Large Scale Central

Quality in the 1:29/1:32 scale

General Discussion
#1

I have recently become interested in Garden Railroads and been doing quite a bit of research and planning. I am interested in setting up a standard guage (1:29 or 1:32) system within a 1930 - 1959 time frame theme. I envision some passenger trains (WWII troop trains, etc), but emphasis would be on freight. The setting would be in a fairly wooded area (we are next to the Jones State Forest in the Houston, Texas area). I am a bit of a perfectionist, so I am a little concerned about the proper scale (manufacturer).

I have heard that LGB makes the best products, but given my time frame theme, stadard guage, etc., I am concerned that the 1:22.5 scale would not be realistic enough to satisfy my annal retentive nature. My wife tells me “compulsive” is my middle name. Without offending anyone, the LGB scale looks a little toyish to me.

MY question: Is LGB that much better that I need to get over it? If not, what manufacturers in the 29 or 32 scale are the best (dependable, well built, etc)?

 Jim
#2

No…and if you are into scale LGB is your worst option. The locos by either USA Trains, Aristocraft, MTH or Bachmann will be of closer scale overall and are very reliable.

Andre’

#3

Hi Jim,

Like Andre sez, USA Trains and Aristocraft are your best options in standard gauge / 1:29, however finding war era equipment in exact 1:29 won’t be easy. Most of the wood cars made by both USA and Aristo are 1:24 with Aristo’s being narrow gauge prototypes, but their locos are 1:29 (except Aristo’s 2-8-0 is 1:24).

MTH makes some stuff in 1:32 as do a few other manufacturers, but the selections are slim.

If you like lots of detail the USA Ultima Series offers that, but mostly in modern era cars. Aristo has good detail (and getting better) but not quite to the level of USA but that results in cars that are less fragile to handle.

I’m a big fan of the wood cars and early diesels. I don’t have a problem pulling the Aristo Classics (1:24 Narrow Gauge) cars behind 1:29 Standard gauge diesels but I get told quite often that it just ain’t right.

The “true scale” fanatics around here are mostly into are in 1:20.3 and most of that 3Ft. narrow gauge. There are no commercial 1:20.3 standard gauge products (locos, cars or track).

Jon

P.S. Edit: I guess I need to read closer. You said “wooded area” not wooden cars, so your choices in 1:29 will be a little better than I said above. Sorry :open_mouth:

#4

If you like WWII to the 50’s era…and can stand a slight gauge discrepancy I would recommend Aristocraft and USA Trains in 1:29. Aristo, as Jon stated above is a little more robust but you pay for that in slightly less fine detail… The truth is that from 5’ away you cannot tell the difference. Both USAT and Aristocraft make hard working locomotives. MTH is in 1:32. It has it’s own detail problems but they also are getting better. The real hanger for 1:32 is lack of selection. If you are a real purist there are highly detailed brass cars and locomotives available in 1:32 but be prepared to mortgage the house to buy them…unless you have really deep pockets.

Back to LGB and 1:29…they do make a nice 40’ box car. But unfortunately they are hard to come by currently. Also their Mikado looks good in 1:29 though it is slightly oversized. Their F7 is a beautiful locomotive…but it is just too darn large to be usable around 1:29 or 1:32. As you are not interested in modern cars, the fact that they make some really nice and well proportioned modern cars in 1:29 would at this time be of no interest to you.

#5

Jim,

Welcome to LSC, you have the mid-watch. :smiley: Coffee’s always on in the Goat Locker, Bart is in charge of that. Fr. Fred is our chaplain, though he refuses the title, preferring to dispense Holy Water ad. lib.

I am going to “Me Too” Jon, Warren and Andre’. I think your best bet is going to be 1:29, either AristoCraft or USA Trains in the era that you are modeling. The selection is far greater than in 1:32. I don’t pay any attention to the fact that 1:29 is a tiny bit “narrow gauge” and 1:32 is a bit “wide gauge” when compared to true scale.

I model the same era and have no problems with selection of rolling stock. Buildings, on the other hand, can be a bit of a problem. Most of the “store bought” buildings are made in either 1:22.5 or in 1:24, as are most of the figures for people. As long as you don’t look too closely when the train pulls into the station, it isn’t a real big problem. There are many folks who build their own. You might take a look at this to get an idea of what one gentleman has done.

This is a great hobby, welcome again to LSC. We expect lots of photos of your progress. :smiley:

madwolf

#6

AristoCraft made one “composite” (Wooden sides/steel ends and braced.) And its a reefer.
You can still get some at Nicholas Smith Trains.
Your troop carriers would be Aristo Heavyweights.
Your locomotives would be mostly steam. USA only has the Hudson.
Aristo has a Pacific, Mikado and a Mallet.
So If you are modeling the War your choices are few.

Welcome to LSC!

TOG

#7
Jim K said:
I have recently become interested in Garden Railroads and been doing quite a bit of research and planning. I am interested in setting up a standard guage (1:29 or 1:32) system within a 1930 - 1959 time frame theme. I envision some passenger trains (WWII troop trains, etc), but emphasis would be on freight. The setting would be in a fairly wooded area (we are next to the Jones State Forest in the Houston, Texas area). I am a bit of a perfectionist, so I am a little concerned about the proper scale (manufacturer).

I have heard that LGB makes the best products, but given my time frame theme, stadard guage, etc., I am concerned that the 1:22.5 scale would not be realistic enough to satisfy my annal retentive nature. My wife tells me “compulsive” is my middle name. Without offending anyone, the LGB scale looks a little toyish to me.

MY question: Is LGB that much better that I need to get over it? If not, what manufacturers in the 29 or 32 scale are the best (dependable, well built, etc)?

 Jim</blockquote>

If you really are as you say , a bit of a perfectionist , and 1:22.5 scale would not be realistic enough to satisfy my annal retentive nature .

Then build inside a building , in a controlled space , because if you are outside in the real full size world , there’s a world of non scale items that will cloud your picture of perfection .

I can’t wait to see pictures of your layout , man will that be something !

Welcome to the insanity of outdoor trains .

#8
Dennis Paulson said:
............................

Then build inside a building , in a controlled space , because if you are outside in the real full size world , there’s a world of non scale items that will cloud your picture of perfection .

I can’t wait to see pictures of your layout , man will that be something !

Welcome to the insanity of outdoor trains .


Dennis,

When it comes to those full size real world items, isn’t that where we should apply the 10 ft rule? i.e. if you’re not any farther away than 10ft you won’t notice the full size stuff in the background.
You should know, you take track level pictures! :stuck_out_tongue: :smiley:

#9

Yes HJ , and about as good as I can do …and there is not a [ correct ] scale thing in the picture ! So for Jim , this is LGB , in Gummi scale ! outside .

And then one of these monsters land nearby , and the scale picture is really blown away !

#10

If you are having fun…then nothing else matters…:slight_smile:

#11

Here’s a picture of a 1:32 scale MTH hopper car coupled with a Aristo-Craft 1:29 scale hopper. These are basically examples of the same car. Their size difference is obvious.

JD

#12

Yeah but there are so many differences in hoppers anyways…who can notice a 10% discrepancy?

#13

Welcome to the massive confusion of large scale trains. If you’re a standard gauge scale purist I suggest you run away now before you tear your hair out. 1:29 scale motive power is the best you are going to get.
There is a fair number of big steamers available in 1:29 scale like the Aristo Pacific, Mikado (a freelanced model), and Mallet. These are plastic models and more reasonable in cost. USA trains makes metal diecast steamers with their BigBoy and Hudson. The Hudson will set you back $2k and the big boy a bit more.
Both make good early diesels but most are post war (late 40’s construction). Aristo - the FA-1/FB-1, RS-3, and E-8 USA - NW-2, S4, PA-1, F3 and GP-7.
Rolling stock can be a mix. Most of the 1:29 stock (Aristo, USA, and American Mainline) of steel boxcars and such are post war construction. The USA American and Work train series and AristoClassics lines are 1:24 narrow gauge prototype cars so they are on the small side compared to the 1:29 cars (even though a larger scale).
Unless you are modeling 3 foot narrow gauge at 1:20.3 or a more modern era at 1:29, its all about compromise.

-Brian

#14

Bart, HJ will be by in a moment. Jim, this hobby is for you, run what you like. I was an conductor then engineer on Conrail/NS for 5 yrs and the USA stuff looks right to me and runs great. Keep looking around at the pictures here. Try to visit others railroads. Plan,plan,plan or pay pay pay. I’m still paying(tight curves,mis matched equipment,and junk).

#15

JD Miller said:
Here’s a picture of a 1:32 scale MTH hopper car coupled with a Aristo-Craft 1:29 scale hopper. These are basically examples of the same car. Their size difference is obvious. [url]

[/url] JD

But if you put the MTH hopper up next to USAT’s 70 ton hopper you have a good match. Also it is almost identical in appearance and size to the Bachmann 3 bay that was originally offered. Since you model the 50’s and back, don’t overlook these…nor MTH’s tank cars. Change out the trucks to friction bearings and you are in the ball park.

#16
Marc Bergmueller said:
Bart, HJ will be by in a moment. Jim, this hobby is for you, run what you like. I was an conductor then engineer on Conrail/NS for 5 yrs and the USA stuff looks right to me and runs great. Keep looking around at the pictures here. Try to visit others railroads. Plan,plan,plan or pay pay pay. I'm still paying(tight curves,mis matched equipment,and junk).
Marc, I'm here what's up?? :D

Anyway on those 10% up or down … hmmmm … I guess some people won’t notice. BUT … the other day I came across a very enlightening website on figures - no, silly me didn’t bookmark it - anyway the gist of the matter was that while people come in all different sizes, for some “strange reason” the size of a human head does fluctate by that much, which is the reason that scale mismatched figures are so obvious.

I dare say the same goes for a lot of RR equipment i.e. if JD takes a piture of those two hoppers from the top the width discrepancy will be just as “startling”.

#17

HJ,
You are correct. The difference in width between the MTH hopper and the Aristo is more noticable than the length or high differences. The MTH car really sticks out like a sore thumb when mixed in with 1:29 equipment.

Your eye is drawn to the width differences before length or height. Similar type rail cars could easily vary in lenght or even height, but few, if any, like type cars varied in width.

JD

#18

JD

Yep … but people seem to forget that. I don’t know why, but for some reason the RRs always seem to make maximum use of the clearance profile as far as width is concerned.

Now I don’t know about the rules here in NA but on the Swiss RRs they rate not just by axle loadings but also by load/meter. Which means the closer the car width is to the width clearance profile the more likely the best ratio of load/meter of length.

… but that is way too technical if one “just wants to play with trains” OTOH it is a pretty good explanation why things look “odd” in certain instances.

Oh before I forget

Jim, welcome to LSC!
Like you, every once in a while some of us get a bit anal about scale and how it would be nice if different items would work together. :wink: :smiley: But just as often we get reminded that “They’re just toys”, where upon we hide. :wink: :slight_smile: :smiley:

#19

HJ,
I’m just curious- what is the proper “scale” for 45mm track?

#20
John Joseph Sauer said:
HJ, I'm just curious- what is the proper "scale" for 45mm track?
Oh oh .... is it a trick question or a tricky question.

Well… since the model’s track gauge is given the easy way to calculate the appropriate scale is “track gauge of prototype/trackgauge of model = scale ratio”

Examples:
p=prototype; m=model; s= scale

p1000:m45 = s1:22.222222 (established scale is 1:22.5)

p1435:m45 = s1:31.88888 (established scale is 1:32)

p914.4:m45 = s1:20.32 ( established scale is 1:20.3)

It’s all straight forward and easy as eating cake. Most of this good stuff can be found in the LSC Everything WIKI along with all kinds of other handy info.

BTW that’s how scale is arrived at in any instance where the equivalent dimensions of the model and the prototype are known. And if two other factors are known the formula is changed around like any other equation.