My On30 module is progressing to the point where I need to aquire some vehicles for it. In searching for appropriate vehicles, there seems to be 3 scales considered acceptable for use in O scale, 1/43, 1/42, and 1/50. I have even read a few who have said that they use some 1/35. I've been reading results from web searches, but they are all from 3 rail or hi rail operators who (no offense meant) don't seem all that concerned about scale, but instead appearance. I have not been able to find information or pictures concerning the use of various scale vehicles in On30 specifically.
Does anyone have experience with this in On30 or 2 rail scale O?
Vehicles to a scale of 1/50 are fiine with O scale, which is 1/48 - they are a little undersize, but that´s tolerable. Larger scales, like 1/43 (British O scale) are definitively too big, dwarfing everything near to them.
1/35 scale is a no no!
Not an O-scaler, but as I understand it 1:50 models of heavy equipment like front-end loaders, bulldozers, dump trucks, trailers etc. are usually acceptable since the prototype equipment tends to be large to begin with, and the scale undersize difference doesn't really stand out.I couldn't imagine going with 1:43 scale vehicles, unless they were severly underscale (in which case they really wouldn't be 1:43).
What scale is this truck?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terex#/media/File:Terex_6300AC.jpg
New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds
protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com
Bernd What scale is this truck? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terex#/media/File:Terex_6300AC.jpg
Don't understand your question. That's a real truck, 1:1.
I would say the best thing to do for O scale is to pick a vehicle scale (There are very few 1:48 scale vehicles) and stick with it.1:43 is actually a collector scale when it comes to vehicles but there is a large asortment of different ones available.
I would guess the lack of true 1:48 scale vehicles is due to insufficient market demand. Historically, true O scale modelers have been a minority in the hobby. O gauge Hi railers have been perfectly happy to accept 1:43 and 1:50 scale vehicles for a long time and represent a much larger market share that only augments the fully established 1:43 and 1:50 scale vehicle collector market. It is no wonder that scale vehicle manufacturers are reluctant to retool for true 1:48 scale. Of course, the advent of On30 revitalized the O scale modeling industry and might eventually represent a large enough market share for true 1:48 vehicles. Only time will tell.
Hornblower
Yeah, Hobbez, the ads are constantly telling us 1/45, 1/43, and 1/50 are "O scale," but they're obviously not. As has been said, if you need heavy equipment for your layout, 1/50 is slightly undersize, but that's an advantage, as that stuff is B-I-G! I model 1895-1912 or so in Oscale, so it's not a problem, particularly as aside from a financial miracle, I'm building operable cars and locos for display only. I would like an early 20th century limousine for a flatcar load, but I'll probably have to settle for a Ford Model T touring car from a manufacturer who specializes in them, usually in the 25 to 30 dollar range. I first found them on ebay, but just Google "1/48 ford model t" and you'll probably find them. As they say:"Lottsa luck!"
Deano