The scale factor for a model train is 1:87. What this mean?

2 Answers
Feb 18, 2018

See the explanation

Explanation:

Suppose the length of a part of the actual object is 12 inches.

Then the part of the model representing this will be #12/87# of 1 inch long

Feb 18, 2018

The real train will be #87# times bigger than the model.

Explanation:

The scale compares a small version to the real version.

#1 : 87# means that every part of the real train is #87# times as big as the small one.

There is no unit given in a scale, so you can use any measurements you like.

#1 cm# om the model will be #87cm# on the real train.
#1# inch on the model will be #87# inches on the real train.
#1# foot on the model will be #87# foot on the real train.

When model builders want to build a model, they have to scale down the real measurements of the real object to the scale of their model, so that it is a small but exact replica of the real thing.

The same applies on a map. A scale of #1:50# means that for every #1# unit on the map, it will be #50# times longer in reality.