h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Loved this entry!

But may an approximate perfectionist make a reply? (ie - plus or minus 5% each way will do, I'm not fussy)


An easy way to visualise scales.

Accross the most common band of scales used in figure modelling, model railways and and wargaming (1:87 = HO:00, then 1:76 and 1:72)an individual human figure would stand no taller than 1 inch. In fact, a six-foot man in 1:72 would be exactly 25mm or 1 inch tall - 6' = 72".

1:144 (used for larger-sized aircraft models, ie Jumbo Jets, B-52's) which is also the smaller N-gauge model railway size. As you might expect (1:144 is twice 1:72) a human figure would be no more than 12 millimetres/half an inch tall. Also used for big sailing ships such as HMS Victory, where the completed model in 1:72 might stand up to four feet tall from keel to topmast. In 1:144, the Victory is more manageable - two feet tall.

1:300 - 1:350: used for larger-scale ship models. (the carrier USS Enterprise would be five feet long in 1:72; 18 incles long in 1:350.)A human figure might be 5-6mm tall.

1:500 - 1:600: also used mainly for big ship models. The Bismark or Tirpitz would be a foot long or so no larger than 14" from stem to stern, and a human figure 3 - 4mm tall, ie 1/6 to 1/8 of an inch.

Now try building the hovel for a peasant 1/8 of an inch tall...

Lol. I saw that to. My wife did not quite understand how big the bismarck was due to me building it in 1/400 scale, so I had to point out the the tiny 6-7 mm high Machine gun was as big as an adult male.

Though i think most people would not realise the size scales on there own to be fair.

That's why it's so fiddly to make.



Honestly? I've never thought about scale when making s, so I just pulled a number out of the hat. If you're going to be perfectionist about it, though, we can put a request through editorial feedback to have it changed to - er - - - -?

lol. Don't worry about it, you could always say you deliberetly put that number to show the levels of perfection that perfectionists strive for.

I would like to add though, fantastic article, found it quite humorous and a good read. Good job. -Yeah should have put that with my first post but you know how it is.

Yeah. That blinkered feeling when you're on a quest to correct or edify the ignorant. I know it.

Hi - I enjoyed reading this, too, but I don't think it told you much about actually how to annoy perfectionists. I think it points out more that perfectionists are permanently annoyed with themselves anyway and don't really need any further provocation.

Perhaps someone can point out some more guidelines as to how to decide whether one is a perfectionist or not. After reading this, I don't know which category I fit into, or anyone else I know.

It is good that you don't judge perfectionism - you describe the funny (and annoying) side, while also pointing out that it can be a positive trait in certain fields of work.

*wonders if hitting "preview Message" labels her as a perfectionist*

I think there's a story behind this peasants hut and the history diorama (? never heard of such a thing until today).

Far too much detail for it to be a random story plucked from nowhere I reckon.

I think there's a bit too much generalisation here. I'm an unashamed perfectionist but only at certain things. Anything I do I like to do well but I don't use colour coded post it notes and my desk at work it a mess. I don't arrange my wardrobe as described above. But woe betide you if you fail to clean my paintbrushes incorrectly if you're helping me paint the kitchen... (my other half can attest to that last one )

"Honestly? I've never thought about scale when making s, so I just pulled a number out of the hat. If you're going to be perfectionist about it, though, we can put a request through editorial feedback to have it changed to - er - - - -?"

********************

The accepted scales tend to approximately "double" as you go down in size, ie from 1:72 - 1:144, then 1:350 (said it was approximate), then 1:600 and for REALLY fiddly things, you can have 1:1200 (naval wargaming, fleets of supertankers, whole harbour facilities, et c).

With every step up in scale number, the size of the actual model halves. (inverse relationship)

For big ship modelling, the accepted scales are 1:350 (although some manufacturers use 1:400) and 1:600 (although some mavericks use 1:550)

So to fit in with a "standard" size, or for you to have any hope that Airfix or Heller or Revell might want to commercially make and market your model, your chosen scale should be 1:550 or even 1:600?

So... what scale would we do a peasants hut?


Honest - I've never made a history diorama in my life. My brother did, though, and I remember vaguely how he went about it. Plus, I've attended enough history/science fairs to know how people behave at them.

The entry was kinda general - it's hard to define a character trait until it becomes a neurosis. I guess it bears mentioning that someone might exhibit some but not all of the characteristics. For example, my closet is technically organised that way, but I let it get quite sloppy between clean-up jobs.

Well looking back at my post

>>But woe betide you if you fail to clean my paintbrushes incorrectly<<

nuff said about my perfectionism on posting around here

Note to self: always do a bad job on Orcus's paintbrushes.

that comment wasn't perfectionist, it was pedantic. Big diff

bren'o