Which scale to choose: 1:16, 1:32, 1:50 or 1:87

What does the scale mean?

The scale tells you how many times smaller the model is than the real vehicle. At 1:32, every centimetre on the model is 32 centimetres on the real tractor. To find the model's length, divide the real length by the second number.

Take a tractor of 6 metres (600 cm) as an example. At 1:16 that is 600 / 16 = 37.5 cm, at 1:32 it is 18.8 cm, at 1:50 it is 12 cm, at 1:87 it is 6.9 cm and at 1:160 it is 3.8 cm. Real tractors differ in length, so treat this as a worked example.

1:16: big toys for outdoors

Bruder makes its Profi series at 1:16. In the FarmToyDeals catalogue, half of the Bruder tractors at 1:16 are between 34 and 45 cm long (the median length is 37 cm). They are big and sturdy, and also suitable for playing outside.

The drawback is space: a 1:16 farm quickly fills a whole room. You will often fit fewer vehicles in your cupboard than at a smaller scale.

1:32: the classic farm scale

Siku, Britains, Wiking and Universal Hobbies make models at 1:32. Half of the Siku tractors at 1:32 in our catalogue are between 19 and 24 cm long. That is small enough to lay out a whole farmyard and big enough for detail.

That is why 1:32 is the scale where play and collecting meet: there is a wide choice of tractors, trailers and implements at the same scale.

1:50: small and handy

Besides 1:32, Siku also lists 1:50 and 1:87 in its range of agricultural machines. At 1:50, a 6 metre tractor is 12 cm: it fits in your hand and on a play mat, and you can collect plenty of them in little space.

1:87 and smaller: display case and model railway

1:87 is the H0 scale of the model railway world. Wiking is the best-known brand here: its site lists farm models at 1:87, 1:32 and 1:160. A 6 metre tractor is nearly 7 cm at 1:87.

These models are finely detailed and mostly meant for a display case or a model railway. With models like these, always check the manufacturer's age label.

How to choose

If you play outdoors or with young children, 1:16 is the sturdiest and easiest to hold. For a play farm indoors or for collecting, 1:32 is the obvious choice. If space is tight, 1:50 or 1:87 gives you more vehicles per shelf.

Check the dimensions on the product page before you buy. The scale is nominal: a manufacturer may work a model out slightly differently, and the length depends on the real vehicle.

Mixing scales

A 1:32 tractor with a 1:16 trailer does not work: the couplings and proportions do not match. So stick to one scale per brand and per series. On FarmToyDeals you can filter by scale and compare by article number.