One of the fun aspects of RC modeling is that it allows you to explore different environments at different scales. All RC cars can be considered miniature vehicles, but they aren’t all the same size. Radio-controlled vehicles are classified by scale, which refers to the model’s size relative to its full-size counterpart.
Each miniature car is designed to offer the most realistic design and features possible. When you admire an RC Ford GT, such as the Ford GT Heritage by HPI, you’ll notice that the manufacturer has created an exact replica of the official Ford GT Heritage car and has paid close attention to every little detail to make it as realistic as possible. Thus, RC cars are smaller in size, but their design, details, and features are nearly identical to those of real cars. Generally, each manufacturer rates their size relative to that of a real model—this is referred to as scale, with scale 1 representing actual size.
The Different Scales of RC Cars
When you’re new to the world of RC, you might be overwhelmed by the variety of RC vehicles available on the market, and you’ve probably noticed that there are many different scales: 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, 1/14, 1/16, 1/18, 1/24, 1/28, 1/32, 1/43, 1/64. The scale of a radio-controlled car refers to the model’s size relative to the real car or the full-size version you might have in your garage or parking lot.
The manufacturer always specifies the scale of the RC car to inform the buyer of its size. The idea behind scales is to help you form a mental image of the RC car’s size. For example, the official Ford GT Heritage HPI mentioned in the previous paragraph is built to a 1/10 scale, which means it is 10 times smaller than the original model; a 1/12-scale car will be 12 times smaller, and so on.
Why use a scale?
RC scales refer to the size of model cars. The 1/10 scale is the most popular, and the 1/5 scale is the largest. The higher the number, the smaller the model; conversely, the lower the number, the larger the model. For example, 1/10-scale cars are 10 times smaller than full-size cars, and their bodies offer enough space for details such as side mirrors, windshield wipers, and other accessories. Thus, the most faithful replicas tend to be larger, but this isn’t always the case, and some very small models are extremely detailed.
It’s worth noting that RC car scales also apply to RC bodies, but even if the scale is the same, the chassis wheelbase may vary, so you should check the body’s compatibility with your RC car model.
What size corresponds to which scale?
In general, the size The size of an RC car is based on its scale, but depending on the model, manufacturer, and type of car, sizes can vary even within the same scale. As a general guide, here is a list of the average sizes of cars for each scale:
- A 1/64-scale RC car measures between 5 and 8 cm.
- A 1/43-scale RC car measures between 6 and 13 cm.
- A 1/24-scale RC car measures between 13 and 20 cm.
- A 1/16-scale RC car measures between 30 and 36 cm.
- A 1/12-scale RC car measures between 38 and 43 cm
- A 1/10-scale RC car measures between 48 and 53 cm.
The RC car dimensions listed above, based on their scale, are approximate measurements. Some RC car models may not meet the size criteria listed above. That is why we recommend checking the car’s dimensions before placing an order.
Size differences between RC vehicles of the same scale
The size of an RC vehicle also depends on the type of vehicle. When the vehicle type is different, the size of two RC vehicles will differ even if the scale is the same. For example, here are the size differences observed among various Traxxas cars at 1/10 scale:
- Dimensions of the short-course Traxxas Slash: 568 x 296 x 214 mm
- Dimensions of the monster truck Traxxas Maxx: 549 x 367 x 232 mm
- The stadium's dimensions truck Traxxas Rustler: 445 x 311 x 178 mm
- The dimensions of the buggy Traxxas Bandit: 413 x 250 x 178 mm
- The dimensions of the car On-road Traxxas Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: 492 x 204 x 120 mm
