In armor it pretty much boils down to 1/35, with a few 1/32, or 1/72. I just got back from Hobbytown and they had 1/350, 1/400, 1/600, 1/700, and 1/720 at least of the ships I was looking at. This doesn't even account for the infamous "box" scaler where they made the scale to fix the box. Why are there so many different scales when it comes to ships?

It's kind of an age, country thing. The 1/400 is from europe, and has been very populer there . 1/600 had its beginning in england before there was a 1/700 scale. 1/700 is from Japan, and has always been a standard scale there. 1/720 ? who knows, Italeri, Matchbox and Revell use this scale, more than likely all from matchbox molds.
Now 1/350 scale is the new one, I'm not sure but beleave Tamiya started that one. Being that it is just half the size larger then there 1/700 kits.
Its odd, but the 1/350 is the most popular large scale, but you will find a better selection of kits in the 1/400 scale!

Go figure,
Garry

Hi

I know that 1/600 is a nice 'imperial' scale, where a 600 foot long ship is 12 inches long. I guess that means your biggest warship will be close to a foot long.

1/720 is similarly 'imperial' sized. And, 1/10th the size of 1/72 scale...

I have no idea why the other scales exist. Although it sounds stupid, perhaps 1/350 is one tenth of 1/35, and that comes from the Japanese manufacturers who turned us on to 1/35 scale! 1/700 is half as big again...

It would be interesting to know more...

Andy