Scale and Size Information

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Which size should I choose???

Scales can be really confusing, so for those that are interested, we have decided to put together a rough guide of which tractors / farms / horses /stables to choose. It is unlikely to answer everyones questions, so please do feel free to email or call us and discuss what you are looking for. If you are very lucky you will get Richard on the phone, who always loves the challenge of really odd questions.

So first of all the lower the number after the : the bigger the size of the toy.

We will start with Tractors and Farms, then do Horses & Stables:

Tractors & Farms:

1:16 Typical Tractor: 30 x 20 x 20. People: 10cm high.

Cow: 18 x 11 x 4.5 cm

This is the largest size for tractors, before you start with the ones your can ride! They are big and chunky, mainly made by Bruder or Britains Big Farm, from good quality plastic, with lots of trailers and implements available too. Bruder in particular are great quality, made in Germany of moulded plastic, they have an enormous range of trailers, implements, harvesters and other bits and pieces. And Bruder have just brought out a range of people and accessories to go with them, which will really add to their appeal.

The Britains Big Farm Range vehicles make realistic noises and have lights that flash. They have trailers to go with them (but I prefer Bruder ones), and a very popular, Land Rover, Gator and Quad Bike. They have 3 excellent remote control tractors, which are basic, having single speed forward and reverse. We use them outside, as long as it isn't muddy or too wet.

Bruder and Britains Big Farm used to be compatible with each other, but Britains are in the process of changing some of their fittings so that you can't necessarily fit all the Bruder trailers on the Britains vehicles - we have marked where these are a problem, such as the Landrover with light and sounds.

There are a few farm animals in this size and some big tractor sheds to keep them in.

There is a special range of toddlers tractors from Bruder too, called Roadmax, which are the only ones recommended for children under 3. They have specially rounded edges, soft tyres and no bits to get broken off.

1:24 Typical Cow 14 x 9 x 5cm

This is only an approximate scale, about half way between the 1:32 and 1:16 scales. There are lots of Papo and Schleich animals in this range, which I am told are not all to scale as that would make some of the animals too small, and therefore swallowable. But they are ideal to go with most of our wooden farm ranges, especially The Farmyard and the Big Farm Barn.

There are plenty of horses in this size and a very popular Large Horse Stable to keep them in. Papo have a Jeep and Horse Box, which the animals will fit in.

1:32 Typical Tractor: 20 x 7 x 10cm. Cow 8.5 x 5 x 2 cm

THE MOST POPULAR SIZE

When I was a child we had lots of Britains farm animals in our house, including ducks and chickens in a row - remember those? The farm animals are still around but sadly not the poultry, although there is a rumour that they may come back next year. I digress - this is the most popular size and has the largest stock. This size has smaller bits on it that if a child is very rough can come off, such as wing mirrors - so not great for toddlers. The tractors and other farm vehicles are mainly Britains Farm and Siku, of which Siku is the more robust, both are die-cast metal and plastic. The animals are mainly Britains and Kids Globe, of which Britains are my favourite. And the farm buildings are Brushwood, which are British made, and Kids Globe, which are German, both are wooden and great quality.

Tractors: Everything is available in this size; tractors, trailers, forage harvesters, combines, people, animals, every size of farm buildings and lots and lots of accessories. You can get hedges, fields, country lanes, silage clamps... you name it.

Remotes: The remote control tractors in this size are much more sophisticated than the 1:16 scale ones. There is one from Britains, which is being discontinued, which has digital proportional steering and speed control - which means you can vary the speed and direction as much or as little as you like.

The Siku range of remotes are much more technical as you can add remote trailers and implements, which can all be controlled from the same handset. Siku are in the process of changing from remote control to infrared, so always check for compatibility before buying (or ask, we are always happy to help).

Siku 1:50 Range

1:50 Typical Tractor 13 x 8 x 5cm

I love this size. It is fairly new so there aren't nearly as many choices as there are in the other scales but the manufacturers are slowly designing more in this range. The tractors, which are great quality die-cast metal and plastic, are an ideal size for smaller hands. There is now a multi-purpose farm buildings available to keep your tractors in, and you can use the smaller 1:87 cows or perhaps the 1:32 size calves in the building too. If you are not too fussy about scales I think the 1:50 scale combine is ideal to go with the 1:32 tractors, as that way it doesn't take up the whole of your sitting room!

1:87 Typical tractor 6 x 4 x 3 cm

This size is similar to Hotwheels or Matchbox cars and all made by Siku. It includes an incredible range of tractors, trailers and implements, including a combine, jeep with horse box with a horse, sugarbeet harvester, a cultivator and many other bits. All are great quality, die-cast metal and plastic. Also in this size is a mini tractor shed to keep your tractors and trailers in, a cow shed and a set of cows. Harry has quite a collection of these farm vehicles, which are kept in a Tractor Ted lunch tin, ideal for taking on long cars journeys or to people's houses for weekends.

Some of our mini tractors are not exactly to scale (sold in blister packs), although Harry (or myself) have never noticed! But if you really do need exact scales please ask.

1:128 Typical tractor 4.2 x 2.1 x 2.5 cm (yes tiny!)

These tractors are made by Bruder, of die-cast metal and plastic. Mainly found on keyrings, as they are tiny, but perfectly formed! You can even change the wheels and add frontloaders to many of them plus there are additional trailers for them (whilst stocks last - it looks like the accessories are being discontinued so if you like the idea buy them whilst you can).

Harry has one of these hanging on his school book bag, so they know which one is his.

Horses

1:9 Typical horse 32 x 20 x 6cm , rider 20cm high

This is the largest scale for horses, and are all in the Breyer Traditional range. They have a range of horses and riders, a truck and horse box, some lovely accessories, such as saddles, brightly coloured numnahs and a stable feeding set. There is a wooden barn or stable to keep them in, and even a kennel for the dog. All the Breyer horses are made of plastic.

1:12 Typical horse 21 x 16 x 5, rider 14cm high

This is the most common size for horses and the one I would select for my child, with ranges from Breyer and Julip. We have managed to negotiate some excellent prices on Julip, which have solid horses with manes and tails that you can brush and plait. Breyer horses are plastic, including their manes and tails. There are lots of accessories in this size, which are generally compatible between the brands.
Our most popular stable in this scale is the Ultimate Stable or the Riding Stable and Dressage Arena, which are made from great quality wood. Breyer have a cheaper range of plastic stables in girly colours. And, dare I say it, the Horse Cruiser is unbelievably popular!

1:16 Typical Horse 18 x 14 x 4cm. Person 10.5cm high

This is rather a limited range of very solid horses. The Bruder horse lorry and the horse box are great quality, and there is a horse stable, field shelter, fences, some new riding accessories and people. Britains Big Farm have just brought out a horse box with horse and foal, so may be adding to their range.

1:24 Typical Horse 12 x 9 x 5cm.

There are plenty of horses in this size and a very popular Large Horse Stable to keep them in. Papo have a Jeep and Horse Box, which the animals will fit in.

1:32 Typical Horse 8 x 8 x 3cm

This is the smallest size for horses, (apart from 1 mini horse box and horse!) with horses and riders available from Britains, and a larger Stablemates range from Breyer. There is a wonderful Stable Yard in this size and some wooden stables, which are great quality. There is a full range of die-cast metal farm vehicles and other things in this size, including a Land Rover, Horse Box, tractors, trailers, hedges, trees
There is also an ever changing range of plastic stables, which are not as great quality, but quite appealing to some girls, in the Breyer range.