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Scale Sizes

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Bart

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Dec 14, 2008, 2:08:30 AM12/14/08
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As a newbie I am trying to get a grasp of the scale sizes and what is
the difference between H0, 00 etc.

I want to start building some buildings etc and would like to now what
is the equivalent size for say 1 metre. I believe that H0/00 is 1:87
but what is that in metres.

Gareth

bpic...@gmail.com

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Dec 24, 2008, 11:55:52 AM12/24/08
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Gareth,

1:87 is a ratio of the model part to the prototype part.

Say you've got a steam locomotive whose driver wheels are 1.6m in
diameter. The model's wheels would be 1/87th of that, or 1.84cm. The
ratio works out the same if you're working in inches; 63" drivers
(=1.6m) get divided by 87 to give 0.724" drivers.

In other words, it doesn't matter what units you're using. The model
part will simply be 1/87 the size of the prototype part, no matter
what units.

Brian

Bart

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Dec 24, 2008, 2:08:50 PM12/24/08
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Hi Brian

Many thanks. Now I know where to start with the buildings etc

Regards

Gareth

Mike Smith

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Dec 27, 2008, 2:44:35 PM12/27/08
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"Bart" <mcn...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:giu1bu$29qr$1...@newsreader02.ops.uunet.co.za...

00 is a bit odd, a British scale mixing track to a scale of 1:87 with models
to a scale of 1:76 (or 4mm per foot), resulting in a narrow gauge
representation. This was done as the German mechanisms available were too
large to fit inside an HO scle British loco (the British loading gauge is
very tight). The resulting compromise remains with us today as a standard
for British outline models (the various attempts to produce British outline
HO models were not a commercial success) although people who prefer a more
accurate scale/gauge have adopted a range of track gauges that more closely
conform to the 1:76 scale, notably EM and Protofour.
There is another standard British scale of 1:72, originating with the model
aircraft produced for recognition purposes in WW2 (these were made from
compressed rubber recovered from old car tyres I believe). The 1:72 scale
was adopted post war by model aircraft manufacturers and firms such as
Airfix produced models in both 1:72 (most of thair aircraft) and 1:76 (most
of their military vehicles).
For US and European railways HO is the standard, having a scale of 1:87
(close enough to 3.5mm per foot), so beware if using British models as they
may be to 1:76 or even (occasionally) 1:72.

HTH

Mike

Bart

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Dec 29, 2008, 1:25:19 PM12/29/08
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Hi Mike

Thanks.

I have a lot of of old "stuff" that I have had packed away until such
time as I settled down in one place after 20years or so. When I opened
the boxes I found it to be in a not very good condition so I am
concentrating on getting the track sorted out. There is a mixture of
Peco, Hornby and Lima track, some of which is the old steel type and
some of the nickle silver. I have just bought a box of Lima NS track at
a local swop stall and I am using that for the main tracks and keeping
the old stuff for branches, fiddle yards etc. Because of its age I am
presuming that much of the wagons and locos (Triang, Hornby, Lima etc)
will be the old OO scale. However at this stage I am not too particular
about small discrepancies in sizes, that will come later.
I remember the Airfix kits, I used to have pleanty hanging from my
bedroom ceiling, much to my mothers horror since she couldn't dust as
she wanted.

Regards

Gareth

Carl Smith

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Jan 2, 2009, 8:15:10 AM1/2/09
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why not try to get a model railroadr mag t has a lot of info in it where
ya from i have al my stuff stored for bout 5 yrs thinkin bout doin a
layout in my barn see ya carl

Mike Smith

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Jan 2, 2009, 10:47:03 AM1/2/09
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"Bart" <mcn...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:gjb4me$28af$1...@newsreader02.ops.uunet.co.za...

My models have been known to make Finescale modellers cry!

Just did a *load* of Airfix soldiers/tanks/lorries/etc for a youngster, he
hasn't the room for a railway (working on that). Apparently playstations and
nintendo's in the area are all gathering dust as his mates all prefer
playing with the models. Best bit was the bank-statement sandbags,
apparently said kids have beenn pestering parents for the bank paperwork!
( http://www.igg.org.uk/gansg/00-wargame/bags.htm )
Have also written to a local chain of shops to point out that if they had
their kitchen pan scrubs made in 'sap green' they could sell a lot more of
them at no additional cost. Somehow I doubt they'll bother though. (
http://www.igg.org.uk/gansg/00-wargame/trees.htm )

I think I would probably not use the steel rails, they do need a lot of
cleaning, NS stuff from all makes seems okay, although points/switches can
be pretty dreadful from some lines.

Have fun

Mike

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