A question of scale

Recently I was asked how small are these ships?
Well, they are 1:1200 scale (1"=1200" or 100ft in scale).
And what does that mean?
This is where I think the first President can demonstrate much better than I can.
Here is the recently rigged HMS Shannon facing off with the original George W - Washington that is. He's giving those limey's that stern look that founded a nation, and started many a video game.