12 (6”) will show you model cars (generally measure in 1:n) and figures (often measures in n") that work together.  Combinations show as "same as".


Here are all of hobbyDB's scales (if yours is missing let us know and we will add it)  -


1:1 (same as 72")

1:2 (same as 36")

1:3 (same as 24")

1:4 (same as 18")

1:5

1:5.5 (same as X Gauge)

1:6 (same as 12")

1:7

1:8 (same as 9" or VII Gauge)

1:9 (same as 8")

1:10 (same as 7")

1:11 (same as V Gauge)

1:12 (same as 6")

1:13 (same as 5.5")

1:14 (same as 5")

1:15

1:16 (same as III Gauge)

1:17

1:18 (same as 3.75"-4")

1:19 (same as 16mm Narrow Gauge)

1:20

1:20.3 (same as F Scale)

1:21 (same as 3.5")

1:22

1:22.5 (same as G Scale, Gauge II pre 1909 or Gauge 3 / American G Scale)

1:23

1:24 (same as 3")

1:25

1:26

1:27

1:28

1:29 (same as Gauge 2 post 1909)

1:30 (same as 2.5")

1:31

1:32 (same as Gauge I)

1:33

1:34

1:35

1:36 (same as 2")

1:37

1:38

1:39

1:40 (same as 1.75")

1:41

1:42

1:43 (same as Gauge 0 UK)

1:44

1:45 (same as 0 Scale)

1:46

1:47

1:48 (same as 1.5" or Gauge 0 USA)

1:49

1:50

1:51

1:52

1:53

1:54

1:55

1:56

1:57

1:58

1:59

1:60 (same as Z0 Scale)

1:61

1:62

1:63

1:64 (same as S Scale)

1:65

1:66

1:67

1:68

1:69

1:70

1:71

1:72 (same as 1")

1:73

1:74

1:75

1:76

1:76.2 (same as OO Gauge)

1:77

1:78

1:79

1:80

1:81

1:82

1:83

1:84

1:85

1:86

1:87 (same as HO Scale)

1:88

1:89

1:90

1:91

1:92

1:93

1:94

1:95

1:96

1:97

1:98

1:99

1:100 (same as TT Scale modern)

1:108

1:110

1:111

1:120 (same as TT Scale traditional)

1:123

1:125

1:130

1:132

1:140

1:144 (same as 0.5")

1:145

1:148 (same as N Scale)

1:150

1:152 (same as 2mm Scale)

1:160 (same as N Scale)

1:170

1:180

1:185

1:187

1:190

1:200

1:220 (same as Z Scale)

1:225

1:240

1:250

1:253

1:270

1:285

1:288

1:290

1:300 (same as ZZ Scale)

1:320

1:350

1:360

1:375

1:390

1:400

1:426

1:432

1:450 (same as T Scale)

1:460

1:480

1:500

1:535

1:542

1:550

1:570

1:600

1:700

1:720

1:800

1:900

1:1000

1:1200

1:1250

1:1420

1:2000

1:2400

1:2500

1:3000

1:3900

1:4800

1:6000

1:20000