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What Is the Smallest Scale

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 18, 2003 11:33 PM
Wow!

I'm with you Slick, my mind also boggles!

Cacole: Many thanks for the link, it leads to many things. Truth is, I AM serious about the tiny stuff because I'd like to do a layout that will fit on my desk here next to the computer. I don't have room for an in-house train anywhere else. The other side of my office is taken up by a table I do my steam loco projects on, and the musical instruments I still try to make a living with.

Wdlgln: It must be magic, in my memory that is, that ever thought something that small could ever be considered a real model RR. (your comment makes me Smile) Which brings me to...Perhaps "Z" is the answer to my desktop problem since I sure as heck can't afford the Faberge.

vsmith: I agree. At least the Faberge Trans Siberian runs under it's own self-contained power. It is a bit pricey for me tho even if I could get the Russians to part with it.

THANK YOU to ALL...

LDH
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 18, 2003 11:33 PM
Wow!

I'm with you Slick, my mind also boggles!

Cacole: Many thanks for the link, it leads to many things. Truth is, I AM serious about the tiny stuff because I'd like to do a layout that will fit on my desk here next to the computer. I don't have room for an in-house train anywhere else. The other side of my office is taken up by a table I do my steam loco projects on, and the musical instruments I still try to make a living with.

Wdlgln: It must be magic, in my memory that is, that ever thought something that small could ever be considered a real model RR. (your comment makes me Smile) Which brings me to...Perhaps "Z" is the answer to my desktop problem since I sure as heck can't afford the Faberge.

vsmith: I agree. At least the Faberge Trans Siberian runs under it's own self-contained power. It is a bit pricey for me tho even if I could get the Russians to part with it.

THANK YOU to ALL...

LDH
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Posted by Wdlgln005 on Thursday, September 18, 2003 9:33 PM
M is for Magic Scale. MR had an article several years ago. A fan under the table blew air thru holes drilled in the middle of the track. The cars & locos were unpowered shells that rode on the air. GATS had a layout on display for many years.

Magic scale is fun scale. No little parts to get lost. All the wheels & couplers painted on with a majic marker. A kid of any age could perfectly put a "train" together and let it run all over the USA.

You are correct if you want a loco with a motor pulling a string of cars. Especially a gold-plated model of a Z scale mining loco pulling hopper cars loaded with precious stones.
Glenn Woodle
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  • From: Nashville TN
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Posted by Wdlgln005 on Thursday, September 18, 2003 9:33 PM
M is for Magic Scale. MR had an article several years ago. A fan under the table blew air thru holes drilled in the middle of the track. The cars & locos were unpowered shells that rode on the air. GATS had a layout on display for many years.

Magic scale is fun scale. No little parts to get lost. All the wheels & couplers painted on with a majic marker. A kid of any age could perfectly put a "train" together and let it run all over the USA.

You are correct if you want a loco with a motor pulling a string of cars. Especially a gold-plated model of a Z scale mining loco pulling hopper cars loaded with precious stones.
Glenn Woodle
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 18, 2003 6:41 PM
My mind boggles......
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 18, 2003 6:41 PM
My mind boggles......
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Posted by vsmith on Thursday, September 18, 2003 5:15 PM
I found these being sold by Lilliput Miniatures, the 4" x 7" layout is about $700.

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by vsmith on Thursday, September 18, 2003 5:15 PM
I found these being sold by Lilliput Miniatures, the 4" x 7" layout is about $700.

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by vsmith on Thursday, September 18, 2003 5:08 PM
Those are interesting but I dont know if I would call them model trains though. They look like they're pulled around via a slot down the middle of the "track" and the "track" is two small bands of clear plastic that "fence" the track. I'd like to see on operate, they are fascinating.

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by vsmith on Thursday, September 18, 2003 5:08 PM
Those are interesting but I dont know if I would call them model trains though. They look like they're pulled around via a slot down the middle of the "track" and the "track" is two small bands of clear plastic that "fence" the track. I'd like to see on operate, they are fascinating.

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by cacole on Thursday, September 18, 2003 4:03 PM
vettbass

If you perform a Google search under "1:900 scale train" several come up, including ones for sale for $2,995 and up! If you don't have any luck with Google, try http://home.att.net/~berliner-ultrasonics/zscale_z.html for the first one that Google found for me.
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Posted by cacole on Thursday, September 18, 2003 4:03 PM
vettbass

If you perform a Google search under "1:900 scale train" several come up, including ones for sale for $2,995 and up! If you don't have any luck with Google, try http://home.att.net/~berliner-ultrasonics/zscale_z.html for the first one that Google found for me.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 11:43 AM
Slick:

Yes there is Live Steam in HO and a few artisans build "one-offs" even smaller but these are person achievements and not intended for the hobby as a whole.

As I understand it, even HO Steam does not wind up in the garden due to the fact that HO rails do not hold up in weather. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Regards,

LDH
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 11:43 AM
Slick:

Yes there is Live Steam in HO and a few artisans build "one-offs" even smaller but these are person achievements and not intended for the hobby as a whole.

As I understand it, even HO Steam does not wind up in the garden due to the fact that HO rails do not hold up in weather. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Regards,

LDH
  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 11:39 AM
cacole:

Yeah, even the Trans Siberian is a wind up, powered by a jeweled watch mechanism.

If you get any links to where I can find out more about this 'cigar box' train, it is greatly appreciated.

Regards and thanx,

LDH
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 11:39 AM
cacole:

Yeah, even the Trans Siberian is a wind up, powered by a jeweled watch mechanism.

If you get any links to where I can find out more about this 'cigar box' train, it is greatly appreciated.

Regards and thanx,

LDH
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 9:39 AM
A 1:900 scale train, billed as the world's smallest, was on display at the Great American Train Show in Tucson, Arizona last year. It was called a cigar box train, because the entire layout was inside a cigar box. There was no way an electric motor could be put into something so small, so it was pulled around a circle of track with a small piano wire connected to a hidden motor in the center. The rails were only about 1/16 inch apart.
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Posted by cacole on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 9:39 AM
A 1:900 scale train, billed as the world's smallest, was on display at the Great American Train Show in Tucson, Arizona last year. It was called a cigar box train, because the entire layout was inside a cigar box. There was no way an electric motor could be put into something so small, so it was pulled around a circle of track with a small piano wire connected to a hidden motor in the center. The rails were only about 1/16 inch apart.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 7:10 AM
I'm not sure, I thought the smallest was "Z". Best of my knowlege put's the smallest "live steam" loco's in the HO gauge..... The smallest "Garden Railroad" I've seen photo's of were at "Thor's Trains" (all scale and gauge.com)? these were being run around in a large flower pot......I will check the link you supplied , thanks Vettbass.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 7:10 AM
I'm not sure, I thought the smallest was "Z". Best of my knowlege put's the smallest "live steam" loco's in the HO gauge..... The smallest "Garden Railroad" I've seen photo's of were at "Thor's Trains" (all scale and gauge.com)? these were being run around in a large flower pot......I will check the link you supplied , thanks Vettbass.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 1:46 AM
Sorry, pasted my FIRST link above wrong...It should be:

http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/4819/egg19.html

LDH
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 1:46 AM
Sorry, pasted my FIRST link above wrong...It should be:

http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/4819/egg19.html

LDH
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    April 2003
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What Is the Smallest Scale
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 1:44 AM
Perhaps someone more experienced in model RR's than me can help me remember what I recall as "M" gauge which was even smaller than "Z" scale.

To date, I BELIEVE the smallest working model train is the Faberge Trans Siberian, which can be viewed at:

http://thehobbybarn.com/resources/measure/trains.html

and,

http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fab/fab33.html

I can't remember if "M" scale is even smaller than this (tho It's hard to imagine),
but does anyone have any info on this vague memory of mine?

Regards and thanx in advance,

LDH
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
What Is the Smallest Scale
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 1:44 AM
Perhaps someone more experienced in model RR's than me can help me remember what I recall as "M" gauge which was even smaller than "Z" scale.

To date, I BELIEVE the smallest working model train is the Faberge Trans Siberian, which can be viewed at:

http://thehobbybarn.com/resources/measure/trains.html

and,

http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fab/fab33.html

I can't remember if "M" scale is even smaller than this (tho It's hard to imagine),
but does anyone have any info on this vague memory of mine?

Regards and thanx in advance,

LDH

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