American OO

[M636C]

cwburfle

I purchased some On3 flex track to display some Lionel "OO" a long way back. I think it was made by Peco, or Precsion Scale and came in a package of four 36" pieces.

Here is a link: http://www.needtrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=48_36_84_205&products_id=13146

 

We have quite a contrast between the ultra fine P4 track and the overscale On3 track and it depends on what you want. But in the present Bachmann British range there are modern vehicles like covered and open coil steel wagons with detail unimaginable in 1938 all in correct OO scale.

 

If you want OO scale, it is out there, much more than expected.

 

M636C

[cwburfle]

I purchased some On3 flex track to display some Lionel "OO" a long way back. I think it was made by Peco, or Precsion Scale and came in a package of four 36" pieces.

Here is a link: http://www.needtrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=48_36_84_205&products_id=13146

[Jack Derby]

There were also a fair variety of cars made by Nason, Scale-Craft, and the like...

[M636C]

I actually checked via google:

While it is intended as fine scale, and has small height rail, P4 flexitrack is available. Elswhere on that site are turnout kits and concrete tie bases to use with rail purchased separately...

http://www.finescale.org.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=346_384_386_389

Meanwhile, Bachmann make 4mm scale container wagons for the British market. These have die-cast skeletal frames and 45 ft containers...

http://www.ehattons.com/52663/Bachmann_Branchline_37_314_Intermodal_bogie_wagon_with_2_x_45ft_containers_in_Safmarine_livery/StockDetail.aspx

So you aren't stuck with just the four or so freight cars that Lionel shipped with the Hudson....

Elsewhere on that site are gondolas for scrap in high and low side versions, tank cars and grain hoppers. All of these come with 16.5mm gauge axles but substituting 18.83 mm gauge wheelsets gives you real 4mm scale freight cars with proper sized trucks and wheel diameters.

M636C

[Jack Derby]

That makes sense, although I do not know if any track is produced over there.  However, On3 track is the same gauge.

[M636C]

The British P4 gauge is stated as 18.83mm

Is this suitable for American OO, nominally 19mm...?

Are many track sections and components available in 18.83mm gauge in the UK?

Some existing British OO models can be adapted to 18.83mm gauge simply by exchanging the wheelsets. This might provide a range of passenger trucks particularly, since the cast "Commonwealth" passenger trucks were used in Britain.

There are a number of ISO containers on flatcars that would be useful, and the British "Class 59" used standard EMD HT-C trucks that would be suitable for use under an SD40-2, for example. Most of these come as 16.5 mm gauge but many can be adapted to 18.83 mm gauge.

M636C

[Jack Derby]

Yeah, I started that one.  They didn't have anyone who had previously/currently modeled in it, so I thought that I would ask over here....

[cwburfle]

I have some Lionel "OO" trains, but I don't have them set up.

[Jack Derby]

Nobody does currently, the main ones I was aware of were Lionel, Scale-Craft, and Nason, and they all ceased production far enough back that I figured you lot might be more likely to have an OO gauger among you than the MR peeps were.

[cwburfle]

Does anyone make any American "OO" trains?
English "OO" is a different size.

In case you haven't seen this site: http://americanoo.blogspot.com/

[Jack Derby]

I am looking to possibly start working in OO gauge, and was curious if there were any OO gaugers out there.