I am building an A3 switcher in 3/4 scale. A lot of people ride this size train but I am wanting to run mine on a garden railroad just like the G scale and others do. I do not see much information about garden layouts this size. I really like this size...it is not TOO big and it is not TOO small. Is there anyone out there that has information about 3/4 scale garden layouts?
There's a nice board called 'SE' something. Google it under 7/8 scale. SE=7/8. Cute play on words, huh? (I didn't think so, either). And there are some SE builders right here.
I'm not one of 'em.
Les
3/4 scale!!
wow! thats huge! 75% the size of the real thing?? ;) 9 inches = one foot!
oh..Im guessing you meant 3/4 INCH scale! which is actually 1/16th scale..ok, got it. ;) (you should write it as 3/4" scale..that little inch symbol, ", is important..there is a huge difference between 3/4" scale and 3/4 scale..both are real scales, and are not remotely the same thing..yeah, im being picky..but these kinds of semantics are important..I seriously thought you meant 3/4 scale when I read the subject line!)
G-gauge track, at 45mm gauge, would equal 28.35" prototype gauge in that scale..
But the engine you are building, the PRR A3, is standard gauge..which requires a track gauge of 3.5 inches..which is certaintly doable as a "garden railroad"! and would look quite cool actually..
I have never heard of anyone doing this in "garden railroad" form..although someone probably does!
I say go for it..and post lots of pictures! :)
Scot
If you mean 3/4 inch to the foot scale you will find it typically listed as 19 mm scale (19 mm to the foot). I work a bit in 7/8's scale (1:13.7) and you can find more about it over at http://www.7-8ths.info/.
-Brian
Thank you for the information. I am new to the hobby and I still have a lot to learn about the scales and making sure that I type them the proper way. I would appreciate any information you would offer, like I said, I am new to the hobby and would like to learn from people that know more than I do.
Lyn Arnold
I have that book. It's very straight forward. I am actually using many of the building techniques and simplicity of his designs on the 4-6-4 Hudson I am currently designing in 7-1/2". Although there are commercially available plans, I am simplifying it to make these engines easier and cheaper to build for the average enthusiast. I am virtual modeling it in Autodesk Inventor as well as creating CAD drawings off of the models for each piece complete with parts lists. This is what I work on in the evenings. Kozo's book has made layout of things easy to adapt to other engines. Because of this I'll have a nice looking engine but it won't be as finely detailed as some of the other plans. That's OK though as detail items can easily be added in. I want a simple but nice engine that won't cost any more than necessary. I am adapting much of the engine from original hand drafted plans of then engine as scaled in Gauge 3. I'm just tripling the dimensions and changing/altering what I need to in order to make it work properly which is actually quite a bit.
As far as track goes, in both 1" and 1.5", we lay all of our own track. Of course we also ride on it too! I'm not sure what rail you use for 3/4" but 1" may work. We have dual gauge in spots on our club track and it uses the larger 1.5" rail. Works fine. We cut our own ties from wood 2x4s and even make some from concrete for areas that will see lots of water drainage. There is also a company that makes some nice plastic ties from recycled milk jugs.
http://www.discoverlivesteam.com/ is a very good resource but you rarely see anything in 3/4" scale.
You can buy the A3 castings for your engine here but they are a good resource for other relevant into too: http://www.friendsmodels.com/productsforsale/kozo34040drivers.html
Little Engines of California now handles all of the 1" and smaller, including 3/4", parts and plans. They could probably tell you what rail to use and where to get it: http://www.littleengines.com/LECA.html
Think I will stay with G myself already scrapn the wallet. How much do the rails cost and then shipping? Think it would kill me.
Toad
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