Noticias y novedades para coleccionistas

Herpa 1:200 vs. 1:500: Which Aircraft Scale Fits Your Collection?

Published September 23, 2026 by Muncle Mikes

Herpa SWISS Airbus A220-100 HB-JBH in white with a red tail, 1:200 item HE558471-002

Choose 1:200 when you want a larger individual aircraft to examine closely, or 1:500 when a compact fleet is the goal. Then check the aircraft itself: a small-scale A380 still has broad wings, while a 1:200 regional aircraft may fit comfortably on a desk.

Compare Herpa aircraft by scale and subject

What the scale numbers actually mean

At an exact 1:200 ratio, one inch on a model represents 200 inches on the full-size subject. For the same aircraft, a 1:200 model is 2.5 times as long and wide as a 1:500 version. Its flat display footprint is therefore 6.25 times as large before adding handling clearance.

That is a mathematical comparison of identical subjects, not a size prediction for two different aircraft. Always separate the scale decision from the aircraft-type decision.

1:200 for a model that stands on its own

The SWISS A220-100 HB-JBH, HE558471-002, is listed at approximately 7 inches long and includes a display stand. It suits a collector who wants this specific SWISS aircraft as an individual shelf piece.

The Iberia Regional ATR 72-600, HE573313, is a different 1:200 option at approximately 5.25 inches long. Its twin-propeller layout gives a different appearance without changing the collection scale. Smaller aircraft at 1:200 can be a useful compromise between a compact footprint and a larger miniature.

1:500 for several aircraft in one display

The American Airlines A320 N680AW, HE538879, is approximately 3 inches long. It is a sensible starting point for a small fleet or an airport-style arrangement rather than a large desktop centerpiece.

The Emirates Wimbledon A380, HE538664, is also 1:500 but has a listed wingspan of approximately 6.25 inches. A380 wings can occupy more shelf width than the smaller aircraft beside it. Neither of these 1:500 listings includes a stand.

Where 1:400 and HO belong

The Tu-144D museum edition, HE562867, is 1:400. That is not another way of writing 1:500: the same real aircraft would be 25 percent larger in linear dimensions at 1:400.

Herpa's HO cars and mobile offices are 1:87, a separate group again. A shared brand does not make those vehicles proportionate to either aircraft scale. Keep mixed-scale items on separate labeled displays unless the mismatch is intentional.

Measure the complete display before ordering

Mark the model's length and wingspan on paper and place the outline on the intended shelf. Add room for the tail, stand base, protective cover and your hands. A stand raises the model but does not make its wings disappear from the footprint.

Listed dimensions are approximate catalog values, not our physical measurements. For a tight enclosure, confirm the finished model and stand dimensions before buying the case. Choose the aircraft you want, then the scale that leaves it enough room.

Find a Herpa aircraft with the right display footprint