I adapted this picture I found on another site and thought it might be useful to people trying to decide what kind of train they want.
![Image]()
eljefe
That's a great picture that brings scale to life. 
:thumbsup:
I want to do something similar with rails and have 3 so far... 1/87, 1/8, and 1/1.
![Image]()
:thumbsup:I want to do something similar with rails and have 3 so far... 1/87, 1/8, and 1/1.
Although rail size can vary. How do you know you're comparing the same size of rail in scale?
(For example, "standard" HO track uses "Code 100" rail (the code is the height of the rail in thousandths of an inch). Code 83 is the next most common for HO. I've been handlaying Code 70 and Code 55 (yes that's half the size of the Code 100 found in most sets). Common N scale rail sizes are Code 80 (massively over-scale) and Code 55 (similar to Code 100 in HO, which is also over-scale for most rail).)
(For example, "standard" HO track uses "Code 100" rail (the code is the height of the rail in thousandths of an inch). Code 83 is the next most common for HO. I've been handlaying Code 70 and Code 55 (yes that's half the size of the Code 100 found in most sets). Common N scale rail sizes are Code 80 (massively over-scale) and Code 55 (similar to Code 100 in HO, which is also over-scale for most rail).)
I have a Shay (2 truck by Sprectum), it's 1;43 and runs on HO track, they called it on30 :dunno:
and runs on HO track, they called it on30 :dunno:
BK it's O scale; the "n" is a common notation to indicate that the model is narrow gauge. In this case, the gauge is the same as HO, but the model is O scale.
This is where I got the On30 from.
![Image]()
And here is the Shay On30 in comparison to my Atlas HO
![Image]()
Had to make my tunnel taller to take the Shay.
And here is the Shay On30 in comparison to my Atlas HO
Had to make my tunnel taller to take the Shay.
I recently sent a 2 pack of Cobra Head Street Lights to a guy in Canada and he said they were a little big for HO. I was told by others that they were nice lights and 4 inches was about right for city street lights. I also compared them to lights I saw in a hobby shop and they were the same size. Is 4 inches right? Frank's HO SCALE LIGHTING and BILLBOARDS at http://www.hoscalelighting.com
That would be about 29 feet to scale, probably scale for the taller lights, but it depends on the style they were.
I know this an older post, but I had to get my 2c in. As I understand, HOn3 (commonly called 'narrow gauge') refers to the width between the rails and therefore the engines (and rolling stock) that can ride on them. HOn3 refers to a 3 foot (or 36 inch) width between rails, while HOn30 implies 30 inches between rails. An On3 would be 3 SCALE feet between the rails.
As it turns out, O narrow gauge can use standard HO track, and HO narrow gauge can use standard N gauge track.
BTW, great scale comparison photos! Wish I had seen them when I was younger. That distinction drove me nuts as a kid.
As it turns out, O narrow gauge can use standard HO track, and HO narrow gauge can use standard N gauge track.
BTW, great scale comparison photos! Wish I had seen them when I was younger. That distinction drove me nuts as a kid.
Thanks for providing some new info, haphall. A lot of people seem to be confused by what narrow gauges are relative to scales.
OO runs on HO scale track and is very similar in size.
OO is 1:76 scale, HO is 1:87.
OO is mostly European, and European equipment generally has a smaller profile than North American equipment, which means OO and HO end up looking exactly the same size, although the European equipment should actually be a tad smaller that their North American counterparts.
There was actually a thread on this exact subject (OO vs HO) a while ago on this forum.
http://www.modeltrainforum.com/showthread.php?t=13216
I'm sure there's also been others actually.
OO is 1:76 scale, HO is 1:87.
OO is mostly European, and European equipment generally has a smaller profile than North American equipment, which means OO and HO end up looking exactly the same size, although the European equipment should actually be a tad smaller that their North American counterparts.
There was actually a thread on this exact subject (OO vs HO) a while ago on this forum.
http://www.modeltrainforum.com/showthread.php?t=13216
I'm sure there's also been others actually.
As for which one is best suited to a person, it's all about the space you have, and your eyesight. I love the size of O scale trains, but it eats real estate if you want anything but an oval. I like N scale, but I can't see that well without the cheaters. G scale is fun, and if I have a barn I'd have G scale in the basement.
I've been model railroading for a long time, and I have to say a reference like this would have been helpful many years ago.
The picture is great, but the thing that is missing is a real world object of known scale for comparison. One that I've seen uses a dollar bill (6") for comparison. For newcomers to the hobby, this would be roughly the size of the N scale locomotive.
The picture is great, but the thing that is missing is a real world object of known scale for comparison. One that I've seen uses a dollar bill (6") for comparison. For newcomers to the hobby, this would be roughly the size of the N scale locomotive.
Modelers who know better seem to carelessly use the word "scale," when they mean "gauge," which I believe is a source of massive confusion for those who don't understand the distinction. It's perpetuated right in the forum titles, here.
O-gauge is typically 1:43 scale, gauge referring to the rail profile (1-1/4" centers, etc.), and not the scale size. Most model rail gauges are at odds with the true scale of the locos, as necessitated by reasonably small layout tables.
This confusion really gets people, when you start discussing On30, which is really HO gauge in O scale (~1:43). :lol
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O-gauge is typically 1:43 scale, gauge referring to the rail profile (1-1/4" centers, etc.), and not the scale size. Most model rail gauges are at odds with the true scale of the locos, as necessitated by reasonably small layout tables.
This confusion really gets people, when you start discussing On30, which is really HO gauge in O scale (~1:43). :lol
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O scale model trains are all proportioned 1:48 to the prototype?
Which is 1/48th the size of a real train?
O scale conveniently works out to 1/4 inch = 1 foot.
You could use 1/43 size structures and cars and trucks on the O layout. But they are a hair smaller then O?
That is what I always thought.:dunno:
Which is 1/48th the size of a real train?
O scale conveniently works out to 1/4 inch = 1 foot.
You could use 1/43 size structures and cars and trucks on the O layout. But they are a hair smaller then O?
That is what I always thought.:dunno:
Interesting. I've always read that accessories for O-gauge were usually scaled at 1:45, to split the difference between the 1:48 and 1:43. In fact, I thought most of the trains were actually scaled 1:43, with the track scaled at 1:48, but I guess I was probably just assuming, there.
All interesting, but aside from the point I was trying to make!
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All interesting, but aside from the point I was trying to make!
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