1/24 and 1/25 scale.

[The Lambrusco Kid]

I was wondering why most North American kits are 1/25 and japanese/european kits are 1/24...

Anything to do with the imperial/metric system or something?

And I was looking at those C5s here and I'd really like to build one. If i'm not mistaken they are 1/25 scale and I'm thinking that it would look outta scale next to my 1/24 collection. Is there an tangible visual difference between the 2 scale?

Thanks.

[flyonthewall]

The difference isn't really anything to worry about. So much so infact that you can swap parts from the two scales eg wheels etc and often people do. Vric's Supra with ITR rims springs to mind as one recent example.

[RONALD SOLE]

Personally for the difference in scale unless you are real picky I dont think there is a difference to worry about since model manufacturers often get dimensions slightly wrong anyway, as to why the difference to begin with, no idea, could be as you say to do with the metric/imperial system, but how do you explain 1/43 scale??

[Vric]

Originally posted by RONALD SOLE
Personally for the difference in scale unless you are real picky I dont think there is a difference to worry about since model manufacturers often get dimensions slightly wrong anyway, as to why the difference to begin with, no idea, could be as you say to do with the metric/imperial system, but how do you explain 1/43 scale??

not really sure.. my Integra look really strange side by side with my Supra..... New Mini cooper is a bit bigger

[The Lambrusco Kid]

Hey Vric, check this out !

Remember when you told about modelexpress?

[nervestrikes]

Well, the real truth of the matter is that the North American scale 1/25 is based on the Inch, while the 1/24 is based on the centimeter because the Japanese use the Metric system as well as most of the rest of the world except good ole North America that has to be different even though the metric system is better. Just some truth mixed with opinion.

[hirofkd]

Originally posted by nervestrikes
Well, the real truth of the matter is that the North American scale 1/25 is based on the Inch, while the 1/24 is based on the centimeter because the Japanese use the Metric system as well as most of the rest of the world except good ole North America that has to be different even though the metric system is better. Just some truth mixed with opinion.

Metric is decimal scale, and 1/24 isn't really convenient to use, so I believe 1/24 is very little to do with Japan and Europe using metric system.

1/24 is a half of 1/12, and in 1/12 scale, 1 ft in full size = 1 inch in miniature. It's a common scale in architecture model. So, the scales that can be divided by 12 or 6 is probably based on the English system.

In 1/25 scale, 1 inch is approximately 1 mm, and that was developed by American Company, probably AMT. (It would make more sense, if it's called 1/25.4)

Last time, I measured the C5R kit, the wheel was almost 1/24, and the body was somewhere between 1/24 and 1/25, so it doesn't look so bad next to other GT and Le Man cars.

But Revell ITR looks very small compared to Fujimi Integra.

A bigger part on a small model would look okay, so using 1/24 scale wheel on 1/25 car doesn't hurt its appearance.
But using 1/25 scale model on 1/24 might look a little odd, ie, ITR engine on Fujimi.

[erix7]

Originally posted by nervestrikes
Well, the real truth of the matter is that the North American scale 1/25 is based on the Inch, while the 1/24 is based on the centimeter because the Japanese use the Metric system as well as most of the rest of the world except good ole North America that has to be different even though the metric system is better. Just some truth mixed with opinion.

Actually both scales are inch/foot related:

1/25 is 1mm to 1 inch (25.4mm, you'd be surprised how many 1/25 scale kits are actually 1/25.4 ).

1/24 is 1 inch to 2 feet.

From a metric vs inch/foot system POV, 1/25 would actually make more sense than 1/24 does.
Several Japanese manufacturers used to make 1/20 scale kits, but they lost out against the more popular 1/24 and 1/25 scales.

-- Eric.

[008]

It really has little to do with metric vs. standard measurements. 1/12 scale is 1 foot per inch, so what does that say about Japanese 1/12 scale kits?

Model kits are created in a large size; you don't think the master builders and designers actually work on tiny 1/25 or 1/24 scale parts do you? The main difference is what size they build the originals. Since US automakers usually built their concept models in 1/10 scale, that's where the model makers got their patterns from. Then they take a pantograph machine and reduce it 2.5 times, therefore 1/25 scale. Reducing it twice got 1/20 scale but they were deemed to big.

Other makers simply made their masters in 1/12 scale, then reduce it twice making 1/24 scale. Some of the older US kit makers had their masters in 1/12 scale (MPC, Monogram, etc) which is why you see some US kit rehashes in 1/24 scale. Revell has taken over Monogram which explains why some Revell kits are 1/25 and some 1/24. If you see a Revell 1/24 kit you can be pretty sure it's from an old tooling. If it is a new Revell kit in 1/24 (VW Bus, Enzo, Bugatti EB110, etc) that's a whole different subject on mold sharing between manufacturers.

I forget the rest of the little details but SAE ran a small article about it a few years ago although they didn't mention where 1/43 and 1/18 came from so I won't make any guesses.

I buy what I like and not worry about scale. It's all about the fun of building one, isn't it?

[nervestrikes]

Man 008 you are a wealth of information, great to have you here. That was an excellent logical explaination, much appreciated.

[Jay!]

See also:

http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/model...sfaq.3.html#q3

[kcimos]

FYI:
i've got 1/25 & 1/24 kits for the porsche 904.
there is a big difference (approx. 1/4" in length).

[willimo]

There is a pretty big difference, I used to think it was negligable, but I can't see myself sticking a 1:25 motor in a 1:24. I do prefer 1:24 though, because I can bust out my architect's scale during fabrication. Fun! Just in case anyone cared. I have to talk even though I have nothing real to share....

Shut up willimo.