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| raynerd:
My little boy is tiny, only a baby but I want to make a start (if not for myself!!) in building a small electric train track. I'm sure my daughter will enjoy it as well. Although I've made a few engines and in to engineering, I've never pretended to know anything about model trains!! In terms off considering collectibility, cost and fun...what guage should I be looking at buying? One day I'd love to have a full track running around his room but I'm not sure what I should be buying! Any thoughts or info please? I'd appreciate it, Chris |
| John Rudd:
--- Quote from: raynerd on April 26, 2013, 04:04:57 PM --- I've never pretended to know anything about model trains!! In terms off considering collectibility, cost and fun...what guage should I be looking at buying? One day I'd love to have a full track running around his roomChris --- End quote --- Well theres HO/OO gauge and there's N gauge...HO/OO is around 25mm track width, N gauge is around 10-12mm...( Google gauges ) I have a HO/OO gauge Triang-Hornby layout in my loft....(When I can be bothered with it...) Smaller costs more.. |
| mklotz:
Check on the availability of accessories before you decide on a scale. Here in the USA, the most available accessories are all HO scale. When I lived in Germany I could get N-gage accessories but they're not nearly so available in the states. Z-gage accessories are nearly non-existent. The larger gages may be more appropriate for small childrens' clumsiness but they take up enormous amounts of space. As a compromise between layout size/complexity and availability/cost I think HO is the way to go. Here's a table I have of the various gages. Of course, it's American because I am. Check for a European equivalent. --- Code: ---SUMMARY OF SCALES NAME SCALE COUPLER of to CENTER ABOVE TRACK SCALE FOOT PROPORTION RAlLHEAD GAGE REMARKS 1" 1.000"(25.4mm) 1:12 2 7/8"(73mm) 4.750"(121 mm) 3/4" .750(1 9.Omm) 1:16 2 1/4"(57mm) 3.500"(88.9mm) 17/32" .531"(13.5mm) 1:22.6 l 7/16"(37mm) 2.500"(63.5mm) 1/2" .500"(12.7mm) 1:24 1 7/16"(37mm) 2.500"(63.5mm) 3/8 .375"(9.52mm) 1:32 1 1/16"(27mm) 1.766"(44.9mm) O(17) .266"(6.75mm) 1:45.2 11/16"(17mm) 1.250"(31.8mm) ++ O .250"(6.35mm) 1:48 11/16"(17mm) 1.250"(31.8mm) ++ On3 .250"(6.35mm) 1:48 9/16"(14mm) .750"(19.0mm) On2 .250"(6.35mm) 1:48 11/32"(8.7mm) .500"(12.7mm) S .188"(4.76mm) 1:64 17/32"(13mm) .875"(22.2mm) Sn3 .188"(4.76mm) 1:64 17/32"(10mm) .563"(14.3mm) OO 4.0mm(.1575") 1:76.2 29/64"(12mm) .750"(19.0mm) HO 3.5mm(.1378") 1:87.1 25/64"(9.9mm) .649"(16.5mm) HOn3 3.5mm(.1378") 1:87.1 9/32"(7.1mm) .413"(10.5mm) HOn2 3.5mm(.1378") 1:87.1 .276"(7.01mm) TT .100"(2.54mm) 1:120 9/32"(7.1mm) .471"(12.0mm) TTn3 .100"(2.54mm) 1:120 7/32"(5.54mm) .300"(7.62mm) N .075"(1.90mm) 1:160 .216"(5.5mm) .353"(8.97mm) Nn3(40") .075"(1.90mm) 1:160 .250"(6.35mm) Z .055"(1.39mm) 1:220 .257"(6.52mm) ++ Except for track gage and associated dimensions, STANDARDS for these scales are generally the same and are referred to simply as "O" STANDARDS. --- End code --- |
| andyf:
Despite what you table shows, Marv, I believe the track gauge for 00 is the same as H0 at 16.5mm. As 00 models are at a scale of about 1:76, and H0 ones are about 1:87, the track is the the right scale for H0, but unrealistically narrow in 00. The anomaly arose because many full-size UK engines are smaller than their European and US counterparts, so using 4mm:1ft made it easier to fit the clockwork mechanisms of yesteryear inside the loco bodies. Also, having the wheels closer together left a bit more room to model the valve gear. But both H0 and 00 will run on the same track. Chris, as most UK-made models of UK engines and rolling stock are 00, I'd go for 00 if you want to model a UK railway. If you want to model a railway from elsewhere in the world, and hence buy imported models, you will probably find that they are HO. But they will both run on the same track, so you can mix scales if you want to include Eurostar trains. Andy |
| Pete49:
I have a HO/OO Triang /mixed makes since I was a child and enjoy it every so often. They are a good size as said for clumsy children and also fumble fingered older type persons :). Keep in mind the layout size as well. I have been thinking of N gauge lately but only because of available room. You can fit nearly 4 times the layout on an 8'x4' base compared to HO/OO but the cost is roughly that as well Pete |
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