If you had a minimum budget,a 14x14 ft.room,wanted to use 2 rail track,liked scale o gauge engines & cars,hated traction tires,strived for realism,wanted to use diesel & steam engines,wanted reliable equiptment, enjoyed running at least 10 freight cars at a time , what manufacturer would you suggest to start with ?
Hi,
I suggest you post this question on the "classic toy trains" forum on this site. The folks there are pretty knowledgeable about O scale - and don't let the "toy" part throw you off, for there are some serious modelers there!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Well, there are not that many O scale manufacturers around, so the answer is easy - all of the two !
I model in HO, and am not fluent in O.
But, considering the first part of that sentence, I would check out Atlas O. I just had a quick look, and could see things that look pretty nice.
Ed
Thanks Ill check it out
O Gauge Railroading magazine has it's own forums where you can get a lot of information:
http://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/forums
Given your limited space, which will require sharp curves ("broad" curves in O scale are 72" RADIUS), I would either look at narrow gauge or re-think 3-rail. Right now, about half of all three-rail O products are full 1:48 scale models - Sunset even makes brass three-rail engines. Many three-rail modellers are "hi-railers"; guys building fully scenicked, highly realistic O scale layouts using three-rail track.
For example, take a look at Norm Charbonneau's work:
http://norm.beesky.com/
I would go with Atlas 2 Rail O Scale..There are other brands besides two.
I would not ask this question on Classic Trains since Classic Trains deals mostly with O-27 scale and 3 rail O Scale and many may become confused thinking you mean 3 rail...
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Are we talking about O scale or O gauge - the difference being the first one being actual scale models and the latter one being more in the (albeit good looking) toy train sector?
To my knowledge, only Atlas and MTH have a rather limited selection od scale models - I´d be glad to know others.
Larry - thanks for pinpointing me to Norm Charbonneau´s great layout. This guy has done an incredible job! I found his website years ago, but lost the bookmark (and only remembered that his name was French and had something to do with coal).
Edit:
Look at this video!
Atlas O are fine products and the easiest to find in 2-rail.
Weaver Models recently closed, but their cars and locos are probably still in stock in some stores and are available used. They made 2-rail and 3-rail locos and cars
Many MTH (3-rail) and Lionel O-gauge (3-rail) and all Weaver (3-rail) freight cars are scale. They can be converted to 2-rail by changing trucks and couplers.
There are also small companies producing O-scale kits (mainly freight cars) and there are O-scale (2-rail) brass locomotives.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
There's also narrow gauge "O" scale to consider. Bigger size but still able to negotiate HO scale curves (and even HO track if you go On2 1/2).
The one thing that really irks me about "O" scale is that the industry just expects modelers to accept "close enough" as actually being in scale. Something is very wrong when a 1:43 scale VW Bug looks like it can take out a 3-rail 4-8-4 or a 1:50 scale dump truck yet the industry (and even the marketplace) deems this as acceptable!
Hornblower
hornblowerThe one thing that really irks me about "O" scale is that the industry just expects modelers to accept "close enough" as actually being in scale. Something is very wrong when a 1:43 scale VW Bug looks like it can take out a 3-rail 4-8-4 or a 1:50 scale dump truck yet the industry (and even the marketplace) deems this as acceptable!
I think you are confusing the two ) scale in this country is 1:48. O gauge which is not as fussy as scale use the other scales.Not to mention the fact that in today's market place you can count actually 1:48 scale vehicles on one hand and probably have on finger not used.
No confusion Catt. True O Scale is 1:48. However, the largest market share is with 3 rail O Gauge where anything that fits on O gauge track is OK. The trains themselves range from not much larger than S Scale through true 1:48. Vehicle offerings in true 1:48 are terribly limited with the market accepting 1:50 trucks and 1:43 cars because so few 1:48 vehicles are available. Some structure kit lines are even sized to "fit" both O and S scale layouts.
Would this situation be accepted by HO or N scale modelers? I think not. Thus, unless you approach the problem as a handy way to force perspective, the lack of products with true scale fidelity would be the biggest obstacle I'd consider when building an O Scale layout.
Why did O Gauge develop this way while HO and N Scale stayed true to scale? Who knows.
I would go 2 rail 'O' in a heartbeat if I had the $$$$$...time and space are less of a problem. I tinkered in scale O 25-30 years ago when I lived in Pennsylvania and was connected with the Reading Society of Engineers...they have 2 rail 'O' on the second floor of their building. Anyway. I think at this time with things the major player in 'O' is Atlas...but way back 25 plus years ago when I was a regular at PA train meets...that would include Timonium, MD I was in pursuit of All Nation locomotive and rolling stock kits.
You might also want to look at the mag, 48/ft.,O Scale News, to see what else might be out there. http://www.oscalenews.com/
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
An organization promoting 2-rail O scale http://www.oscalekings.org/
Has many links to O scale manufactures and dealers.
There are a lot of 1/48 scale buildings available. However, most are based on small prototypes.
hornblowerTrue O Scale is 1:48
Objection, your Honor!
True O scale is 1/44.9 or, when Marklin "invented" the scale 1/45. In Germany, O scale still is 1/45, in Britain (and in France, IIRC) it is 1/43.5 and the US it is 1/48
Just take the standard gauge of 1,435mm and divide it by 32mm, the O Scale gauge ...
HO and N scale are not much better. The Brits run their trains on HO scale track, but the scale is 1/76. At least they don´t call it HO, but OO. The Japanese call it HO, but the scale is 1/80. N scale is 1/160, but in Britain it is 1/144 and in Japan 1/150 - both are utterly wrong. Japan runs 3 1/2 ft. gauge trains on 9mm track and that equates to 1/118. To be correct, that gauge should be 6.5mm, which is Z gauge ...
Confused?
Sir MadogObjection, your Honor!
Sustained! Indeed O Scale is different in other countries and is widely confused with 3 rail O Scale here in the US.
I lost count of the times when I've mention O Scale only to hear O Scale is a toy scale..Never mind the fact O Scale 2 rail is a serious modeling scale just like HO, N and S scale.
I would be doing On30 so most would be scratch/bash with maybe some B'mann (if they ever get the price sane again).
MTH... They make SUBWAY TRAINGS!
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Sir Madog Are we talking about O scale or O gauge - the difference being the first one being actual scale models and the latter one being more in the (albeit good looking) toy train sector?
Rich
Alton Junction
the old train man If you had a minimum budget,a 14x14 ft.room,wanted to use 2 rail track,liked scale o gauge engines & cars,hated traction tires,strived for realism,wanted to use diesel & steam engines,wanted reliable equiptment, enjoyed running at least 10 freight cars at a time , what manufacturer would you suggest to start with ?
When I read what the OP wrote, I see him interested in "scale O", as opposed to "tinplate O". Or even "hirail O". Whether it's O scale or O gage appears to be uninvolved with his question.
If I am misreading his statement, please correct me.
If not, a discussion of manufacturers that can move him forward would seem the direction to go.
When I did my micro-bit of research in the matter, I was disappointed that there was such a lack of manufacturers in the field. If I had "the big bucks", I'd surely be playing with "the big trains". As it is, I bought (a long time ago) a brass Great Northern 4-8-4. It's on my mantle. It's pretty darn gorgeous and impressive.
Yup, O (scale) would be pretty darn funnish.
Now, back to the job at hand. Here's a fun list of a whole lot of (clickable) stuff that Atlas has made in the past (their site has the current catalog):
http://www.atlaso.com/nowshipping.htm
If'n I wanted to dabble, I'd pick up their MP15DC, if I wanted to work in the current-ish era. I see they also did an Alco RS-1, awhile back. That's yer older switcher. For older eras. The RS-1 is a very sweet loco. I see by the photos that a modeler could do a whole lot of fixin' up on this one. It's real nice, but a bit crude. I mention the switchers, 'cause with a 14' square room, there's not a lot of mainline running available. Myself, I'd do a switching layout with a mostly hidden mainline loop around the edge so that cars can go off and on the switching area.
It looks like lotsa Atlas stuff will run on 36" radius curves.
Also, it looks like Free-mo O scale is starting to happen. So I might consider that as an option.
Sir Madog hornblower True O Scale is 1:48 Objection, your Honor! True O scale is 1/44.9 or, when Marklin "invented" the scale 1/45. In Germany, O scale still is 1/45, in Britain (and in France, IIRC) it is 1/43.5 and the US it is 1/48 Just take the standard gauge of 1,435mm and divide it by 32mm, the O Scale gauge ... HO and N scale are not much better. The Brits run their trains on HO scale track, but the scale is 1/76. At least they don´t call it HO, but OO. The Japanese call it HO, but the scale is 1/80. N scale is 1/160, but in Britain it is 1/144 and in Japan 1/150 - both are utterly wrong. Japan runs 3 1/2 ft. gauge trains on 9mm track and that equates to 1/118. To be correct, that gauge should be 6.5mm, which is Z gauge ... Confused?
hornblower True O Scale is 1:48
There is also Proto 48. 1/48 scale trains on correctly gauged (4' 8-1/2") track. US O scale 2-rail runs on 5' gauge track.
The time honored tradition is that "you can't". The truth is, you can, but you will be making some concessions from the start. In the 70s, AHM offerred (I think it was) 24" radius track; that always brings out the stuffed shirt crowd to suggest a 48" (or whatever) minimum radius. If you go with that approach (I would actually stick to no less than about a 32" radius) you will be better off with 36'-40' cars, and nothing longer than a GP-7 or such, (about 50'). A 44 tonner would be better, but those cannot be had for the price of a vintage Atlas O F9 from the 70s. 10 cars at a time will be probably be tough, but that depends primarily on your design and any other compromises you are willing to make. The O scale forum is a good resource.
Mike
sandusky ...that always brings out the stuffed shirt crowd to suggest a 48" (or whatever) minimum radius.
...that always brings out the stuffed shirt crowd to suggest a 48" (or whatever) minimum radius.
"stuffed shirt" (def)--a conservative, pompous person
Since you appear to be suggesting a 32" radius minimum, and since 32" is well within your term of "or whatever", are you including yourself in the stuffed shirt crowd?
The one that provided the engine I wanted.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Ok guys Im talking about o scale. After doing my homework, I find that I dont have the money or space to have o scale at this time,( I wanna run long trains) . Thanks for all the replys. I might raise the level of my ho scale layout so I can see the details better. I hope I dont end up tearing it all down & starting over.
hornblower No confusion Catt. True O Scale is 1:48. However, the largest market share is with 3 rail O Gauge where anything that fits on O gauge track is OK. The trains themselves range from not much larger than S Scale through true 1:48. Vehicle offerings in true 1:48 are terribly limited with the market accepting 1:50 trucks and 1:43 cars because so few 1:48 vehicles are available. Some structure kit lines are even sized to "fit" both O and S scale layouts. Would this situation be accepted by HO or N scale modelers? I think not. Thus, unless you approach the problem as a handy way to force perspective, the lack of products with true scale fidelity would be the biggest obstacle I'd consider when building an O Scale layout. Why did O Gauge develop this way while HO and N Scale stayed true to scale? Who knows.
I really like On30 and will probably build a layout one of these days, but if I were to do mainline O scale, I would want something like this
http://www.toytrainsontracks.com/
Are there still any OO gaugers around? And I am referring to American OO scale, with 19mm gauge track. I am interested in starting a layout in this obscure scale because I appreciate the challange and model building skills required, and would like to know if there are any left to learn from.
Jack Derby Are there still any OO gaugers around? And I am referring to American OO scale, with 19mm gauge track. I am interested in starting a layout in this obscure scale because I appreciate the challange and model building skills required, and would like to know if there are any left to learn from.
There is an NMRA SIG for OO. Web page here.
Good luck
Paul