Every scale model has missing elements. (How many rivets can dance on the head of a pin?)

Stand- Off Scale?

My own OCD seems to be withering with age - very much like what remans of my memory and cognitive ability.

Now I have changed from being obsessed with accurate scale detail to being satisfied with my model boats looking “right” when they are out on the water.

I believe this can be referred to as old age or “stand-off scale”?

As long as my Classic Model Power Boats look nice on the water and make “white water” as their full size prototypes would have done, I am happy to drive them and enjoy them - as often as possible !

Bob.

When in doubt I always run to this particular scale converter online.
Onced you get the hang of it, it is the perfect solution to all my scale questions...

https://www.ginifab.com/feeds/cm_to_inch/scale_converter.html

That's the name of one of my granddaughters. The Amelia is about 20 inches long and not based on any real boat. The wood hull (previously a prototype/mold plug for balloon boats) and the rest is scratch built. Used for many rescues over the years.

@ColRay You can do the math and determine the scale. If it's a scale model, it's scale - regardless of the dimensions. Speaking of puffers... mine's not finished, but it's able to sail on an electric motor. I have a steam engine for it.

Rob

Hello Lew Thanks for the info, is that a model or real boat ?
Just noticed the name the same as my 14 year old Japanese Spitz and of cause it's the name on my Thames Barge Col.

One consideration about "scale" is the availability of figures for the style of boat you want to build. Unless one is building a submarine or the "people" are inside due to foul weather boats need figures and they need to be the right scale. Having the right scale size figures is important as that gives a viewer a sense of the scale of the boat.

Another consideration is large or small scale. Take two completely different models like a sub chaser and a battleship. If I wanted my model to be 40 inches long I would pick the sub chaser. If I get down close to the model, and I mean real close, and look along the deck the battleship (at 40 inches) would look toy-ish due to the lack of details whereas the sub chaser would naturally have more details. I am talking about more common builder's abilities, not some ultra detailing.

My smallest scale is 1/40, largest is 1/10, but my preference is around 1/16. That's why I don't have any liners, tankers, or battleships. (All just my opinion.)

Hello Bruced the information for the model I have downloaded calls for normal PLA I'm thinking of using PLA+ now at this point I must say any of my projects can turn into a can of worms as the old saying goes , I also like wood and ABS sheets for model making, but because of a health related issue I have cut back of working with power tools so the 3D printer is the easy way , saying that I have been thinking of a laser cutter. Col

Thanks Chris at some time it could end-up in my son's model collection, I think he has two different scales.

From ColRay's post I think he is asking more about the actual scale rather than the accuracy if based on a particular model?

So my brief answer is, like his, that it doesn't matter and build to whatever is doable and convenient for launching and storage etc.

My longer answer is that scales are important if you want to build to the same as historic scales so that they can sit alongside each other and be compared to other models of the same scale where this is possible and practicable. I'm doing this with my Fairey builds, all at 1:12, so that my little Fairey Huntress 23 wouldn't be bigger than my Swordsman 33, I think that's some of the OCD that Fogwall is alluding to! The other reason is the getting of figures and vehicles to match the chosen scale. Less of an issue now of course as these, certainly figures, can be printed to any size to match the model boat.

Chris

@ColRay Curious are you going to use a resin or filament printer. I love my resin printer for the detail I get, but the type resins you can get, I understand don't hold up well to the water and solar light, for RC boats.
I'm interested in printing component parts but love the wood and Styrene materials for building my boats.
I'm not criticizing any other methods but like to understand other people’s methods / views and why they choose it.

@ColRay I have a tendency to OCD which I think affects many model makers but can be channelled to good use. However for working models which are often seen at a distance out on a lake, I’d go with Chris’s answer. I have a friend with artistic training who will pass a critical eye over anything I’ve built and if it looks off she’ll tell me.

On several occasions however we’ve agreed that although a feature may not be either in scale or even technically inaccurate if scaled up to full size, the aesthetics take priority. ‘Does it produce the same effect as the real thing would seen at an equivalent distance?’ Sometimes (imho) over detailing can begin to look cluttered and fussy and it’s best to leave it to the mind’s ability to fill in the missing bits.

I’m always impressed at how the best modellers in all branches manage to get this right, to the extent that some even have their own ‘style’ even though what they’ve made is accurate. I couldn’t even approach this.

I am a scale freak. I obsess over it.👍🏻

My idea of scale in model boating is if it looks passable, than it’s correct.

Chris