"A Matter of scale..." Topic

I was thinking to myself last night, about scale. Now I have a 1-2400th miniature of Yamato which in proportions is about right scale…But as Yamato was at least 60,000 tons I have worked out (possibly wrongly) that my model to be in scale should weigh about 10 tons -I.E. 1/2400th of the displacement of the actual size model…Similarly my 1/300th Challenger II model doesn't weigh in at 200kgs!!!

I may be wrong but as these models are cast in lead alloy shouldn't their weight be to scale as well….

Have you ever had a girlfriend?!!!!

Tally Ho!

1/2400 in the linear scale, i.e. length.

Volume would be 1/2400 * 1/2400 * 1/2400 so a lot, lot, lot less than 1/2400.

Nick--Yes I have!!!!

So 60000/2400/2400/2400??

Cheers

Yep – each of three dimensions is 1/2400, so the model's volume is 1 / 13,824,000,000. The model is also far HEAVIER than it should be "in scale" – to test this hypothesis, stick it in the bath and tell me if it floats….

The dancing banana has it right, it is considerably heavier. This in large measure bcause the model is solid, unlike the actual ship. Another factor is the density of the materials. However, the model is even smaller than 1/2400 cubed since it only repesents what's above the waterline. So it might be closer to 2.5x10E-10.

And nickinsomerset, although your quip wasn't directed at me, I couldn't help feeling a bit defensive. I don't have a girlfriend. Haven't had one for several years in fact. Something about marriage puts an end to all that.

Real ships are hollow, models are not.

Marriage doesn't put a stop to girlfriends – just make sure you marry someone who can be both. Also remembering to behave like a boyfriend sometimes helps.

And make sure your girlfriend never meets your wife!!!!

Thanks for working that out Dom…Yes I was aware that it would be heavier as ships etc are a bit more hollow!!!

:)

even taking the volume scale into account, the ship is solid, unlike the Yamato. Finally, the Yamato was built from steel (density 7,800 kg/m^3), while your miniature, if made from lead, has a density of about 11,000 kg/m^3.

If you want a proper scale model, make sure all the plate is 1/2400th the thickness. If you can find some 0.17mm* steel foil to make the armour belt from, let me know :)

(* Wikipedia gives 410mm for the thickness of the side armour. Divide by 2400.)

HEHEHE, THIS IS CRAZY

And now I've got some wiseacre giving me marital advice!? Serves me right.

Andrew Paul, I was thinking along the same lines but didn't want to assume that the model was made out of lead. There's less and less of it in there these days.

Prevailing winds, you are absolutely correct. I don't know what drew me into this. I'll either look back and laugh or live to regret it.

Amazing what you can google these days

Dear Gildasfacit;

My girlfriend agrees with your philosophy! I'm not sure about my wife…

By the way, she helps me paint figs too!