What scales are you modeling?

[altterrain]

27 forum members have given their input so far. 20 US modellers and 7 international. I have added country codes for the international folks.

-Brian

 

 

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/altterrain/GRscalesurveyD12.jpg

[Snoq. Pass RR]

I try my best to use 1:20.3 equipment.  But I will use pretty much anything as long as a 1:20.3 figure fits inside.

[ghelman]

I tend to like the 1:22.5 for the trains. But, will run anything that looks good. I scratch build structures to 1:24. The 1:24 is just a real easy point of referenece when building.

[altterrain]

No updates from last time (end of the survey?).

Ralph, I will try and squeeze a country code in for non US modelers

Kevin, Thanks for chiming in (I already voted for you ) Our hobby is more of an art than a science, especially those of us out in the garden.

Walt, My misses mentioned putting in an indoor soffit railroad in our rec room. I think On30 will be the way to go. I love all the HO locos that have been kitbashed to the larger scale.

-Brian 

[cabbage]

Please don't take this as an aside.... But it might be interesting to see the geographic location of the users of these scales(!) As Matthew has pointed out 16mm is rare in the US and Japan, -but is very common here in the UK. There are 48 members of the webring that both Matthew and I belong to -of which there is only 1 American, (in a basement in California)...

I wonder if this, (like 00), could be one of those "British Empire" things??? And before anyone goes on I was born in "The Crown Colony of Southern Rhodesia"!!!

regards

ralph

Post Scriptumn: That makes me a "Ridgeback" and not a "Slope"(!)

[kstrong]

I now model 1:20.3 outdoors and 1:43 (On30) indoors in the winter. I gave up trying to model realistic 1:20.3 outdoors because the stage (the garden) is still 1:1 no matter what you do...

I think that's the same for any scale, indoors or out. Any time you work in miniature, you chose from a pool of 1:1 materials to represent other items in the miniature world. Some things--trains, structures, etc--are easier to recreate in miniature because the building materials can easily be scaled. But scenery has always been more suggestive than actual. You're never going to get a scene that looks 100% real. There will always be some kind of compromise. Outdoors, it's using plants with slightly larger leaves to suggest various forms of vegetation. Indoors, it's using bits of ground up foam to do the same thing. Neither is "real," but both convey a similar sense of realism. The key is in how our mind interprets what we're seeing.

When we look at a landscape, we can't possibly see each individual leaf on the trees in the background. What we see is a pattern of light and dark that suggests that we're looking at a clump of trees. It's our mind that fills in the blanks. Because we know what a tree looks like up close, we're able to transfer that detail onto the trees in the distance. We can't see it, but our mind make the connection for us.

Looking at a model or garden railroad is no different. It's all about mental associations. When we look at a model railroad with mounds of ground foam, our minds are able to look past what it is to what it represents. As such, we view the scene not as little clumps of chopped bits of green foam, but as rolling tree-covered hills. The more artfully the scene is set up, the easier it is to make that connection. When we see a small clump of ground foam next to a station, our mind tells us that's a shrub, and we accept it as such.

The same thing happens in the garden. There are no "scale" plants. There are small plants that look similar to larger plants, but that's it. And even then, the ratio is hardly close to what we're modeling. Instead, we rely on suggestion. We choose plants that convey the appearance of what we're trying to achieve. They don't have to be scale. They merely need to represent a pattern of light and dark that we're used to seeing in nature. Then, our minds can make the association to what they represent.

The reason it's harder to make those associations outdoors is because of our frame of reference. Indoors, we're in an artificial environment, so our mind readily leaps into the miniature landscape in front of us, making associations between the materials used in the model and what we know of the real world. Outside, we're already in a natural environment, so our mind first associates what we're seeing with what we're cognizant of in the 1:1 world. Our dwarf spruces are just that--really tiny trees. Our patches of thyme are just that--clumps of small-leaved plants. It's not until we can mentally transform our perspective out of the 1:1 world into the miniature one that we're able to see past what things are to what they represent. It's only then that our patch of thyme becomes a field of wildflowers. Like the indoor world, it's not so much the shapes of the vegetation, but the contrast of light and dark that creates the reality. It will never be "real," even with the most careful selection of plants. But--like the indoor scene--it can have a strong sense of realism when done artfully.

Oh, and put me down for 1:20.3.

Later,

K

[altterrain]

The survey is 9 days old now and 3 more members have voted . Here are the results -

 

 

-Brian 

[grandpopswalt]

I now model 1:20.3 outdoors and 1:43 (On30) indoors in the winter. I gave up trying to model realistic 1:20.3 outdoors because the stage (the garden) is  still 1:1 no matter what you do. And as Dick Friedman points out, vehicles and structures are very difficult and expensive to obtain. Now I just run realistic looking trains round-and-around through flower beds and around 6 foot tall bushes and just sit there and enjoy looking at them as they pass by. I do the realistic modeling and operation on the 1:43 scale layout.

 

Walt 

[Dick Friedman]

I buy what's out there, but want stuff to be 1:32!  Mostly my stuff is 1:29 therefore.  I've bought several 1:32 freight cars for the day when I can afford a 1:32 locomotive (the GS4 from MTH will do nicely, thank you very much).

My autos are a mix (boy is that an issue with me), but I try to stay as close to 1:32 as I can.  People ditto.

Buildings and kits are whatever is out there.  Since I use lots of bird houses, scale here isn't that important.  When I build, though, I use 1:32.  For now, though looking undersize, they look fine at the rear of the layout.

Because I wanted things to be 1:32 when I started, I began using code 250 aluminum rail.

 I've scratch built a 1:32 narrow guage box car, so my NG stuff is actually smaller than the standard guage cars.

My favorite cars, though, are the Bachmann Jackson and Sharp ones.  I've got about ten some from kits, some not.  I've modified most of them with paint, lights, and body mounted kadee couplers.They look nice and run fine and don't uncouple on my layout.

 

 

[skeenapac]

A lurker chiming in.... I mainly have Aristo and USA 1:29. I have a couple of 1:22.5 (?) Bachmann locos and a 'bashed Thomas using an LGB drive and a kid's pull toy. Oh yes, and an LGB grain hopper that's about 1:26. Buildings, such as they are, are a mixture of Piko 1:22.5 and Aristo 1:29. Keep them far enough apart and it works. Cars and trucks are a mix of 1:32 and 1:24 and, again, I keep them separated. Mine is a "ten foot' railway. If it looks okay from 10 feet back, that's fine by me. Interesting question..... interesting answers (mostly).

[altterrain]

With the results of 22 members, so far, the results are pretty interesting. Keep on chiming in if you have not yet!

 

-Brian 

[Takasaki Matt]

1/19th scale on 32mm track (SM32).

 This is the same as Ralph and is a little unusual in the U.S. as it is here too. 

Chalk one more for 1:19 scale.

Regards Matthew.

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Brian,

The Aristocraft buildings I bought are relatively new pre-assembled versions. The boxes have no scale marked on them - I just checked again to be sure - instead they are marked "#1 Gauge". 

Sneaky devils!

-GB

Yeah maybe they will all start doing that, and maybe we should just stand back at a vantage point of about 20 foot or so from our layouts/collections and just LOOK

I can't see it !!!!!

Byron

[gbbari]

Brian,

The Aristocraft buildings I bought are relatively new pre-assembled versions. The boxes have no scale marked on them - I just checked again to be sure - instead they are marked "#1 Gauge". 

Sneaky devils!

-GB

[Anonymous]

I have a few 1/20 engines, mostly 1/22 engines and cars, a few 1/24 cars and 1 1/29 NW2 for my track cleaning car.

I scratch build my buildings in 1/24.

The autos and trucks on the layout are 1/24.

People are 1/24, 1/22 and a few 1/29.

I run whatever with whatever and do not worry about size variance. There are no other modelers around these parts to say anything.

[altterrain]

Thanks for everyone's input so far. My little survey is chugging along....

Since Kevin and Marty flitted through here the other day without voting, I'm doing so by proxy. 1:29 for Marty and 1:20.3 for Kevin. I know Kevin has some smaller scales but I think its all been upscaled. He will have to correct me if I'm mistaken .

GB - the Aristo buildings are 1:24. I actually picked up the freight depot (which is pretty much the same as the little passenger station) as an old Walthers kit on eBay. It was marked as 1:24.

Here are the results of 4 days of voting (keep 'em coming in! those phone lines are open!) -

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/altterrain/GRscalesurveyD4.jpg

 

-Brian 

[DannyS]

Like many Large Scale railroaders, I selectively purchase equipment of several scales, 1:20.3, 1:22.5 and 1:24, which I consider can be run together, using buildings mainly 1:22.5 and road vehicles to 1:25.

With judicious mixing and matching, nothing really seems out of place, on real railways cars of different vintages are many different heights and lengths.

 

[gbbari]

Brian - This is a great question and ought to be required input from all members so GR can get an idea as to market trends. (ducking quickly down to avoid being hit by flying objects).

Seriously, I am somewhat like member "ttrigg" in that I have collected engines that I quite enjoy looking at with little regard to scale. As such I have all 3 Bachmann Spectrum geared steam locos and a Bachmann 2-8-0 Consolidation (all 1:20.3 according to Bachmann), a collection of LGB engines (Stainz's, Mogul, Krokodil, F7-ABA) that range in scales from 1:22.5 through 1:27 (don't ask me which is which ), and an Aristo RS-3 which is 1:29 according to Aristocraft.

Buildings are (so far) Piko & Pola (1:22.5 I think) and Aristocraft (1:29 but they seem bigger). People are LGB (1:22.5). Cars & trucks are all 1:24 or 1:25 diecast.

No I don't yet know for sure what my railroad wants to be when it grows up.

-GB

[kevrut]

I mostly model 1/18th scale trains. They're the antique Buddy L trains from the 1920's. They don't run on their own. I just like building all of the scenery that goes on my layout.

I do have some 1/87 scale trains that I take out once in a while.

Kevin.

Here's a link to another forum I post on.

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/viewtopic.php?t=6203&start=0

 

[Anonymous]

Brian, this has turned out very neat!!!! Hope others help.

You could have got a Gov't grant to do this you know

[vsmith]

Sorry, edited the double post

[altterrain]

Hear are the day 2 results of my survey (keep 'em coming!). No need to vote twice, Vic, this ain't Chicago .

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/altterrain/GRscalesurveyD2.jpg 

 

and for Tangerine-Jack ...

 

-Brian 

[tangerine-jack]

Scale, scale... let me see.  Isn't that the thing in the bathroom that tells you how much you weigh?

[Rex in Pinetop]

I have mostly LGB so that would be 1:22.  I recently purchased some Bachmann 1:20.  My bottom line is if it fits through the helix then I'll run it.

Rex

[Anonymous]

Guess you can say across the board for me. But I line the trains to there "size" on the shelf so I keep better inventory that way.

TOC, you build that RR LOL

[vsmith]

My stuff is mostly 1/22.s also, with some 1/24 and a smattering of 1/20.3

Oops! Double post ...sorry!

[Anonymous]

Brian,

You may add another 1:22.5 to the list.

Ours is intended to be a model railway in the garden based on the Rhaetian Railway in Switzerland, era is 1969 through 75, locale is portions of the Albula line.

Motto: Slowly but surely!

 

Best regards

 

ER 

[altterrain]

Here are the results of my very unscientific survey so far. If you have not participated, what the heck are you waiting for? Move those fingers across the keyboard and lets us know what you are doing out there. Don't be a wall flower or lurker. Results will be updated daily or until everyone has participated.

-Brian

or for you Mac guys -

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/altterrain/GRscalesurvey.jpg

[John Busby]

Hi altterrain

Whats 1:20.3 Must be a funny USA thing

Most of my trains and buildings are whatever the manufacturer made them ie all different "mutter mutter mutter".

My favorite train is nominally that funny UK thing 1/19 wide gauge all the things I try to make myself or are extra special ask for are 1/19 to run on 45mm gauge.

BIG!! little trains are even better.

regards John