Model Size Chart

Diecast Model Aircraft Scale & Size Chart

Not sure how big a model will actually be on your shelf? Use the chart below. Every figure is the finished model size, listed as length × wingspan in inches with centimeters directly underneath, calculated from the real aircraft's published dimensions. Actual production models can vary by roughly a tenth of an inch depending on the manufacturer, antennas, and stand.

• 1:500Compact. Perfect for large fleet collections and tight shelf space.
• 1:400The collector standard. Best variety, best balance of detail and size.
• 1:200Display-piece scale. Serious detail, needs real shelf depth.
• 1:100Statement scale. Widebodies run over two feet wide, so plan the space.

How to use this chart

Measure the shelf you plan to display on, then check the wingspan column: wingspan is almost always the limiting dimension, not length. A single row of 1:400 narrowbodies fits comfortably on a standard 6-inch deep shelf. At 1:200, widebodies need 13 inches or more of clearance, and at 1:100 a 747-8 measures about 30 inches long by 27 inches across.

Converting between scales is simple math: a 1:200 model is exactly twice the size of the same aircraft in 1:400, and a 1:100 model is four times the size. To convert a 1:400 figure to 1:500, multiply by 0.8.