Scale Perspectives

[redshift]

I got to thinking some time ago, tenth scale works for describing scale speed and dimensions, but for weight and (horse)power, it doesn't.

For example, 30 mph x 10 = 300 mph, physical dimensions x 10, obviously...

For an approximation of real world comparison, I arrived at 10 x 10....... 100.

This is where the numbers get impressive. As a benchmark, real MTs are usually well over 10,000 pounds, and have between 2-4000 horsepower.

So, take a 10 pound tenth-scale MT, there's your 10,000 pounds, and the XL sized motors at well over 2 horsepower, ya get the idea.

So next time you're running your 11,000 pound 3000 hp 600 mph Revo or Maxx, jumping 200 feet, just think how feeble the real thing is, scaled-down....

but you can't scale time, so there goes your mph.

[redshift]

Good point A4, something I hadn't considered.

As a speed reference, I think it is close.

Imagine any tire not ballooning at 400+ mph!

[johnrobholmes]

Weight does scale just fine when you consider the three dimensions of volume. A 10 inch
cube of aluminum would have a 1/10th scale model of 1 inch cube. 1000 cubic inches vs 1 cubic inch, and 1000 times the weight. A 10 pound truck is right at the 10,000lb mark.

[TexasSP]

Yup. 3 dimensions guys, gotta go through them all. Scale speed can work per say if you have a completely scale environment such as a model railroad layout. It's only good for figuring proper speeds for the environment though and nothing else.

The other thing you can't scale down is the laws of physics such as friction and wind resistance etc. Saying a 10th scale rc going 30 is like a 1:1 going 300 is so far off it's ridiculous.

[bl-is-future]

well the car is scaled so the car may be doing 30 physical MPH but to put the same stresses on a full size that the rc is getting, it will have to go 300 MPH. I think that is what he meant.