diff --git a/swing/src/net/sf/openrocket/gui/scalefigure/RocketFigure.java b/swing/src/net/sf/openrocket/gui/scalefigure/RocketFigure.java
index 5775390a1..188d70ad2 100644
--- a/swing/src/net/sf/openrocket/gui/scalefigure/RocketFigure.java
+++ b/swing/src/net/sf/openrocket/gui/scalefigure/RocketFigure.java
@@ -419,13 +419,14 @@ public class RocketFigure extends AbstractScaleFigure {
     protected void updateSubjectDimensions() {
         // calculate bounds, and store in class variables
         final BoundingBox bounds = rocket.getSelectedConfiguration().getBoundingBox();
+        final double maxR = Math.max(Math.hypot(bounds.min.y, bounds.min.z),
+                                     Math.hypot(bounds.max.y, bounds.max.z));
         
         switch (currentViewType) {
         case SideView:
-            subjectBounds_m = new Rectangle2D.Double(bounds.min.x, bounds.min.y, bounds.span().x, bounds.span().y); 
+            subjectBounds_m = new Rectangle2D.Double(bounds.min.x, -maxR, bounds.span().x, 2 * maxR);
             break;
         case BackView:
-            final double maxR = Math.max(Math.hypot(bounds.min.y, bounds.min.z), Math.hypot(bounds.max.y, bounds.max.z));
             subjectBounds_m = new Rectangle2D.Double(-maxR, -maxR, 2 * maxR, 2 * maxR);
             break;
         default: