1:200 Scale to 1:500 Scale Conversion
1:200 is the site model; 1:500 is the urban context model showing the surrounding blocks. Practices and students convert between them when a scheme designed at 1:200 needs a context model for a competition board, or when checking whether existing 1:500 massing blocks can sit around a more detailed 1:200 insert. At 2.5× apart, detail that reads at 1:200 — window mullions, balustrades — is deliberately omitted at 1:500, so converting is as much about deciding what to leave off as about resizing.
To convert a model dimension from 1:200 Scale to 1:500 Scale, multiply it by 0.4 (200 ÷ 500). The result is a smaller model — every length, width, and height changes by the same factor.
Conversion Chart
| 1:200 Scale size (mm) | 1:500 Scale size (mm) |
|---|---|
| 1 mm | 0.40 mm |
| 2 mm | 0.80 mm |
| 5 mm | 2.00 mm |
| 10 mm | 4.00 mm |
| 20 mm | 8.00 mm |
| 50 mm | 20.00 mm |
| 100 mm | 40.00 mm |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert 1:200 Scale to 1:500 Scale?
Multiply any 1:200 Scale model dimension by 0.4 to get the 1:500 Scale dimension. This works because 1:200 Scale is 1:200 and 1:500 Scale is 1:500, so the factor is 200 ÷ 500 = 0.4.
Is 1:500 Scale bigger or smaller than 1:200 Scale?
1:500 Scale models are smaller: the same subject is only 0.4× the size in each dimension compared to 1:200 Scale.
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