N scale dimensions
Cheat sheet for buildings and scenery at 1:160
1 cm = 1.6 m model size × 160
Scale bars: printed at 100% (not “fit to page”), they measure the real size at scale. Lay your parts on them to check.
Building
| Icon | Item | In N | Real | 1:1 bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storey height (floor to floor) | 17 – 19 mm | 2.7 – 3 m | ||
| Plinth / base course | 3 – 6.5 mm | 0.5 – 1 m | ||
| Window (width × height) | 5 × 8 mm | 0.8 × 1.3 m | ||
| Old / mountain window | 4 × 6.5 mm | 0.6 × 1 m | ||
| Bottom of window (sill) | ~5.5 mm | ~0.9 m above floor | ||
| Top of window / lintel | ~14 mm | ~2.2 m above floor | ||
| Front door | 6.5 × 13 mm | 1 × 2.1 m | ||
| Barn / shed door (width) | 12.5 – 15.5 mm | 2 – 2.5 m | ||
| Stone wall thickness | 3 – 4 mm | 50 – 60 cm | ||
| Roof overhang | 3 – 6.5 mm | 0.5 – 1 m |
Frames
| Icon | Item | In N | Real | 1:1 bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame width (windows, doors) | 0.95 – 1.6 mm | 15 – 25 cm | ||
| Frame projection | 1 layer of 0.2 mm | 2 – 5 cm | ||
| Side overhang of the sill | ~0.3 mm | ~5 cm | ||
| Shutter (each leaf) | 2.5 × 8 mm | ½ window width |
Figures
| Icon | Item | In N | Real | 1:1 bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult man | 11 – 11.5 mm | 1.75 – 1.8 m | ||
| Adult woman | ~10.5 mm | ~1.65 m | ||
| Child (~10 years) | ~9 mm | ~1.4 m | ||
| Child (~5 years) | ~7 mm | ~1.1 m |
Vehicles
| Icon | Item | In N | Real | 1:1 bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact car (L × W × H) | 27 × 11.5 × 9.5 mm | 4.3 × 1.8 × 1.5 m | ||
| Small city car (length) | ~22.5 mm | ~3.6 m |
Roads
| Icon | Item | In N | Real | 1:1 bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-way road (carriageway) | 22 – 28 mm | 3.5 – 4.5 m | ||
| Two-way road (carriageway) | 37.5 – 44 mm | 6 – 7 m | ||
| Motorway lane | ~23.5 mm | ~3.75 m | ||
| Emergency lane (hard shoulder) | 15.5 – 19 mm | 2.5 – 3 m | ||
| Motorway, one direction: 2 lanes + emergency lane | 65.5 – 72 mm | 10.5 – 11.5 m | ||
| Pavement (width) | 9.5 – 12.5 mm | 1.5 – 2 m | ||
| Kerb height | 0.65 – 0.95 mm | 10 – 15 cm |
Street furniture
| Icon | Item | In N | Real | 1:1 bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public bench (length) | 11.5 – 12.5 mm | 1.8 – 2 m | ||
| Bench: seat / backrest height | 2.8 / 5.5 mm | 0.45 / 0.85 m | ||
| Litter bin (h × Ø) | 4 × 2.5 mm | 0.6 × 0.4 m | ||
| 240 L wheelie bin (h × w × d) | 7 × 4 × 4.5 mm | 1.1 × 0.6 × 0.7 m | ||
| Yellow postbox (w × h) | 3 × 4 mm | 0.5 × 0.6 m | ||
| Postbox: slot height | ~7 mm | ~1.1 m |
Signs and posters
| Icon | Item | In N | Real | 1:1 bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road sign (Ø) | 4 – 5.5 mm | 0.6 – 0.9 m | ||
| Bottom of sign above the pavement | ~13 mm | ~2.1 m | ||
| Sign post (Ø) | ~0.4 mm (brass wire) | ~6 cm | ||
| Portrait poster (standard size) | 5.5 × 8 mm | 0.9 × 1.3 m | ||
| Large landscape poster | 17 × 8 mm | 2.7 × 1.3 m | ||
| Large billboard | 25 × 19 mm | 4 × 3 m |
Fences and access
| Icon | Item | In N | Real | 1:1 bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Railing / balustrade | 6.5 – 7 mm | 1 – 1.1 m | ||
| Garden fence | 5 – 7.5 mm | 0.8 – 1.2 m | ||
| Stair step: rise | ~1.1 mm | ~17 cm | ||
| Stair step: going | ~1.8 mm | ~29 cm | ||
| Outdoor stairs (width) | ~6.5 mm | ~1 m |
One step ≈ 1.1 mm: stack strips of 1.1 mm styrene, setting each one back by 1.8 mm.
Indicative values: they vary by region and period. For a mountain house, favour small windows, a pronounced stone plinth and a deep roof overhang. One layer of 0.2 mm styrene gives about 3 cm of real projection at 1:160.