Difference between 1:29 vs 1:32

[B&Orider]

I am currently running all 1:29 scale engines and cars.  I would like to start running some MTH 1:32 scale  engines mixed in with my 1:29 scale equipment. I know there is only a small difference between the two. Does anyone here run these 2 scale intermixed with each other?   If you do is it possible to post some pics of the 2 side by side so I could see  how much difference there is?   And, if you can, please make it a pic of some diesels because that is what I am planning to run together.  Or, if you can't post pics I would still appreciate your opinion on the size difference.  Thanks in advance, Rick

[two tone]

Hi Rick,   It helps to put in your bio where you are based,  so others that can offer help know where your base is. As you can see I like in the UK

[DennisB]

Dear Two Tone,  Rick's location does show on the forum. Apparently it isn't visible in the UK.

[B&Orider]

Hi guys, I just revised my profile and added my location.  Rick

[rpc7271]

I have about 60 of the old Model Die Casting 1:32 2 bay open hoppers that I run with my 1:29 Aristo diesels. They look ok. I would prefer to have the new 1:29 Aristo 2 bay hoppers but I'm not going to sell off my MDC hoppers just to buy new Aristo ones. I also have a Lionel GP20 that is supposed to be 1:32. I only found out that it is 1:32 last week. It fits in so good I would have bet money it was 1:29. Mixing MTH with other stuff is a different animal. The control system for MTH is tottaly different than all the rest. That doesn't mean you cant do it but check out everything real good befort you drop a bunch of money on MTH and then find out it wont run with your current control system.

[B&Orider]

Thanks RPC, I only run conventional at this time so I think I should be ok as far as control systems go. I am looking at running DCS in the future anyway.  None of my present engines have any type of control system in them yet.  So, I figure to install DCS at some future date anyway.  Thanks for your input.  Rick

[pimanjc]

I run MTH streamliners behind my kitbashed M-190 articulated doodlebug, which was made from Aristo 1/29 heavyweight combines.  To make the height match, I put smaller wheels on the rear of the M-190 baggage car and larger than stock wheels on the front of the first MTH cars.

JimCarter

[Greg Elmassian]

I believe there was a thread on MLS with a number of pictures.

On my site, look under rolling stock, and the USAT, the LGB and the MDC ore cars, there's some comparison shots.

In general, the difference shows. box cars, flats, tank cars, etc. The ore cars are noticably smaller, etc.

One thing that can mix ok is the 2 bay hoppers.

I sold all my MDC, just too noticable. Nicely detailed stuff, and there is some of it available again from Piko, and there is a company in the US that is going to make some I believe.

Regards, Greg

[EMD Trainman]

I'm also a 1:29 scale ratio trains collector. I myself was considering running 1:32 scale ratio in the mix, but after seeing a club member run a MTH VO1000 with 1:29 scale ratio rolling stock, it just didn't look right to me. The freight cars really dwarf the MTH switcher for sure. The USA Trains NW-2 and S-4 are much bigger in comarison, so that pretty much ended the idea of mixing scale ratios for me.

[dpassociates]

Hoping this may help

http://www.railking.co.uk/gauge1/32-scale.htm

[Mt Beenak]

The difference between 1:32 and 1:29 is very simple.  If you model 1:32 scale and use 45mm gauge track, you are modelling 4 foot 8 and one half inch gauge in real life, or standard gauge.  If you model 1:29 scale and use 45 mm gauge, you are modelling 4 foot 3 and one fifth inch gauge in real life.  This is neither standard gauge nor any of the common narrow gauges (Eg: 3 foot 6 inch, 3 foot, etc)

1:29 only exists because some model manufacturer wanted their equipment to look better with 1:32 scale equipment and the various narrow gauge equipment built to 1:22.5 (LGB) and 1:24 (Delton, early Bachmann etc).  The scale has prospered among those who are prepared to ignore its lack of scale integrity and are simply looking for convenience.

If you want scale/gauge integrity you need to stick to 1:32 for standard gauge or 1:24/1:22.5/1:20.3 for the various narrow gauges.  However, if that is not important to you, run anything that looks good to your eye.  There are as many options as there are people who have garden railways.  Remember, this is the hobby that brought you the eggliner!

[DMUinCT]

Yes they mix!  A large 1/32 and a smaller 1/29 do look right together.  Freight cars of all scales (size) mix just like a real railroad.

Left MTH -8 in 1/32 scale, center Aristo RS-3 in 1/29 scale, right Bachmann 1/24 scale hoppers.

1/32 left  ---  1/29 right

[B&Orider]

Thanks, Don but you said a large 1/32 and a small 1/29. It is actually just the opposite. The 1/32 model would be the smaller and the 1/29 the larger.  But anyway, I do appreciate the photos side by side comparison.  I can see a small difference in size but I really don't think it is that critical. And you are right on about the freight cars on the real railroads being all different sizes.  Again Thank You,  Rick

[DMUinCT]

Let me try again,

A smaller 1/32nd Model of a large locomotive (GE Dash-8) and a larger 1/29th Model of a smaller locomotive (Alco RS3) appear to be close in size.

Freight cars come in all sizes.  New Haven Railroad photo published in 1944

[Cosmo706]

Yep, ^that^ looks just like my consists! LGB gon, Bachmann box, ARISTO 40' box, Bach, bach, bach, USA, USA...

(Is it just me, or am I starting to sound like a patriotic chicken? )

[spikejones52002]

I agree with the photo that DMUinCT has in his blog.

I was watching videos of Steam and early diesel. I noticed that the cars were in so many different sizes. So 1/32 - 1/29 - 1/24 - and 1/20 mix were protypeed.

I would like to hear how your MUing different manufacturer engines together. I would assume your will be using variable D.C..

All MTH's engines will run at the same speed using MTH's TIU.  I have not tried MTH's with D.C.

[captain perry]

Obviously there is a difference.  It is up to the modeler to decide  if the difference matters.  True scale is 1:32 for standard gauge.  But bigger might be better to some folks. 

 

I model two foot gauge on 45mm track at 1:20.3.  the track scales to 3 feet or so thus I am doing it "worng" but I like it and stuff looks fine to me.  1:13.7 is proper scale and would be cool but it is hard to switch.  some of my older stuff is 1:22.5 or 1:24.  which is more different than 1:32 vs 1:29 but as you have seen things in real life are different sizes so just do what looks good to you.

[DMUinCT]

And one more thing!

A few years ago, LGB issued models of the Amtrak P42 Genesis Diesel and Amfleet 1 passenger cars.   Very large LGB!

Amtrak states in advertising about there use at the White House National Christmas Tree, "The Amtrak model train is 1:22.5 in scale and includes  -----"

[kstrong]

The Genesis locomotive is closer to 1:29. (See the product review for scale dimensions.) I think the Amfleet cars are 1:26ish, though I think they're a bit shortened. They're a touch larger than the Aristo and USA Trains 1:29 cars, where they "should" be a bit smaller. (They are nice looking cars, regardless of scale.)

One of the "sacred cows" in large scale railroading is the acceptance to run whatever you want if it looks good to you. And that's really the only litmus test. I personally find the 1:32 stuff to be very small when compared to the 1:29 stuff. At the same time, I think the same of 1:24 stuff compared to 1:20, when I know from historical research that some of the 1:24 cars scale out very well when measured in 1:20. Despite their diminutive stature, they're prototypical. Historically, standard gauge equipment didn't have quite the size variation as narrow gauge, but as we've seen in the photos posted here, there was enough difference to where mixing the two can produce a very plausible looking train.

Later,

K

[DMUinCT]

I am only quoting the offical "Amtrak News Release" ATK-09-099.    Let me add, this LGB product was licensed by Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation) and must have been givin the scale by LGB before publishing the news release and installing the train in front of the White House. 

In the real world, the Genesis P42 locomotive does tower over the Amfleet1 coaches.   Pictured below is the real thing,  "The Three Rivers" east bound from Pittsburg nearing Harrisburg at Duncannon PA.

 

Now the pictured below is the LGB Amtrak on my layout.  Note the crease where the engine roof starts to slant in does line up with the start of the curve on top of the coach roof in both photos.