Bachmann Online Forum

Discussion Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: sour rails on February 08, 2008, 11:55:53 AM

Title: Scale comparison
Post by: sour rails on February 08, 2008, 11:55:53 AM
     Hey all, I was just wondering the other day.  If I have a large scale layout that depicted real size, what would N or Z scale be on the large scale layout?I don't know all the scale dimentions, otherwise, I would try to calculate it myself.
Thanks for any info.
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: fieromike on February 08, 2008, 12:39:03 PM
Quote from: sour rails on February 08, 2008, 11:55:53 AM
     Hey all, I was just wondering the other day.  If I have a large scale layout that depicted real size, what would N or Z scale be on the large scale layout?I don't know all the scale dimentions, otherwise, I would try to calculate it myself.
Thanks for any info.

Z scale=1/220:1
N scale=1/160:1 (American)
N scale=1/150:1 (Japanese)
HO scale=1/87:1
S scale=1/64:1
O scale=1/48:1
Large scale varies from 1/29:1 to 1/32:1 or thereabouts...

Have fun!
Mike
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: ebtnut on February 08, 2008, 12:48:45 PM
By my rough calculations, Z scale trains would be 1" scale compared to Large (1:20.3) scale, while N would equate to 1 1/2" scale.  Both of those scales are used by live steam modelers.
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: sour rails on February 08, 2008, 01:52:18 PM
     So basicly, on a large scale layout, one could also run an N scale (representing a large scale train on the layout).  But the Z scale would represent a smaller scale.

Did I understand it correctly?
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: ebtnut on February 08, 2008, 04:24:01 PM
Well, you could operate a Large scale layout and run the smaller scale equipment, though as I indicated they would represent scales that are used by live steam types outdoors.  A model representing a Large scale train as compared to the prototype size for the 1:20.3 model would, again based on my rough calcualtions, would have to be in 1:384 scale for the proper relationship.  That's about half-again smaller than Z.  Hope that's clear.
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: sour rails on February 08, 2008, 06:48:08 PM
 :D Thanks,  That does sound a little better than the first way I understood it. ;D
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: SteamGene on February 08, 2008, 07:02:33 PM
I've seen an HO module that has a Z scale train running in a train museum as a live steam "amusement park" train.  It works visually. 
Gene
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: Jake on February 08, 2008, 09:24:34 PM
^Well, I must say, that IS creative! ;D
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: Santa Fe buff on February 13, 2008, 05:37:17 PM
I read in Model Railroading magizine a measurement scale, you might find one- but fieromike had the exact answer. Fieromike, is there two types of HO? I heard there's HO2. Cause' Hot wheels cars are likely to be HO2 if HO2 exsits. Because hot wheels cars are somehow bigger then the 1:87 scale. Just Post it under this reply.
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: SteamGene on February 13, 2008, 06:35:16 PM
There IS only one HO scale.  There ARE at least two HO gauges: standard and narrow.  As a rule, the narrow is HOn3, meaning HO scale, three foot gauge. 
Gene
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: Santa Fe buff on February 14, 2008, 11:37:13 AM
Thanks SteamGene, just woundering if there was a different HO.
Thanks.
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: ebtnut on February 14, 2008, 02:41:02 PM
Yeah, one of my pet peeves is the casual use of "scale" vs. "gauge"  Gauge is the distance between the railheads.  In the prototype it can be anywhere from 15" to 7 feet.  Standard gauge is, of course, 4' 8 1/2".  Narrow gauges are anything less than that.  After the 1880's, there was virtually no "broad" gauge in the U.S.  There were(and still are) broader gauges in other parts of the world. 

Scale is the reduction from the prototype, i.e., 1:160 is N scale; 1:87 is HO scale; 1:48 is O scale, etc.  As with the prototype, you can have multiple gauges within the scale--On2, On30, On3, etc. 
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: r.cprmier on February 15, 2008, 04:59:49 PM
EBNUT has it zeroed in nicely; just remember, there IS a difference between scale and gauge.  Correctly applied, gauge doesn't neccessarily apply to scale; however, scale is the correct proportion between what you have and the real thing:
as in "O": scale:  It would take forty eight J-1 new Haven mikes in O scale, lined up elephant style, to match the length of one New Haven J-1 Mike. 

Gauge, as has been inferred, is the width of the track-as in HOn3 would be three HO-scale feet between the rails, as would also be in O scale; three O-scale feet between the rails.  Dig?

RIch
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: Tom Lapointe on February 15, 2008, 06:18:59 PM
They say a picture is worth 1000 words... ;)

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/TomLapointe/David_and_Goliath/David_and_Goliath_Locos_2.jpg)

For further consideration -

the LITTLE engine in the photo is N scale (standard gauge)...

the BIG engine is 1:20.3 (F) scale narrow (3 ft.) gauge...

So if built to the same scale, the N scale 4-4-0 would be LARGER  :o (since it's a model of a standard gauge locomotive0 than the F scale (narrow gauge) loco! :D

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/TomLapointe/David_and_Goliath/David_and_Goliath_Locos_5.jpg)

(& before somone comments, excuse the dust - this was a little-used area of my small indoor Large Scale layout!). ;D                                      Tom
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: Yampa Bob on February 15, 2008, 07:09:10 PM
Tom
My compliments to you on the excellent photography, and courteous posting of small images.  They loaded instantly.  I just checked the properties of the images, and they are right on.  (right click, "properties")

Did you read my thread on "Image Management" in this section by any chance?

If not then you already had it figured out. 

Thank you for sharing and caring.

Bob
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: Tom Lapointe on February 15, 2008, 07:39:03 PM
No, I hadn't seen your "Image Management" thread, Bob; these were pictures I already had stored on Mylargescale.com.  Although you can store high-resolution photos in their web space (if you have a 1st-class membership - I do), they limit you to 640 X 480 resolution for posting photos directly into threads there (I guess for the benefit of those still using dial-up vs. broadband service).  They were shot with a 5-megapixel Olympus I bought the girlfriend  :-* as a Christmas present a couple of years ago - she grants me "borrowing rights" ;) on it! :D  I used "Infranview" to reduce them to VGA resolution before uploading the pictures to MLS.  When I was new to digital photography myself, I went through the same "teething" difficulties  ??? most "newbies" do in changing photo resolutions & uploading to web sites - now it's "old hat"! :)

By the way, both locomotives in the photos are Bachmann -  the little N scale one runs very well & will pull a surprising load :o for it's size!  The Large-scale one is the "Spectrum"  4-4-0 "Centennial". :)                   Tom
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: Yampa Bob on February 15, 2008, 09:34:32 PM
I use Paint Shop Pro V7 for both raster and vector.  However, JASC was bought out by Corel and the newer versions are now high end "Photo Editing".  I guess we artists are a dying breed.   So now I recommend Irfanview.  You can't get a better price then "free".

My first digital was also a 5 mpx Olympus, it takes great pictures.  I recently bought a couple of higher end units, but the pictures are too harsh for my taste, I mean who wants to see skin pores and ear fuzz.

Haven't seen  you before, if you are new then Welcome and have fun.

Bob

Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: Beatle (TrainBrain) on February 18, 2008, 06:27:20 PM
(http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/internethobbies_1985_243951542)

I always love pictures like these...even though they always forget S guage and stop at G. I still have yet to see a picture that includes any Narrow gauge of any scale.
Title: Re: Scale comparison
Post by: Santa Fe buff on February 19, 2008, 07:20:55 PM
Nice pictures.....
very interesting..................bye!