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1/72 Scale Narrow Gauge Modeling

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 5:57 PM

chutton01

 

 
hminky
Objects aren't  "N, HO...S, O, etc. SCALE". An object is what it measures.

That has to be the attitude to go "out-of-the-box", there are lots of resources out there.

 


Well, yes and no.
Models of prototypes with somewhat variable dimensions or sizes, such a bulk oil storage tank, can represent a smallish tank in 1/72 or a larger tank in 1/87 (HO) (The length ratio is about 83%) 
However, given a 1930 Ford Model A Tudor with a wheelbase of close to 103.5 inches, that same 103.5in wheelbase in HO works out to 85.6in in 1/72 scale, which will look noticibly odd if not downright silly - so you need a 1/72 scale Ford Tudor model.

 

 

 I think what harold is saying is the exact opposite - at whatever scale the model measures a 103.5" wheelbase, that's the scale the model is, regardless of what might be printed on the package. Compare the actual measurement to the prototype measurement, that's what scale the object is. 

 You can;t carry this to absurdity, and just arbitrarily decide some scale ratio to use, unless you plan to make most things yourself, but as harold has shown, there are plenty of scales not traditionally used for Model Railroading that have plenty of opportunity for taking commonly available items and adapting them to this other scale because they happen to scale out to perfectly plausible dimensions in that non-traditional scale. 

                                   --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Dover, DE
  • 1,313 posts
Posted by hminky on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 3:32 PM

Obviously an HO car isn't going to measure to a different scale.

Harold

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Posted by chutton01 on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 3:18 PM

hminky
Objects aren't  "N, HO...S, O, etc. SCALE". An object is what it measures.

That has to be the attitude to go "out-of-the-box", there are lots of resources out there.


Well, yes and no.
Models of prototypes with somewhat variable dimensions or sizes, such a bulk oil storage tank, can represent a smallish tank in 1/72 or a larger tank in 1/87 (HO) (The length ratio is about 83%) 
However, given a 1930 Ford Model A Tudor with a wheelbase of close to 103.5 inches, that same 103.5in wheelbase in HO works out to 85.6in in 1/72 scale, which will look noticibly odd if not downright silly - so you need a 1/72 scale Ford Tudor model.

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 716 posts
Posted by trwroute on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 2:58 PM

That is a great idea.  I have been wanting to build another narrow gauge layout, but the HO narrow stuff is too small.  I've been looking at Sn3 again, but i think I'm going to research this more.  Thanks for the idea and the links.

Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Dover, DE
  • 1,313 posts
Posted by hminky on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 2:45 PM

Objects aren't  "N, HO...S, O, etc. SCALE". An object is what it measures.

That has to be the attitude to go "out-of-the-box", there are lots of resources out there.

Harold

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Posted by chutton01 on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 2:30 PM

Took me a minute to realize that while the modeler wouldn't be able to make much use of established Model Railroad scale items (HO, S, or even OO), there is a lot of military modeling in 1/72 scale from which they can obtain vehicles, figures, and even structures (used in dioramas and the like).

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Dover, DE
  • 1,313 posts
1/72 Scale Narrow Gauge Modeling
Posted by hminky on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 1:52 PM

Found this idea on the net but was written up in Kalmbach's "Model Railroad Planning 2018". The issue featured Doug Tagsold's Colorado & Southern. The premise is using HO gauge equipment to represent 1/72 scale narrow gauge.



http://smallmr.com/wordpress/doug-tagsolds-colorado-southern-narrowgauge-modelrailroad-modelrail-train/

 Liking out-of-the-box thinking this is my take on the idea:

http://www.chainsawjunction.com/172n4/







Thank you if you Visit

Harold

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