what gauge is 25/8mm?

[thebinmann]

Hello

Does S gauge fit with 25mm or does it depende more on the train size (or indeed is train size always determined by track gauge?)

[redzed]

S scale , I believe is 1/64, the recent  Loco and carriages by Die Waffenmaker are scaled at 1/56 but will fit on S scale track.
So yes, S scale track is fine for 25/28mm.

[archangel1]

Trying to reproduce a railroad in 25/28mm is always going to be a thankless task because one is trying to work in a scale that really isn't a scale.  There are no universal hard and fast rules that the (nominal) 1/56 scale figure designers must work within so we end up with large variations, not only in figure height but also in equipment size and weapon length.  Even the established model railroad scales must compromise their standards because producing true scale track and wheel profiles, for each scale, would be cost prohibitive.  That's why HO (1/87) and OO (1/76) scale trains use the same tracks, despite the fact that there's about a 14% difference in model scale size and the track gauge is correct only for HO yet at the same time is inaccurate in its rail profile.  HOn3 runs on N gauge track so there's another example of shared resources.  There's a similar discrepancy between 1/56 and 1/48 (O scale) although it's slightly larger at 16%.  S scale is back at 14% so it is probably the better choice, rather than O.

If you simply intend to do a display model, in a vignette or diorama, it might be better to purchase several lengths of rail alone and place them on individual ties (sleepers), either handmade or purchased.  That's what I have planned for my Company B RCW armoured train (if I ever finish it!).

[Willypold]

Sorry, nitpicking time!

HOn3 is actually American 3 foot narrow gauge and it runs on 10.5 mm track. HOe/HOn30, on the other hand, runs on 9 mm track, but that's still not the same as N gauge track, as standard gauge and narrow gauge track does not look the same. HOe/HOn30 has always had its own track, ever since Egger-Bahn pioneered this particular gauge/scale combination, using N scale motors and running gear in order to lower the development costs - so you're right in that respect. HOn3 has also always used its own track.

In the same way On3 is correct 3 foot gauge, while the Bachmann On30 models (suitable for Old West games) run on the same track spacing as HO gauge, but still not using HO scale track - for the same reason, actually, as HOe/HOn30. Sometimes you can see the designation Oe, but not as often. (This does not prevent you, of course, from running HOe trains on actual N scale track - it just looks silly!)

The "e" part of both the HOe and Oe names reflects the Egger-Bahn heritage, while HOn30/On30 says that the track represents 30 inches - or 2.5 foot gauge, halfway between the actual American common narrow gauges of 2 or 3 feet. Using "e" is basically a European usage, while the "n30" is American, but they are just different names for the same thing.

[archangel1]

Well, I guess I can't be right all the time! 

[Willypold]

Well, everything else you said in your post was totally right on and highly informative! :-)

[Michi]

I´d like to have had S gauge, but it is virtually uavailable over here. 0n30 is a perfect alternative, although I admit that I use it as stand in for standard gauge models and ignore the narrow gauge of the tracks. The rolling stock is about the size of S gauge models (by far smaller than standard 0 gauge) and perfect for my liking.
Have a look here: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=13205.0#top

[Willypold]

Yep, I have a number of these as well, although I bought them in order to actually build a narrow gauge model railroad - being a Burlington Northern/CB&Q fan it sort of extended to Colorado & Southern... Lack of space has prevented me from realizing it, though.

[jscottbowman]

So what size/scale rolling stock or engines/carriages should be we using with our 28mm figures?

Any chance of getting a 'sticky' with suitable train & track scales to go with our miniatures?

Eg. 25/8mm figs use  'x' scale trains and 'x'  track
     15mm figs    use  'y' scale trains and 'y' scale track

etc...?
Thanks
Scott

[Willypold]

The regular model train scales are as follows. If you divide a 180 cm tall (6 foot) human with the scale you get the height in mm. The millimeter scales used with miniatures are usually meant to depict a 6 foot tall person. At least that seems to be the general opinion...

Z = 1/220 (8 mm)
N = 1/160 (11 mm)
TT = 1/120 (15 mm)
HO = 1/87 (21 mm)
OO = 1/76 (24 mm)
S = 1/64 (28 mm)
O (US) 1/48 (37,5 mm)
O (Continental Europe) = 1/45 (40 mm)
O (England) = 1/43 (42 mm)
G = 1/32 (56 mm)

The common heroic miniature scale = 1/56 (32 mm)

The common plastic modelling scales:

1/72 = 25 mm
1/35 = 51 mm

Preiser O scale = 35 mm for an adult man, probably meant to be 175 cm tall.

AT-43 female medic = 35 mm
AT-43 Red Blok soldier = 35 mm
Dust Tactics = 35-36 mm

Dust Tactics is marketed as 1/48, which seems to be correct. Using the above breakdown the perfect model train scales would be seem to be N, TT, HO, S, and O, plus the in-between scale of 1/56 for anything "heroic".

N, HO and O scales are fairly well represented with both trains and structures and structure details like windows and doors. Z, TT and S are minority scales, and in the case of S strictly American and expensive, in the case of TT strictly European, and in the case of Z, quite expensive.

Note that the British OO scale is an upscaled HO due to smaller British locomotive models using imported German HO scale motors. The common Airfix scale of 1/72 for their airplanes has a different origin story, which I need to find a source for.

[redzed]

So what size/scale rolling stock or engines/carriages should be we using with our 28mm figures?

S scale track, and 1/56 trains, that's what Brigade and Die Waffenkammer use. It's always best to use what's actually available rather than what would be ideal.

[Svennn]

Did I read that there is a US and European S guage and that they are actually different?

[Willypold]

S scale is strictly an American model train scale baically descended from early tinplate trains. There are, however, three different varieties when you start talking about O scale...

[Svennn]

S scale is strictly an American model train scale baically descended from early tinplate trains. There are, however, three different varieties when you start talking about O scale...

That will be what I was mis-recalling, cheers

[jscottbowman]

Thanks for the info
Cheers
Scott