Scale similarity models are discussed for the subgrid-scale stress tensor and subgrid-scale variance of a passive scalar in a turbulent flow. The modeling involves sampling of the resolved fields by applying a spatial filter at a scale greater than the grid spacing of the computational mesh. A method is described for determining the constant of proportionality present in each model. The model constant for the subgrid-scale stress tensor is determined such that the subgrid-scale turbulent kinetic energy is exact on average. The constant is shown to depend on the size of the sampling filter, the turbulence Reynolds number and the degree of resolution of the large eddies. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.