Thinking of swapping scales what do people recommend.

[Marc Dobson]

I mainly model in 7mm (S7 and FS) but due to a lack of room in my workshop I'm looking at changing scales. The question which one? I opened to suggestions?

 

[Northroader]

I would say if you’ve got a workshop, any workshop, you’ll need the same kind of space whatever scale you’re modelling. Room for a layout? It’s all compromise, really. There’s plenty of nice 0 scale micro layouts about, if you want a few more points and sidings, and the attraction of a good variety of RTR, then you can go to 4mm, but in my experience just picking up a wagon and handling it, the lack of bulk is a real put off. The guys turning out S scale produce really good looking layouts, but it’s even more specialised than 7mm. TT? N? Nnnn…

 

[Herb Garden]

Marc In response to your question I would ask the following:

Do you have a project in mind and if so do you have some idea of time scale of when you would like to at least have it up and running if that is an important factor for you?

What are you trying to achieve? Are we talking ECML in full or some small light railway terminus?

Do you prefer making everything or would you rather buy some elements and make the bits you enjoy making?

How important are accurate standards to you? Would you prefer to compromise of some aspects to make it easier to implement a solution?


In summary then:

S - pure finescale but you have to build absolutely everything so that will limit the size of project that is feasible

P4 - another absolutely correct scale but a bit fiddly but take up less room sleeper for sleeper

EM - a compromise finescale, but an excellent choice if .63mm doesn't matter to you. It's more forgiving and that little bit easier to achieve results. There is also limited RTR track available and you can tap into the off the shelf market as conversions to EM are a lot simpler as compensation/springing is more optional than nessecity.


I came up against this decision a couple of years ago when moving on from 00 and due to the fact I wanted a reasonably sized railway and wanted to be able to get it running fairly quickly I opted for EM. It also allowed me to have a much greater make/buy choice so I can build what I enjoy building and pay for the rest

I hope this helps?

 

[George M]

You could consider 7mm narrow gauge. Some of your 7mm scale material will be transferable and there is good trade support, especially in O-16.5 where OO/HO components are commonly used, but also in somewhat more esoteric gauges such as O14 (more accuate for 2' gauge prototypes) O-12 or O-9 for narrower gauges.

There are several people on this forum who apply fine scale principles sucessfully to narrow gauge and a layout will take up a fraction of the space of a standard gauge equivalent.


Best regards from Sweden, George!

 

[Marc Dobson]

I've got a 7mm micro layout "WC Boggs". I made the mistake of using peco set-track points. Never again! I don't like operating it due to buffer locking etch.
As I manufacturer over 150 different products in 7 scales from HO to G3 making stuff isn't a great issue. I'm not a big fan of track building but happy to do it if I have to.

 

[paratom]

I think in most cases scale is very much determined on what you want to replicate. In my case I would never chose a project that would require N gauge to build because I don’t like N gauge, O gauge would be lovely but I don’t have the budget or space that W S Norris had for his Hellifield layout. I’ve been doing a lot of research on Millers Dale with just the one viaduct in Midland days in EM. Why EM, I believe it’s a nice compromise between 16.5 and P4. There are Midland Railway kits available and I also have half the stock from the Ambergate. I think most modellers decide what scale they would like to model in and then chose a subject that can accommodate the space they have. Rather than looking to change scale maybe you need to find a project that will accommodate your space.

Thomas

 

[Marc Dobson]

Not 100% sure what I want to model. I quite fancy modelling a real place something that's not a micro but also not a massive main line station.

 

[Rob R]

Not 100% sure what I want to model.

I've had that problem for the last half century

 

[Marc Dobson]

I have decided to sell my 7mm FS layout WC Boggs to clear some space for what ever comes next. It's 6ft by 18inches including the fiddle yard. If anyone is interested PM me.

 

[paratom]

Let people know how much space you have for your new layout which would be helpful.

 

[Marc Dobson]

I have got about 8ft by 2ft.

 

[WM183]

I have got about 8ft by 2ft.

That's about what I have, and I'm planning a Proto48 layout based on the PRR on it! I will model a small coal tipple somewhere, and bother little 2 bay hoppers with a little Mogul. A car repair shop is another possibility. You can get a lot of layout into 8 feet, even in the Big Scales.

 

[Wagonman]

After S7 only another 'true' scale/gauge combo would suffice, so you're looking at S or S4 probably, unless you've got really good eyesight and can go even smaller!

 

[timbowales]

After S7 only another 'true' scale/gauge combo would suffice, so you're looking at S or S4 probably, unless you've got really good eyesight and can go even smaller!

Another factor to consider, apart from eyesight, is manual dexterity.
Do you have fingers nimble/thin enough and steady enough to go smaller than 4mm?
Just a thought based on my personal cicumstance
Tim T

 

[DavidB]

If you are going for 4mm, then you might as well go the whole way to P4. It is not as difficult as some make out - rtr conversions are no more a problem than in EM for some locos; wagon conversions are generally easy although with both EM & P4 you may have to tweak brakes. Really, the only thing you have to think about are wheels and clearances, especially on locos, but again, nothing that cannot be sorted and no different to EM. There is a very good stores in the Scalefour Society for P4.

What you have at the end is a 'proper' looking railway where the track is in complete scale and harmony with stock.

Years ago I faced the dilemma of what standard to go for when I returned to the hobby after a 25 year lay-off. In the end I decided to go P4 and have never regretted it.

 

[Marc Dobson]

I have some P4 kit already and I'm a member of the Scale four society. It looks good but I keep looking a S. I was first introduced to it while watching a layout called St tudy at York show about 20 years ago.

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

I keep looking a S. I was first introduced to it while watching a layout called St tudy at York show about 20 years ago.

If I was to change Scale (however unlikely under present circumstances) I would be tempted by S, however I'm put off from American S because choice is even more limited than O, and prices seem to match or exceed it, and for UK S I would really want some RTR BR diesels to get going with, which is probably verging on total heresy for most S Scalers!!
A layout idea I have, to replicate European cross-channel chemicals traffic that I used to see delivered to a big chemical works near me years ago, could be do-able in TT-120 - but only once the UK range expands, and appropriate EU wagons are made. So at the moment that's a non-starter, and I haven't yet seen any TT-120 in the flesh, so still can't really picture what size it is; as I find HO & OO look tiny now after years doing O Scale, maybe TT-120 would be too tiny for me in practice.

 

[WM183]

I have some P4 kit already and I'm a member of the Scale four society. It looks good but I keep looking a S. I was first introduced to it while watching a layout called St tudy at York show about 20 years ago.

I am a builder first and a runner a distant second. I like having to build virtually everything myself; I'm currently getting set up to build drivers for my builds. If you like building absolutely everything, S is a pretty nice place to be. I'd do S for US stuff if finding S scale trucks wasn't like seeking hens' teeth! S is a great size.

 

[Rob R]

Marc,
Most of the essentials for uk outline S are available from here:
SSMRS
as you would expect, or are readily adaptable from 4mm items.
Or -
If you are not too sure/time constrained/etc about scratchbuilding loco chassis etc then you could go the way that large chunk of the world that used to be coloured pink go about things.
Go Sn42.
There is an awful lot of 3'6"/meter gauge out there that lets you use OO/HO chassis and track as a building block, won't break the bank (you have the printing technology already!) and will give you a project that is unlikely to be duplicated by the RTR guys anytime soon.

All modellers of the world of S are welcome at the SSMRS regardless of the distance between their rails.

 

[76043]

I ended up starting an EM stock building project after a friend said he was starting an EM layout and I thought I could make some wagons for it. I'm now starting my own EM layout and am hoping it's really what OO should have been all along.
Tony