Why is 1/48 called quarter scale?

Its got me confused and I have been hesitant in asking because I feel like I am asking a really dumb question.

But thats never stopped me before.

Because it was originally referred to as 1"= 4' (one inch equals four feet) or 1/4 (not the actual ratio).

Now it is shown as 1/48 since there are 12 inches in a foot (12 x 4).

Thanks Sabot,

That makes sense now.

So its mainly just a name thats stuck.

Thank you very much.

Yeah, just sort of stuck. Model makers used to use all sorts of "technical" scale terms. Renwal advertised their Blueprint series as 3/8 inch = 1 foot which eventually works out to 1/32 scale.

Another way to think of it is that in "quarter scale", one "quarter inch" on the model, equals 1 foot on the original. Since there are actually 48 "quarter inches" in a foot (4 in each inch and 12 inches in one foot), the "scale" winds up being 1/48.

Tom

also architecturally the 1/4" = 1' is used alot when drafting and is generally called quater scale. thats how i figured it out since i major in architecture. but then what would a 1/4 scale tank be called? lol

Either a small prototype, or a REALLY big model!!!!!

hey,
and in the railroading world,it's also referred ,as U.S. O-gauge ,(British O-gauge is 1:43,European O-gauge is 1:45 ),so when needing items for diorama's/accessories ,you can walk thru the railroading items at your LHS.

Joe