HO scale popularity

[UP6936]

Hi there,

I was just pondering, why did OO catch on in Britain and Ireland, when HO is more accurate scale in relation to the track?

Thanks

[Glenderg]

Early clockwork mechanisms and electric motors were difficult to fit within HO scalemodels of British prototypes which are smaller than equivalent European and US locomotives. A quick and cheap solution was to enlarge the scale of the model to 4mm to the foot but keep the 3.5mm to the foot gauge track. This also allowed more space to model the external valve gear. According to Wiki

[UP6936]

Ah right I see what you mean! Thanks

I understand lima did British HO but it didnt last?

[Glenderg]

Wrenn would be the man with that info Up, I've no clue

[Broithe]

There are still people out there pursuing British H0 scale - http://www.british-ho.com/ .

 

Plenty of info in there..

[Warbonnet]

Ah right I see what you mean! Thanks

I understand lima did British HO but it didnt last?

 

They did, A Class 33, Mrk 2 coaching stock and a 4F. Rivarossi also did a Royal Scot and LMS coaches. They didnt catch on as everyone had 00 stock and they looked weird next to other stock on their layouts. Lima fattened them up to OO scale to meet market demand.

[UP6936]

Thanks guys, HO has caught my interest recently. American stuff though, British is something I'm not going near for fear of getting too into a (presumably) quite expensive curiosity!

[UP6936]

I think my dad had a playcraft set when he was young that was HO and British, pity it hasn't survived, I would have liked to compare it to OO and US HO

[WRENNEIRE]

Little bit of info in post 296 in the Lima Murphy Models thread

[Mayner]

Several European manufacturers tried British outline HO the Fleischmann Warship diesel and Bullied coaches http://www.ehattons.com/17085/Fleischmann_4247_Class_42_Warship_diesel_in_BR_blue/StockDetail.aspx. were probably among the best.

 

During the 1950s & 60s British Trix hovered between HO & OO.

 

Their final models released in the late 60s including Gresley A3 & A4Pacifics, BRT Scottish Whiskey grain wagons and a Trans-Pennine Intercity DMU set were ahead of then current British RTR.

 

Some of the older locos, the coaches and the rest of the wagon range appeared to be to an odd scale of 3.85mm-Foot literally half way between HO & OO.

[Broithe]

The Flying Scotsman leaving Dallas on its American Tour.

 

 

Gives some idea of just how much larger US trains are.

[Warbonnet]

Or an SD70ACe v a class 66

 

http://class66.railfan.nl/photo/20068864-044a.htm

[StevieB]

There was also an American OO scale, which ran on 19mm gauge track but never really caught on. It still has a very small following. It's a shame, really, because with OO19, would have been there any call for EM in the 1950s?

Stephen

[Garfield]

Speaking of EM... in some ways it's unfortunate that Irish-outline models aren't produced in HO scale, as EM gauge track is very close to 5ft 3in gauge in 3.5mm scale. A small band of Irish modellers do work to that scale all the same...

[RedRich]

Or an SD70ACe v a class 66

 

http://class66.railfan.nl/photo/20068864-044a.htm

 

I can see why you are searching for the Mehano 66 in H0 Fran. That would look amazing and show what Huge machines that the SD70's are. I remember seeing some pics of Egyptian Railways class 66's a few years ago and if I remember correctly they had anti vandal windscreen bars on the front cab windows.

 

Rich,

[BosKonay]

WOW!

 

That is some scale difference!!

 

Not to mention power - "Ah sure, hang on there while I haul these 25 class 66's, wont' take a moment'

[RedRich]

Speaking of EM... in some ways it's unfortunate that Irish-outline models aren't produced in HO scale, as EM gauge track is very close to 5ft 3in gauge in 3.5mm scale. A small band of Irish modellers do work to that scale all the same...

 

Pat I know of some lads that are modelling Irish Railways in 00 that use EM and P4 scale track. They are happy with the compromise as it helps them get things up and running quicker. Especially in EM gauge as they can re-use the wheels and axles already fitted to the loco and coaches by just pushing out the wheels a bit. I think it is an acceptable compromise and gets things a little closer to 21mm. There are even a couple of 21mm non finescale layouts out there too that have the same track standards as EM, they are just a little wider, but still require compensation and longer axles. Again the original wheels can still be used.

 

Rich,

[UP6936]

Warbonnet, if you manage to get a mehano shed, please post a picture of it with an sd70

[Warbonnet]

Warbonnet' date=' if you manage to get a mehano shed, please post a picture of it with an sd70[/quote']

 

I will mate, need to get one cheap enough. I see Heljan are doing a HO scale shed in the future too. I'll stick them and a Bachmann 66 side by side for a pic!

[UP6936]

Will the heljan be available for a similar price to oo sheds? If it is I would consider one, as it would be something unusual to have.

[Warbonnet]

Will the heljan be available for a similar price to oo sheds? If it is I would consider one, as it would be something unusual to have.

 

No idea, prob a bit dearer and a good while off http://www.rocky-rail.com/page7.html

[Warbonnet]

Warbonnet, if you manage to get a mehano shed, please post a picture of it with an sd70

 

Your wish is my command

 

 

HO Class 66 compared to a OO scale Class 66

 

 

 

 

And a OO gauge 66 next to a HO scale SD70ACe

 

[BosKonay]

Wow! I've never seen the HO/OO relationship so strikingly demonstrated!

[RedRich]

That's the definitive photo to show the difference Fran. I am thinking about how amazing an SD70 would look in 00. How does the Mehano model square up to the Bachmann one.

 

Rich,

[UP6936]

great photos. Model junction have a sale on genesis sd70Aces at the moment, and its my birthday on monday so im really tempted to put any money i get towards one. Did the mehano come with the tension lock or did you swap it in?

[Warbonnet]

Apologies lads, been confined to the sick bed so didn't see the replies till now.

 

That's the definitive photo to show the difference Fran. I am thinking about how amazing an SD70 would look in 00. How does the Mehano model square up to the Bachmann one.

 

Rich,

 

Cheers Rich, a OO gauge SD70 would be quite something! The Mehano one is nice in places and has some of the details the Bachmann ones does not like sandpipes and the bogies springs, but the Bachmann excels in other areas like moulded cabling on the underframe. The front and side fly window on the Mehano are oddly shaped too whereas the Bachmann ones gets them spot on. So it would be Bachmann for me.

 

great photos. Model junction have a sale on genesis sd70Aces at the moment, and its my birthday on monday so im really tempted to put any money i get towards one. Did the mehano come with the tension lock or did you swap it in?

 

I would go for it, they're lovely locos and Model Junction test and check each loco they send out so you shouldn't get a dud. I put in the tension lock myself as I wanted to see how she ran with a bit of a load. She'll be getting Kadees and running behind some CN locos in a 'being delivered to the docks for export' scenario as part of a CN freight hopefully. Just need to see how well she runs with my CN locos and if it's easy to consist her.

[UP6936]

I think an oo SD70Ace would do a heck of a job smashing model platform edges! Other than that it would certainly be impressive!

[Weshty]

Good God, if the HO SD70 towers over the OO 66 to that degree, the OO would be an ANIMAL.