Scale Model Trains

Model Train Engine Article

Model Train Scaling – An Introduction

Model Train Scaling is a hobby also called Model railroading in US and Railway modelling in UK. In model scaling of trains, rail transport systems are modelled with a reduced size ratio or scale. These scale models include rail vehicles including locomotives, rolling stock, streetcars, etc., tracks, signals, sceneries of roads, buildings, figures, vehicles, lights, and few more things like streams, hills, canyons, etc. to make it more real.

Significance of Scale & Gauge: The words scale and gauge carry a big relevance in model scale trains. Sometimes these are being used interchangeably but they carry different meaning altogether. Scale is used to denote the measurement of model in direct proportion to the original, whereas gauge is the measurement between the two running rails of the track.

Engine Structure: The scales used decide the size of engine. It may vary from the largest scale i.e. 700 mm (28") tall or the largest ride able live steam scales such as 1:8, up to the smallest ones called Z scale which is compared to matchbox for its size. An HO engine is typically around 50 mm (2") tall, and 100 mm to around 300 mm (4" to 12") in length. Five scales which are most popular are: G scale, O scale, HO scale, TT 1:120 and N scale. Similar sized to HO scale are OO scale, which are being used in Britain. HO scale is the most popular scale of model railroad. There is growing interest in Z scale as well which is smallest one. Other smaller scales are the Hon3 Scale (1:87) and the Nn3 Scale which is equal in size to N scale (narrow gauge).

HO SCALE MODEL TRAIN: HO scale, also called H0 scale in continental Europe, is the most popular scale of model trains in most parts of the world except United Kingdom, where a slightly larger scale - OO scale is most common. The name has been derived from the German Halb-null ("half-zero"), because its scale 1:87 is approximately half that of O scale. In HO, trains are usually spaced 16.5 millimetres apart which models the standard gauge of 4' 8.5".

MODEL TRAIN – ‘N Scale’: Model train of ‘N scale’, or ‘N gauge’, is a popular size of the model train. This actually lures the hobbyist to own a model train, which takes the less space as compared to HO scale and gets a longer track in same area. The popularity of the model is because the models are smaller, with almost half of the size in HO scale (1:87). The abbreviation ‘N’ is used for nine millimetres, which represents the distance between the inner edges of the rail-track.

Manufacturing Organisation: One of the manufacturers of Model rail equipment in N and HO scales is Kato Precision Railroad Models, a Japanese manufacturer. The produced models (Japanese prototypes) are for their own domestic market. They also have a subsidiary called Karo, USA and manufacture American ones there.