I recently purchased a new locomotive and tender for my garden layout. But there are not markings on the box or enclosed paperwork to tell me the scale. I have another train that is a 1:20.3, and this new one is bigger, but I don't know exactly how much. Is there a formula to calculate scale?
If the model has a specific prototype, and you know a certain dimension of that prototype (length, driver diameter, etc.) then you can divide the size of the prototype (say a 40" driver) by the size of the driver on the model (say 2") to arrive at the scale (in this example, 1:20). Failing that, if it looks appropriate, run with it.
What's the brand/wheel arrangement of the locomotive in question?
Later,
K
This is a Buddy L 2-6-2 Santa Fe Railway Engine and Tender, 1 in 1000. I have another engine that I know is a 1:20.3, and the Buddy L is the larger of the two.
That particular loco is not of any specific locomotive, but it's built nominally from parts identical to those found on the Bachmann 4-6-0, which is 1:22.5. I've used parts from the Bachmann loco on 1:20.3 models as well, so it's definitely plausible in that scale.
Scale--especially in narrow gauge locos--is particularly hard to determine just by looking. All three of these locos are 1:20.3, yet all three very different in size. The best way to guess the scale is to put a figure in the cab and see how he "measures up."
Thank you for your response. It's nice to know that there are helpful and caring people out there...and I am learning that an awful lot of them are garden railroad people.
I am still getting the hang of the "scale" on my railroad. I understand the basics and not much beyond that. However, I found this link on another forum and it helped me with the conversion to my scale (1:20.3)
http://www.printmini.com/calc.shtml
I don't know if this will do the trick but its a nice one to have bookmarked and I bookmark everything!
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