Re: [box-art] Abridged summary of box-art@googlegroups.com - 3 updates in 3 topics

9 views
Skip to first unread message

FredKitMaker B

unread,
Oct 22, 2025, 3:18:41 PMOct 22
to box...@googlegroups.com
Hi Jean,

Sorry to go off the topic but model scales - you hit one of my passions (or white whales)!   Incidentally, Fujimi chose 1/76 as their military scale.  Like you pointed out, OO is 1/76, which the British also call 4mm scale because 4mm = 1 scale foot, but uses HO scale track.  (I recall true OO track is available but most people use HO track.)  HO, which is 1/87, is 3.5mm per foot.  O scale is, as you said, 1/48.  Or is it??  In the UK it is 1/43.5, or 7mm.  "HO" is "half O".  Also, some in Continental Europe scale O to 1/45.  For that matter, British N scale is different than N scale elsewhere in the universe, the British using 1/148 instead of 1/160.  Don't get me started on G scale/gauge.  And incidentally, talking about model train sizes, there's a distinct difference between "scale" and "gauge".  I won't go there unless other people want to know. Let's just say that it can be somewhat confusing and the way I explain it is think of what "box scale" means when talking about model airplanes/ tanks / car /ships. 

The only scale I'm interested in for which I've not been able to crack a ratio is 1/700.  I've accepted it is a made-up scale that the Japanese used for the ship models, probably a box scale based on the metric system, a box scale that became a standard/universal scale - like 1/35.

For me, it's fun to talk about scales sometimes.  Now, back to Matchbox's cool models!

All my best,

Fred Boucher

On Wed, Oct 22, 2025, 8:41 AM <box...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Jean Aker <jf...@juno.com>: Oct 21 05:20PM

The scale 1/76 corresponds with 00 gauge model railroads.
That allowed models in this scale to be used for model train layouts.
 
For the record, 1/48 scale is O gauge, which is the old Lionel ...more
jaime hudson <moon...@yahoo.com>: Oct 21 04:33PM

Nice art on this Matchbox kit. I find these tanks without a turret fascinating.
If you have not seen it yet, this great tank movie is free on YouTube:
'Send in the Tanks'. A B&W WW-2 'Shermans fight ...more
FredKitMaker B <fred.b...@kitmaker.net>: Oct 21 11:46AM -0400

Over the years I've had very little experience with Matchbox kits. I know
they're very popular in some circles. But the British scale does not match
my other interests. Some of their little ...more
You received this digest because you're subscribed to updates for this group. You can change your settings on the group membership page.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it send an email to box-art+u...@googlegroups.com.

jaime hudson

unread,
Oct 23, 2025, 12:05:15 AMOct 23
to box...@googlegroups.com
Fred,
Thanks! for the info on various scales. I want to do a train layout some day and wish to
incorporate some tanks and/or aircraft into the scenery. Good to know what will work.
Keep 'Em Flying!
-Jaime Hudson






On Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 12:18:41 PM PDT, FredKitMaker B <fred.b...@kitmaker.net> wrote:





Hi Jean,

Sorry to go off the topic but model scales - you hit one of my passions (or white whales)! Incidentally, Fujimi chose 1/76 as their military scale. Like you pointed out, OO is 1/76, which the British also call 4mm scale because 4mm = 1 scale foot, but uses HO scale track. (I recall true OO track is available but most people use HO track.) HO, which is 1/87, is 3.5mm per foot. O scale is, as you said, 1/48. Or is it?? In the UK it is 1/43.5, or 7mm. "HO" is "half O". Also, some in Continental Europe scale O to 1/45. For that matter, British N scale is different than N scale elsewhere in the universe, the British using 1/148 instead of 1/160. Don't get me started on G scale/gauge. And incidentally, talking about model train sizes, there's a distinct difference between "scale" and "gauge". I won't go there unless other people want to know. Let's just say that it can be somewhat confusing and the way I explain it is think of what "box scale" means when talking about model airplanes/ tanks / car /ships.

The only scale I'm interested in for which I've not been able to crack a ratio is 1/700. I've accepted it is a made-up scale that the Japanese used for the ship models, probably a box scale based on the metric system, a box scale that became a standard/universal scale - like 1/35.

For me, it's fun to talk about scales sometimes. Now, back to Matchbox's cool models!

All my best,

Fred Boucher

On Wed, Oct 22, 2025, 8:41 AM <box...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> box...@googlegroups.com Google Groups
>
>
>
>
> Today's topic summary
> View all topics
>
>
>
> * Abridged summary of box...@googlegroups.com - 1 update in 1 topic - 1 Update
>
> * Free Download Alert 20OCT25 - 1 Update
>
> * Abridged summary of box...@googlegroups.com - 1 update in 1 topic - 1 Update
>
>
> Abridged summary of box...@googlegroups.com - 1 update in 1 topic
> Jean Aker <jf...@juno.com>: Oct 21 05:20PM
>
> The scale 1/76 corresponds with 00 gauge model railroads.
> That allowed models in this scale to be used for model train layouts.
>
> For the record, 1/48 scale is O gauge, which is the old Lionel ...more
>
>
>
> Back to top
> Free Download Alert 20OCT25
> jaime hudson <moon...@yahoo.com>: Oct 21 04:33PM
>
> Nice art on this Matchbox kit. I find these tanks without a turret fascinating.
> If you have not seen it yet, this great tank movie is free on YouTube:
> 'Send in the Tanks'. A B&W WW-2 'Shermans fight ...more
>
>
>
> Back to top
> Abridged summary of box...@googlegroups.com - 1 update in 1 topic
> FredKitMaker B <fred.b...@kitmaker.net>: Oct 21 11:46AM -0400
>
> Over the years I've had very little experience with Matchbox kits. I know
> they're very popular in some circles. But the British scale does not match
> my other interests. Some of their little ...more
>
>
>
> Back to top
>
>
>
> You received this digest because you're subscribed to updates for this group. You can change your settings on the group membership page .
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it send an email to box-art+u...@googlegroups.com .
>
>
>


--
WHEN USING AN EMAIL PROGRAM to reply to this message click REPLY TO LIST or REPLY TO ALL so that your reply will go out to all members of the group. If you click the standard REPLY button your comment will *only* be sent to the original author and will *not* be seen by any other members of the group (not recommended).

TO UNSUBSCRIBE from this group, send an email with Subject: "unsubscirbe" to: box-art+u...@googlegroups.com

To post a NEW MESSAGE to the group, send an new email to:
box...@googlegroups.com

To view or sign in to this group on the web, use this URL:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/box-art

Boxart Den Image Gallery: https://www.boxartden.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Box Art Den" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to box-art+u...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/box-art/CAMRA%2B9jn8Yd7GOqRvpTv3Pn6F5sBuEQQp0%2B88cB95QQcUSFCzg%40mail.gmail.com.

C DAVENPORT

unread,
Oct 23, 2025, 12:42:00 AMOct 23
to box...@googlegroups.com
Just buy Roco Minitanks.  They're in the correct HO scale.

Major Charles Davenport, USAF (Ret) There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.  ~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes


jaime hudson

unread,
Oct 23, 2025, 11:26:28 AMOct 23
to 'C DAVENPORT' via Box Art Den
Thanks! Charles,
I recall those mini tanks sold in hobby shops a long time ago.
Could not think of the brand name but I had a few back then.
- Jaime Hudson
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/box-art/1779251078.3270069.1761194514729%40mail.yahoo.com.

Message has been deleted

C DAVENPORT

unread,
Oct 23, 2025, 10:02:58 PM (14 days ago) Oct 23
to 'jaime hudson' via Box Art Den
For a little boy who loved his  Triang trains, those Roco vehicles made the layout come alive!

Major Charles Davenport, USAF (Ret) There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.  ~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

Joseph Friedman

unread,
Oct 24, 2025, 8:26:38 AM (13 days ago) Oct 24
to Box Art Den
Yes, I remember the Roco Minitanks - I used to have a parking lot full of them... I still have a box of them, and a bunch of the soldier figures - mortar and MG crews, and artillery crews... hit me up if anyone would like to have them. 

Steve Billings

unread,
Oct 24, 2025, 9:29:28 AM (13 days ago) Oct 24
to box...@googlegroups.com
Mr. Friedman, I would LOVE to have them? How much do you want for them???

Steve Billings


John Maze

unread,
Oct 24, 2025, 11:15:35 PM (13 days ago) Oct 24
to box...@googlegroups.com
Scales that are multiples of "5" are Engineer's Scales in drafting. Scale rulers are available with 10-20-30-40-50-60 most commonly, but can also be obtained with 5, 25, or 35 as one of the scale sets. A good draftsman can mentally use those to get 250th and 350th scale, so I have always assumed that 1/700th was 10x the measurements with a 70 scale ruler. The one I have trouble justifying is 1/96 (and therefore 1/192). It is the only standard scale that cannot be arrived at easily using an Engineer's scale, only an Architect's scale (1/8"=1'-0"). Which of course also works for   1/12th-1/18th-1/32nd-1/64th... 1/24th-1/48th can be derived from either type scale. Then there is 1/43rd, 1/56th, and 1/87th which are purely modeler's scales.


--
WHEN USING AN EMAIL PROGRAM to reply to this message click REPLY TO LIST or REPLY TO ALL so that your reply will go out to all members of the group. If you click the standard REPLY button your comment will *only* be sent to the original author and will *not* be seen by any other members of the group (not recommended).
 
TO UNSUBSCRIBE from this group, send an email with Subject: "unsubscirbe" to: box-art+u...@googlegroups.com
 
To post a NEW MESSAGE to the group, send an new email to:
box...@googlegroups.com
 
To view or sign in to this group on the web, use this URL:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/box-art
 
Boxart Den Image Gallery: https://www.boxartden.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Box Art Den" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to box-art+u...@googlegroups.com.

Joseph Brown

unread,
Oct 27, 2025, 2:22:05 PM (10 days ago) Oct 27
to box...@googlegroups.com
I'm usually the quiet spaceship guy, but I love me some Roco armor.  If I'm not too late, I'd love to purchase these!
 
-Joe Brown
Message has been deleted

FredKitMaker

unread,
Oct 27, 2025, 10:46:27 PM (10 days ago) Oct 27
to Box Art Den
John, that's great information concerning architect and engineering rulers!   That's too cool.  Thanks for educating me.  It makes sense considering there were 1/30 tanks (Bandai) and 1/40 vehicles (Revell, Adams, etc.).

1/96 is half of 1/48, or 1/8" per foot.  

HO/1"87, 1/43 and no doubt the others are European/metric scales, a ratio of a scale foot sized to millimeters.  1/43 - 7mm per foot, HO 3.5mm, etc.  

In terms of 1/350, while I am certain there were models in that scale long ago, I don't recall any.  I recall that 1/700 came first in the late 1960s or early 70, and 1/350 seemed to pop up in the 80s.  I would not bet my stash on that so if anyone can correct me, please do.  The big scale ship I recall from the 70s (excluding the 1/72 Fowler-class, and the Lindberg 1/125 "Blue Devil" destroyer) was the Nichimo 1/200 Yamato; I recall other 1/200 ships from Japan at the time.

I recall in Mr. Tamiya's biography that he said the 1/35 came from the Panther, which was scaled as a box scale, yet it was such a smash hit that Tamiya decided everything following was to be 1/35.

Enjoying the discussion and apologize for the tangent.

Thanks,

Fred

John Maze

unread,
Oct 28, 2025, 1:59:47 AM (10 days ago) Oct 28
to box...@googlegroups.com
Fred, 
There were the 1/200th, you mentioned, but also 1/300th from Japan (Nichimo, IIRC). There was 1/400th from Airfix, and the 1/5xxth box scale kits from US, but also the 1/720th kits that can be derived from either the 60 or a 70 Engineer's scale, the 60 being the more common one (the run-of-the-mill Engineer's triangular scale rule has 10-20-30-40-50-60 on it). Oh, yeah, that reminds me, someone(s) had 1/600th, too....

John 
If it made sense, anyone could do it....

Joseph Friedman

unread,
Oct 28, 2025, 8:52:45 AM (9 days ago) Oct 28
to Box Art Den
Hi Joe,
I would just ask you for the postage. 
Most of what I had got too much played with, but I've sent you an email with pictures of the "survivors".. If you still want them, let me have your address and I’ll figure out the postage.
I’ll be happy to see them go to someone who would appreciate having them…

giess...@aol.com

unread,
Oct 29, 2025, 11:09:41 AM (8 days ago) Oct 29
to 'John Maze' via Box Art Den
Airfix ships were 1/600th and 1/1200th

Nichimo ships were mostly 1/500th

Patrick

SCOTT TAYLOR

unread,
Oct 29, 2025, 12:55:54 PM (8 days ago) Oct 29
to box...@googlegroups.com
FROG's ships were 1/500 as well, if memory serves.

Cheers,

Scott
From: 'giess...@aol.com' via Box Art Den <box...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: October 29, 2025 11:09 AM
To: 'John Maze' via Box Art Den <box...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [box-art] Abridged summary of box...@googlegroups.com - 3 updates in 3 topics
 
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages