1:64 scale
Encyclopedia
1:32 scale
1:32 scale is a traditional scale for models and miniatures, in which one unit on the model represents 32 units on the actual object. It is also known as "three-eighths scale", since 3/8-inch represents a foot...
, which was known as "standard size" in some hobbies.
This scale became successful because of its relative size in comparison to other toys, the fact that it is a derivative of 1/16 scale, and because they are easily held by small hands. The 1/64 scale models will generally have less detail than a 1/16 scale models. Moreover, "1/64 coincides with the S scale
S scale
S Scale is a model railroad scale modeled at 1:64 scale, S scale track gauge is . S gauge trains are manufactured in both DC and AC powered varieties...
of model railroading, part of the consideration of why 1/64 became an established size."
Currently, 1:64 scale is most commonly used for automobile and other vehicle models, but it is also a popular scale for model railroads and toy trains, and has been used for ship models, also. In addition, 28mm military and fantasy figures are a popular size for tabletop gaming, and they are sometimes scaled out to 1:64, although opinion on the actual scale of 28mm range from 1:48 to 1:64.
Die-cast vehicles
Many die cast automobiles and commercial vehicle models for collectors have been made to a strict scale of 1:64. However, for much of the die-cast toyDie-cast toy
The term die-cast toy here refers to any toy or collectible model produced by using the die casting method. The toys are made of metal, with plastic, rubber or glass details. Wholly plastic toys are made by a similar process of injection moulding, but the two are rarely confused...
market, 1:64 is only a nominal scale. Though collectors and manufacturers loosely describe popular lines of die-casts as 1:64, toy vehicles are usually made to "box scale." This means that the size of the model is determined by the size of the standard packaging (formerly a cardstock box, now usually a clear blister-card). Models of a 1959 Cadillac and an Austin Mini-Cooper designed to fill up the same packaging space will have very different actual scales, but for the passenger automobiles in many die cast lines, 1:64 is a reasonable approximation. Brands of die-cast toys in and around this scale include Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco.-Models:...
and Matchbox, Ertl
Ertl Company
The Ertl Company is an American toy company best known for its die-cast metal alloy collectible replicas of farm equipment and vehicles. The company is based in Dyersville, Iowa, home of the National Farm Toy Museum...
, Code 3
Code 3 Collectibles
Code 3 Collectibles is a company based in Woodland Hills, California that creates customized model vehicles. On April 25, 2007, Matrix Holdings Ltd. entered into a multi-million-dollar agreement with Code 3 Collectibles to purchase the company. On August 19, 2011, Code 3 Collectibles announced is...
, Johnny Lightning
Johnny Lightning
Johnny Lightning is a brand of model cars originally produced by Topper Toys, similar to the hugely successful Mattel Hot Wheels die cast racing cars. They were not quite as successful, one major reason was that the styling, casting and finish was not as of high quality as Mattel's Hot Wheels...
, and Jada Toys
Jada Toys
Jada Toys, Incorporated of Industry, California, USA is a manufacturer of collectible diecast model cars and radio controlled vehicles. It was founded in 1999 by husband and wife Jack and May Li...
.
Outside the USA brands like Maisto
Maisto
Maisto International Inc. is a popular toy brand of the May Cheong Group . Maisto manufactures die-cast models of automobiles, aircraft, and motorcycles...
, Siku, Norev Mini Jet, Corgi, Tomica, AutoArt, Edocar, Kyosho, Majorette
Majorette
Majorette is a French toy manufacturer which mostly produces small die-cast cars, particularly in 1:64 scale. Traditionally, Majorette was centered in the area of Lyon.-History:...
, Schuco, Welly, and many others, are available in this scale.
Slot Cars
Slot car
A slot car is a powered miniature auto or other vehicle that is guided by a groove or slot in the track on which it runs. A pin or blade extends from the bottom of the car into the slot...
s are often sized to fit a standard motorized chassis, and therefore vary somewhat in scale.
The mechanisms have increased in size over the years to generate more power. The so-called "HO" sized slot cars which were introduced in the 1960s at about 1:76 scale, now average around 1:64 scale.
Pictured is an early example of an approximately 1:64 slot car built by Aurora
Aurora Plastics Corporation
The Aurora Plastics Corporation is a U.S. toy and hobby manufacturing and marketing company. It is known primarily for its production of plastic model kits in the 1960s.-History:Aurora Plastics Corporation was founded in March, 1950 by engineer Joseph E...
around 1972, as part of its AFX line. This first-generation AMC Matador
AMC Matador
The AMC Matador is a mid-size car that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation from 1971 to 1978. The Matador came in two generations: 1971 to 1973 and a major redesign from 1974 to 1978...
coupe NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
race car replica is designed to fit on an enlarged chassis for nominal HO track.
The 1:64 slot car lines include Micro Scalextric
Scalextric
Scalextric is a toy brand for a range of slot car racing sets which first appeared in the late 1950s, as a creation of British firm Minimodels. The brand is currently owned and distributed by Hornby.-History:...
from the maker of the pioneering 1:32 scale
1:32 scale
1:32 scale is a traditional scale for models and miniatures, in which one unit on the model represents 32 units on the actual object. It is also known as "three-eighths scale", since 3/8-inch represents a foot...
slot cars. Tomy-Aurora and Life-Like also produce cars that average close to 1:64. Mattel's diecast Hot Wheels Racing series and the Winner's Circle also have made diecast scenes of 1/64-scale pit crews and race officials that look right with the appropriate NASCAR slot car models.
Wargaming
Metal figures for tabletop wargamingWargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
and role-playing gaming are usually not described by scale ratio, but by the approximate height of a human figure, in millimeters, from the bottom of the feet to the eyes. Height in mm is generally not measured to the top of the head because many miniatures used in wargames are helmeted, alien in nature, etc. Manufacturers gradually enlarged the standard 25 mm figures of the 1970s, at first describing them as "large 25s," or "heroic 25s." By the 1990s, they were simply called 28 mm. figures, and have by 2009 replaced 25s as the standard size for role-playing and many military games. Accessories scaled to match 28 mm gaming figures are generally built to 1:64 scale.
Model and Toy Trains
A. C. Gilbert Company
The A. C. Gilbert Company was an American toy company, once one of the largest toy companies in the world. It is best known for introducing the Erector Set to the marketplace....
, a major toy manufacturer, challenged the predominant O scale
O scale
O scale is a scale commonly used for toy trains and model railroading. Originally introduced by German toy manufacturer Märklin around 1900, by the 1930s three-rail alternating current O gauge was the most common model railroad scale in the United States and remained so until the early 1960s...
(1:48) manufacturers such as Lionel
Lionel Corp.
Lionel Corporation was an American toy manufacturer and retailer that did business from 1900 to 1993. Founded as an electrical novelties company, Lionel specialized in various products throughout its existence, but toy trains and model railroads were its main claim to fame...
with a fully developed line of 1:64 scale and semi-scale equipment marketed under the American Flyer
American Flyer
American Flyer was a popular brand of toy train and model railroad in the United States in the middle part of the 20th century.- The Chicago era, 1907–1938 :...
brand. Because they were 25% smaller than traditional O scale models, they ran on two-rail track that was more realistic than the traditional 3-rail O gauge track. These features would become standard characteristics of model trains in later years, when the even-smaller HO scale
HO scale
HO or H0 is the most popular scale of model railway in the world.According to the NMRA standard S-1.2 predominantly used in North America, in HO scale, represents 1 real foot ; this ratio works out to about 1:87.1. According to the MOROP standard NEM 010 predominantly used in Europe, the scale is...
(1:87) took over the model train market from both the O and S scale trains. S-scale survives currently with a small number of manufacturers producing scale equipment for hobbyists and a large number of collectors who seek out the 1950s-era American Flyer equipment to run trains on nostalgic layouts.
Since the 1930s, O scale (1:48) train manufacturers, including Gilbert, Lionel and Marx
Louis Marx and Company
Louis Marx and Company was an American toy manufacturer from 1919 to 1978. Its boxes were often imprinted with the slogan, "One of the many Marx toys, have you all of them?"-Logo and Offerings:...
, have produced bargain or introductory lines of undersized toy trains to run on O-gauge track with very tight curves, known as 0-27 track. Though sold as O gauge, the bodies of these undersized cars and engines were often scaled to 1:64 proportions. The origins of Gilbert's S-gauge equipment can be traced to its American Flyer O-27 line of 1938 and after.
See also
- List of scale model sizes
- Scale modelScale modelA scale model is a physical model, a representation or copy of an object that is larger or smaller than the actual size of the object, which seeks to maintain the relative proportions of the physical size of the original object. Very often the scale model is used as a guide to making the object in...
- 1:32 scale1:32 scale1:32 scale is a traditional scale for models and miniatures, in which one unit on the model represents 32 units on the actual object. It is also known as "three-eighths scale", since 3/8-inch represents a foot...
; O scaleO scaleO scale is a scale commonly used for toy trains and model railroading. Originally introduced by German toy manufacturer Märklin around 1900, by the 1930s three-rail alternating current O gauge was the most common model railroad scale in the United States and remained so until the early 1960s...
; HO scaleHO scaleHO or H0 is the most popular scale of model railway in the world.According to the NMRA standard S-1.2 predominantly used in North America, in HO scale, represents 1 real foot ; this ratio works out to about 1:87.1. According to the MOROP standard NEM 010 predominantly used in Europe, the scale is... - Model carModel carA model car or toy car is a miniature representation of an automobile. Other miniature motor vehicles, such as trucks, buses, or even ATVs, etc. are often included in the general category of model cars...
- Die cast toy
- Rail transport modellingRail transport modellingRailway modelling or model railroading is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale...
- Rail transport modelling scalesRail transport modelling scalesRail transport modelling utilises a variety of scales to ensure scale models look correct when placed next to each other. Model railway scales are standardized worldwide by many organizations and hobbyist groups...
- Rail transport modelling scale standards
- S gauge
- WargamingWargamingA wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
- Role playing game
- Miniature figure (gaming)
- Common slot car scales
- Ship modelShip modelShip models or model ships are scale representations of ships. They can range in size from 1/6000 scale wargaming miniatures to large vessels capable of holding people....