Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2020 0:33:29 GMT
I understand the theoretical differences between O-Scale and O-Gauge. And I get that strictly speaking "gauge" is the size of the track and "scale" refers to the size ratio to the real life thing. However, Lionel has in its catalogs "O-SCALE" section and "O-GAUGE" sections...and on top of that it then has special sections where the two are intermixed.
This is what Lionel says on their website: "O-Gauge is divided into two categories: Traditional O-Gauge and O Scale. O Scale is larger than Traditional O-gauge products since they are more true to 1:48 scale proportions."
Ok, got it. "O Gauge" is an approximation of O Scale while "O Scale" is more true to the 1:48 scale. And I look at their O Scale locomotives and rolling stock and many of them require greater size curves because they're longer. Almost everything in O Gauge (Lionel products) will do O31 curves or smaller (some O27). Many of the O Scale products require minimum O36 and some require as high as O72. The Big Boy locomotives seem to me to be the most extreme example where the Traditional O-Gauge will do a O31 curve but a Scale locomotive will require an O72.
I get that I can't put a diesel loco on a 031 track if it requires a 052 track minimum because it will derail (or just look odd). Also, I get that the O Scale products have more features and functions (except maybe LionChief 2.0). But in terms of strictly size, will it look weird or out of place to have O Scale size products mixed in with O Gauge?
|
|
|
|
Post by dennym57 on Dec 8, 2020 1:05:14 GMT
That is way too much thinking for me. Just run what you want. If it doesn't look good together don't run them. I like mixing it up, but that's just me.
|
|
|
|
Post by quietman on Dec 8, 2020 1:17:35 GMT
But in terms of strictly size, will it look weird or out of place to have O Scale size products mixed in with O Gauge? This depends on HOW they "compressed" the locomotives. it will also lead to some smaller locomotives being larger *in comparison* to big locomotives than in real life. So it all depends. My feeling is you'll see more disproportionate comparisons in steam than in diesel due to the fact they not only have to compress the overall size, but the driver size to make the curve. This is why, for example, a 4-6-2 will be proportionally larger than a 4-8-2 when compressed. Takes less compression to make the curve with only 3 drivers in series. How the manufacturer does this is interesting. I'll use an example I have at home since I run O31 track. The RailKing 2-8-8-2 I got is 25 inches long, yet their Challenger is 24.75 inches long. In real life the Challenger was a longer locomotive. The Lionmaster Challenger however is 27.5 inches long, which is close to how much longer it should be than the 2-8-8-2. Because the Mallet is less compressed than the RailKing Challenger, it looks better with full scale rolling stock, whereas the RK Challenger looks to small. The Lionmaster Challenger however, still looks decent with full scale rolling stock, even though it's not correct to scale. The RailKing Pacific I have is bigger than it should be when compared to the articulateds, if everything was proportionally correct Yet they all look pretty good with full scale rolling stock, especially if you stick to 40' boxcars, 36' reefers, and other shorter cars from that era. And finally, I agree with Denny- "run what you want." 
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam on Dec 8, 2020 1:18:35 GMT
I agree with Denny, run what you like. The hobby is meant to be fun. I’ve got a small layout with tight curves. That doesn’t stop me from running some larger engines (the MTH Railking Challenger comes to mind) that, although rated for the tighter 031 curves, might look a bit out of place on the layout.
|
|
|
|
Post by quietman on Dec 8, 2020 1:23:59 GMT
(the MTH Railking Challenger comes to mind) that, although rated for the tighter 031 curves, might look a bit out of place on the layout. You should see the LionMaster Challenger under the tree when I run it during Christmas. The straight section on the longest side is only 30 inches.  But you know what? I still run it and the friends that visit still think it looks awesome. And the fact it's the legacy version with the whistle steam puts it in a higher "that's really cool" bracket in their eyes. I had an individual on OGR tell me that if you have to run on O31 curves, you shouldn't be running articulateds. So I politely told him what he could do with his opinion. 
|
|
|
|
Post by Country Joe on Dec 8, 2020 4:15:46 GMT
Aaron, to answer your question, I think running O Scale and O Gauge trains together on the layout doesn't look right to my eyes. I prefer to stick with traditional semi-scale O Gauge. They look more like the trains I had in the 1950s and that is what I like.
Rule number 1 is: It's your layout and you can do whatever you want to with it. If mixing O Scale and O Gauge looks good to you then run them together. One of the great things about O Gauge is that pretty much anything goes since these are basically toy trains. The 2 rail Scale guys are pretty fussy but us 3 railers are not.
|
|
|
|
Post by 4dogsinjersey on Dec 8, 2020 4:53:51 GMT
To help muddy the waters a bit,
O gauge or 0-27, is compact and reduced slightly in size to allow for tighter curves and more trains in a smaller area.
O scale, or scale O, is usually scale sized equipment that needs larger area and curves on which to operate.
I collect Scale O 3 rail, which is prototype length equipment for the most part. Some allowances are made for passenger cars which would be very long if they were proper scale length. It runs on three rail track and uses larger operating couplers.
Scale O 2 rail is more intricate and everything is more prototypical. That is more of a fine scale modeling realm. A bit too much fragile detail and tiny couplers. Not my cup of tea...lol.
Tom
|
|
|
|
Post by Sir James on Dec 8, 2020 14:57:16 GMT
You like it? Run it. Many freight cars were built in different size's. So a small tank or gondola would not be out of place with scale cars. Putting an 027 boxcar next to a scale one would look out of place.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2020 15:51:45 GMT
I keep my layout M&M - My layout My rules.
Just try to do like Sir James stated and try to group things in size so they don't stand out.
|
|
|
|
Post by JDaddy on Dec 8, 2020 16:03:53 GMT
Throw in the mix of Proto scale 1:48 and the waters are even more unclear. All I know is you cannot use O scale wheels on O gauge track, and you cannot run AC engines with DC and vice versa. But I am a fan of 3 rail O scale if that does not confuse you nothing will.  |
|
|
|
Post by anjdevil2 on Dec 8, 2020 16:22:03 GMT
I'll have to agree - run and collect what you like - it's your stuff.
Jenni and I just purchased a mutual Christmas gift for ourselves - The MoPar Express set (COMPLETE!!!) from 1987. We have a road runner box car and it dwarfs the other cars under the tree.
Ya know what?
We don't care!!! My road runner is a MoPar and the road runner box car runs with the rest of the MoPar consist and we are very happy with that!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2020 1:48:11 GMT
That is way too much thinking for me. Just run what you want. If it doesn't look good together don't run them. I like mixing it up, but that's just me. That sounds great except you pay for the item before you run then and figure out it sucks. I appreciate everyone saying "run what you like." But how do you know what you like until you spend a lot of money to see how it looks? Then you're stuck with it. What I really want is this. CHRISTMAS LEGACY ES44AC #1224. But it appears to need 052 and is really big. So I'm inclined to stick with O-Gauge as opposed to O-Scale. I'd love to try O-Scale but not at the risk of having something I don't like.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2020 2:04:01 GMT
Throw in the mix of Proto scale 1:48 and the waters are even more unclear. All I know is you cannot use O scale wheels on O gauge track, and you cannot run AC engines with DC and vice versa. But I am a fan of 3 rail O scale if that does not confuse you nothing will. wait...how do you know which is AC and which is DC? I'm running DC to my track which powers everything.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2020 3:19:35 GMT
I think I might be limited to Lionchief since I'm running DC power to my track. At least until I figure out if and how to switch to AC Power. I was inclined to stick to Lionchief Plus 2.0 locomotives.
Good thing I asked around though. I knew the track could use AC but I didn't realize some locomotives require it.
|
|
|
|
Post by JDaddy on Dec 9, 2020 3:46:03 GMT
Most sets in 3 rail came with AC transformers. Some unique sets in the early days experimented with DC but AC has always been the norm for 3 rail.
DC is mostly used for 2 rail applications.
|
|
