Know the differences - what are 1:144 scale models?

Know the differences - what are 1:160, 1:148, and 1:144 model scales?

These three scales bridge two popular railway modelling scales, and two wargaming scales, in addition to their respective scale modelling sizes.

1:160 is the ratio scale for European and US N-gauge rail scale, plus 12mm wargames scale.
1:148 is the ratio scale for UK N-gauge, but has no equivalent wargames scale.
1:144 has no rail scale equivalent, and is nominally 13mm in wargames scale, but is always referred to as 1:144.
1:144 should NOT be referred to as 12mm scale - there is a 10% difference in size.

In The LRL Depot Now

Click the picture to buy it now

1:160 – 1:144 Scale Models

There is possibly more confusion around this narrow band of scales than any of the other compatible scale groups. This is made worse by the fact that the normally reliable railway modelling hobby has two sizes with the same name – N-gauge – and they both fall in this group.

1:160 is the ratio scale for European and US N-gauge rail scale, plus 12mm wargames scale. It is also a scale that has good support from plastic kits manufacturers, and is building a growing support base within the wargames trade.

1:148 is the ratio scale for UK N-gauge, but has no equivalent wargames scale. It has some support in the plastic kits industry, mainly from companies focussed on the British model railway industry, though I have seen items from Airfix (and Revell or Tamiya – forgot which) in this scale, but not many.

1:144 has no rail scale equivalent, and is nominally 13mm in wargames scale, but is always referred to as 1:144. 1:144 should NOT be referred to as 12mm scale – there is a 10% difference in size.

1:144 has a huge support from Far East ready-assembled kit manufacturers, as well as from self-assembly kit makers such as Dragon. The scale was used by the hugely successful “World Tank Museum” series of boxed candy with mystery model distributors in Japan, and many of those assemblies are now highly prized and traded constantly on online auction sites.

1:144 has also been a long-time favourite of the model car industry – with wide ranges of classic and sports cars produced in this size. Die-cast car makers also used the scale extensively too.

(page incomplete – more to be added)