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Post by ron045 on Mar 30, 2024 12:36:42 GMT
Over the 20 years of modeling in O gauge, I have found it interesting what some people feel passionate about or get angry about Scale representations on our trains. Don't get me wrong... I'm one of these people also. 20 years ago, I was happy pulling out a Rail King engine and equipment and running it around the track. Now I won't even look at a yellow box. Over the last few years, as I have started to focus on custom modeling, my Scale awareness meter has moved to the right. I find this amusing, because we run on three rail track, with high rail wheels, swinging pilots and lobster claw couplers among other non-scale things. Yet we get upset when a shade of yellow is off, a horn/bell is mis-placed, seats are not facing the proper direction, grab irons are molded in plastic vs separately applied, or the dimensions of the model are not accurate. And yet we still model in O vice the ultra-scale HO world where it seems like every rivet is accounted for. My hangups now rest with swinging pilots and lobster claw couplers. My latest 2 projects are trying to custom model 2 real life engines. It's been challenging but also rewarding. On the SW1200 picture below, the model had the wrong side frames. I actually purchased a second model with the "closer to" correct side frames, swapped them out and then re-sold model #2 with full disclosure to the new owner of what I did. But that was not good enough... The side frames had friction bearing trucks. So I ground them down and custom-made roller bearing trucks. I think I have an illness. So what is YOUR scale addiction or Pet Peeve? Ron     |
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Post by Adam on Mar 30, 2024 12:40:35 GMT
I know many modelers are particular about scale. I am not, at least so far.
If I like it I run it and I mostly have Railking.
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Post by harborbelt70 on Mar 30, 2024 13:25:01 GMT
I have always preferred scale size engines but I have no more space for any - at least not in O scale (hint, hint). My pet peeve is stuff that doesn't work (or look) as advertised and there has been far too much of that sort of thing in recent years. If I have an addiction or obsession it is with passenger cars of the modern era and their interiors, and mostly this has focussed on American streamliners. But there are foreign classics too, and as new and quality-built versions of American prototypes have basically dried up, I have started to check out other possibilities (another hint). Lobster claw couplers, swinging pilots and 21" passenger cars on limited radius curves just do not bother me at all.
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Post by seayakbill on Mar 30, 2024 14:28:50 GMT
On my railroad if it is 3 rail O gauge it will be on the rails of the S&Y RR. I could care less if the loco, freight car, or passenger car has the correct amount of rivets. Lionel Postwar stuff see a lot of running time. Bill www.youtube.com/user/seayakbill |
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Post by Country Joe on Mar 30, 2024 15:05:46 GMT
I don’t have an O gauge scale addiction. O gauge trains are toy trains. High end models like Legacy, Premier, etc are more sophisticated than tinplate , postwar, traditional, etc but they are still toys for the reasons you listed. I expect my N scale trains to be accurate scale models, true to the prototype. I have no such expectation of 3 rail O gauge.
I expect O gauge trains and accessories to meet toy train standards. I expect a passenger engine and cars to match. The prototype railroads weren’t very concerned with everything in a passenger train matching (except big name trains like the 20th Century Limited) but toy trains are different. The seats in the dome facing the wrong way would bother me because these are toys. I don’t care if the cars are 12”, 15”, 18”, 21” or shorter tinplate passenger cars. They are all good to me. I happily ran a 15” New York Central dome car even though the NYC never had dome cars.
I also expect toy trains to be rugged, well made and reliable. I expect them to be ready to run right out of the box. QC issues should be very rare. Colors should match even if they aren’t prototypical, and spelling should be correct.
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Post by Sir James on Mar 30, 2024 15:22:48 GMT
I grew up with Lionel Lines so I'm fine with it. In fact I mix it with the scale if it looks right.
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Post by rtraincollector on Mar 30, 2024 16:12:38 GMT
I never seem to figure out what I want, Right SJ LOL. I originally started with HO ( I was about 4 years old, when became 8 going on 9 m father brought home a B&M freight set that ran on super O. I eventually went to O and G then back to O and now standard gauge and O LOL. And may add G as a raised layout above it.
To get back to what you were addressing, actual scale/semi-scale has never really matter to me, but will say the bigger the more I like it ( ie standard gauge and G scale LOL ) I have no problem mixing scale and semi scale, now doing true 027 and scale I'll leave that to others.
I've even learned that there is actually 3 different sizes in standard gauge, with passenger cars and 2 with freight cars.
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Post by david1 on Mar 30, 2024 16:56:32 GMT
I love scale trains but can't afford any of the newer ones being made. But in saying that. Although the newer trains are priced out of me being able to aquire I buy my scale engines on the secondary market if reasonable. Although I have backed off of buying anything I now am making consists of flat cars with loads that may include vehicles, military equipment and other. I use 40' and the 60' flat cars from Menards. Also Menards has many flat cars with loads which I have acquired but I like putting some together myself.
I also run tmcc, some early legacy, and conventional. My semi scale gg1's are early gg1's from MTH from 1996. Smooth, quiet great runners and they look great double headed.
I really have no pet peeves except the pricing of today's trains. I always say buy what you like and can afford. Most of all have fun !!!!
Dave
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Post by g3750 on Mar 30, 2024 18:58:58 GMT
Well Ron, you probably shouldn't wave a red flag in front of the bull (or tug on Superman's cape, or pull the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger...). 
But since you did stir the pot, here's my pet peeve: Fantasy paint schemes, especially warbonneting everything in sight (and you know who you are). It looks stupid because it is stupid. What's next, unicorn locomotives?
George
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Post by firewood on Mar 30, 2024 21:26:43 GMT
I have gone the opposite direction in some ways. I used to be O scale 2-rail (British shortline prototype) but gradually realized the perfect model was a stretch to reach, skills and financially speaking. These days I run anything that looks good and I’m not a rivet-counter, so no real pet peeves as such. Our scale cousins like to use “selective compression” to squeeze huge industrial facilities down to layout size and use sub-prototype radius curves. I figure we O-Gaugers are just extending that compression down to the models themselves.
There’s some good-natured ribbing at my local club where we have everything from tinplaters to HO high-detail scale modelers. It’s all in the eye of the beholder I guess. Even within my O Gauge 3-rail world, it still has to look good from three feet away and not be blatantly toy-like. I’ve learned to live with the hobby compromises and am pretty happy with my layout’s direction.
Dave
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Post by david1 on Mar 30, 2024 22:06:12 GMT
Well Ron, you probably shouldn't wave a red flag in front of the bull (or tug on Superman's cape, or pull the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger...).
But since you did stir the pot, here's my pet peeve: Fantasy paint schemes, especially warbonneting everything in sight (and you know who you are). It looks stupid because it is stupid. What's next, unicorn locomotives?
George
Ah fantasy schemes, although alot of fantasy schemes are being made most of them are just silly but apparently there are lots of fans that love them. I Dont have any fantasy locomotives but I do have a few freight cars that are. I'm not against any type of paint scheme, if you like them buy what you enjoy Dont worry what other people say. There used to be a guy here who loved alien themed trains and buildings and from his pictures his layout was impressive. Don't like it Stop looking at it and let that person enjoy what he created. I have a Christmas themed layout it includes dept 56 and Lemax buildings and dept 56 accessories and its up year round.Everyone should build and run what they like. Dave
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Post by curtis on Mar 30, 2024 23:33:05 GMT
I am not a rivet counter and yes you are correct about the lobster claws and pilots let alone the items being shrunk. I wonder how the rivet counters can run on old 3 rail track that is so out of proportion it doesn't make sense. I am a runner. I like what I like and FANTASY is not one. I try to stay close to the correct proportions and prefer MTH Premier due to QC, Color and detail. With all that being said I have NO PROBLEM with someone else doing what ever they want as it is THEIR RAILROAD not mine.
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Post by firewood on Mar 30, 2024 23:57:05 GMT
Oh yeah, that too 😎😜 I suppose they have a place - I can settle for a coulda-been, but the outlandish stuff I can do without… Dave
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Post by dlagrua on Mar 31, 2024 12:28:17 GMT
I've always run O Gauge trains and there are scale pieces in that assortment. The 5340 Scale Hudson, F3's, RS3 and FM's are scale size or very close. Scale was never an issue. If there is a pet peeve it would be the saturation of the market with Chicom equipment that only enriches the importer. By allowing our once strong manufacturing base to be decimated by imports we have become a weaker less prosperous country.
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Post by g3750 on Mar 31, 2024 13:36:53 GMT
I've always run O Gauge trains and there are scale pieces in that assortment. The 5340 Scale Hudson, F3's, RS3 and FM's are scale size or very close. Scale was never an issue. If there is a pet peeve it would be the saturation of the market with Chicom equipment that only enriches the importer. By allowing our once strong manufacturing base to be decimated by imports we have become a weaker less prosperous country. I wish I could give this 1,000,000 likes. George |
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