Thank you, Hans…
I’m of the opinion that the easiest way to talk about anything running on 45mm track (#1 gauge); is to call it LARGE SCALE, and pick which ever scale you care to model after stating LS.
If we must get deep into using very accurate measurements and worry amout .0001 of an inch; then keep a low profile, and realize that few will notice or care.
Most will appreciate the care and accurate work that some modellers produce, and mount on shelves, or operate indoors, where Mother Nature, or her daughters can’t inflict damage. Those modellers will set standards that we hope manufacturers will aim for.
I’ve just made the decision NOT to make any more progress towards 1:20.3 modelling, due to the fragile nature of the available rolling stock. It is beautiful stuff, and I’m glad to have purchased some of it, which I will keep one of each as shelf princesses. The truth of the mater is that the old B’mann, LGB, and original USTrains 1:22.5 stuff (Most represent NG, and so do not attract some people) is produced to a level of detail that will generally stand up to most outdoor OPERATING conditions, without too much maintenance.
The newer offerings from all manufacturers, seem to be driven by a demand for detail, from a number of people who must seldom put the stuff into a real operating setting, or they would have a roadbed layered with falling off parts, broken grab irons and heavy replacement part costs. Storage for the number of pieces of rolling stock needed for the operation of a large pike, is always a problem, as it is a cause of most of the handling damage. Leaving the stock on tracks is not an option as it would take up almost as much trackage as an average pike, and leaving it out in the weather and sun 12 months of the year is not an option.
The B’mann Annie, and their Connie, seem to be at a level of detal that pass muster in most cases, but USTrains GP7, and others suffer from lost and broken truck details and hand rails…Aristo is a little bit better, but their steam offerings are too void of much detail to make them even interesting, let alone have anything fall off…Excepting a wheel or three here and there !!!..although that is a different story.
Yes it is nice to see any manufacturer stick to accuracy in scale dimensions, too bad so many take liberties and fail in this area.
OK, so I’m off the subject of your thread…sorry, but I get going and one thought leads to another.
At least my “Diversion” from thread, was not one that will cause arguments…differing opinions yes, but then that can be constructive…!!!
