How to Choose a Model Train Scale

How big is your basement? Your garage?

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring Tapes
• Train Sets

1. Measure the area or table where the train set is going to go.

2. Head to the hobby shop. Bring the tape measure.

3. Measure out a few pieces of track in each scale. The most common scales are O, S, HO and TT, listed from largest to smallest.

4. Do the math if you don't have a tape measure. Sizes are as follows: O track is 1 1/4 inches wide. S track is 7/8 inch wide. HO track is 0.65 inch wide. TT track is 0.47, or about 1/2, inch wide.

5. Decide how much detail you'd like to have on your trains if room is not an issue. Detail is easier to see and reproduce on larger trains.

6. Consider how extensive you intend your layout to be. HO scale is the most common and has the widest variety of accessories available.

7. See whether the trains and accessories you like are available in every scale or only some scales, and choose accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• Bigger is not necessarily better. You can pack more into the scene with a smaller scale.
• Lionel is synonymous with O scale; American Flyer, with S scale. Other popular train manufacturers are Bachmann, Marklin, Marx, K-Line, Kato and Athearn.
• O trains take up a lot of room. HO or TT trains take up about half as much.

[tdmaher]

on 7/9/2008 You have to be careful with the basement setting as well as the garage. Heat, humidity and moisture all play an important role in the set up and operation of your model RR.