Unravel Hobby Scale Sizes From 1:12 To 1:220
Elaine Littlefield wrote:
When beginning, expanding, or integrating your hobby collection, selecting compatible sizes can be confusing. With such a wide range of hobbies and scales, how can you fit together several different genres to create interest?
Each hobby category has popular scales and many scales have evolved since prewar years scaling both up and down with precision from 1:1000 up to a large scale of 1:12. My grandfather for example artfully welded together a model train that we could ride in probably in a scale of about 1:7.
Much like electrical standards, there is not a universal worldwide hobby standard. For example, if you compare model trains in the US, the O gauge trains are 1:48, while in Europe, the NEM standard for model railroading O gauge is 1:45, and in the UK O gauge is 1:43.
1:20 to 1:22.5 is called G scale and is most associated with garden trains. G gauge refers to the distance between the inside of the rails (1.75" or 45mm). Note: The USA G scale is 1:20.3 and is sometimes referred to as F scale.
1:43 and 1:48 or ¼ scale is associated with O scale trains with 2 or 3 rail tracks. This scale is dominated by Lionel and is also the second most popular scale for planes. You'll find compatible cars and trucks in 1:43, 1:48, and 1:50 scale.
1:64 is found in S scale model trains with the most popular brand being the American Flyer.
1:87, the most popular railroad modeling scale, is called HO or Half O.
1:160 is for N scale model trains which is gaining popularity. The footprint typically hosts a 2" engine almost half the size of the HO train. The name comes from the N in the Nine mm distance between the tracks.
1:220 is the Z scale model train, the smallest train scale, introduced by Marklin. It's just plain cute.
Each of the railroad scales also offer a huge array of complementary structures, vehicles, boats, signs, figures, etc. for extensive creative layouts.
So, consider expanding your hobby genre for fun, creativity, interest, and leisurely pleasure with a greater understanding of scale standards.
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