Glossary
Scale ratio
The ratio between a model's size and the real object it copies, such as 1:35 or 1:72, used to size kits and parts.
Scale ratio describes how much smaller a model is than the full-size subject it copies. A 1:35 kit means every real-world measurement is divided by 35, so a soldier who stood six feet tall becomes roughly two inches on the sprue. The first number in the ratio is always one, and the second number tells you the size reduction, so a bigger second number always means a smaller finished model, not a bigger one.
Different subjects tend to cluster around certain scales. Military vehicle and figure kits are commonly 1:35 or 1:16, aircraft run 1:48 and 1:72, car kits favor 1:24 and 1:25, and ships range from 1:350 up to 1:700 for waterline fleets. Sticking to one or two scales lets finished builds share a display shelf without looking mismatched, and it means aftermarket photo-etch, resin figures, and decals made for that scale will actually fit.
A common beginner mistake is assuming a bigger box means a bigger model, when the opposite is usually true: a smaller second number, like 1:24 versus 1:72, means a larger finished piece. Before mixing kits from different manufacturers on one shelf, check the scale printed on the box rather than judging by the picture, and use a conversion chart or calculator when comparing scales you have not built before.