[Christine Brooks]

Are there any standards set for G gauge? I am thinking of the distance between track centres for double track/passing loops etc. Looking at various shop websites it looks as if the minimum radius is 600mm; I have seen some of this type track at my local club but it looks a bit "trainset" to me. I have just started with this scale ( 45mm track, 16mm to 1 foot ) with one Bachmann loco bought second hand and I have just ordered 4 lengths of Tenmille track to get going.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Chris

 

[Richard Johnson]

*** There really isn't a standard G scale. there IS a standard 45mm gauge though.

this will start to explain the situation, and a little playing with google will find you lots of information.

There are also a couple of useful magazines....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G_scale

regards

Richard

 

[Christine Brooks]

Many thanks for the information. I was coming to the conclusion that there are various scales using the same 45mm gauge track. It seems that the models are similar enough in size to not look too out of place with each other. I shall have to work out a loading gauge by trial and error.

regards,
Chris

 

[andrew]

Many of my customers start out telling me they want an item for G scale: I then have to find out if they are actually running Gauge 1, and they usually are. In North America this varies between 1:29 and 1:32 scale with 45 mm gauge track representing standard gauge. A smaller number run what I understand to be the traditional narrow gauge G scale, a cluster of scales around 1:22.3 using 45 mm gauge track to represent narrow gauge track, LGB probably being the most familiar. A lot of confusion seems to be due to dealers who advertise themselves as G scale stockists because they sell stock in a variety of scales for 45 mm gauge track, and don't seem to recognize Gauge 1 as being distinctive, albeit with a sometimes imprecise definition.

andrew

 

[Mallarddriver]

Hello Christine,

here is a little overview of the LGB system.

http://www.lgb.com/media.php/lgb/LGB_Gleissystem-Info.pdf

The distance between double track centres is usually 165 mm or more if you use larger points than the
one with 600 mm dia.

Kind regards
Soeren

 

[jcuknz]

With due respect to our German freind you will find 165 as being rather wide though nice if yoiu have the room. I put two bits of R1 track together and found 135 centres which tallies in fairly close with NG practive of locos not being more than x3 the gauge. A rule which works for all scales... though if you aim to run bogie stock the separation needs to be a bit more to allow fro the centre of the vehicle to swing out or in on curves compared with the bogie ends.

R1 or 600mm is the minium for some rolling stock but 1200r and ideally 2400r is what you could use for fast running and large locos. Plus do not fall into the trap that I did and think that a 0-4-0*0-4-0 Climax with two 'bogies' will traverse a smaller radius ... A diesel will but the gear train of the climax didn't like it and fouled up ... an expensive error

 

[jcuknz]

Came across this link to track design which may be of use ...
"Templot" track planning system by Martin Wynne (http://
www.templot.com/),
know nothing about it but found in club magazine and used by one of our more skilled members.

He does P4 but the system can be used for any gauge.

 

[fliermike]

What is the fractional "scale" of the Bachmann Thomas range?
Thinking about a Garden Railway, can the face be removed from the single wheeler?

 

[jcuknz]

As you are in the States you will find that 1:29 is a common scale but really for this purpose you decide what 'prototype' you wish to follow.. divide track gauge into that and maybe you have your scale.... really not terribly important to those other than rivet counters who wouldn't buy that loco anyway.
American Narrow gauge is generally 3ft though I know of two 2ft lines while 'standard' is 4ft8.5 in.

Never met or seen a 'single wheeler' which is a french way of describing a loco ... Brit/US normally would say 0-2-0 as we count wheels on each side/
Honegar's 'Pacific 231' is music for a French film about a Pacific loco which we would call 4-6-2

I saw the film in my student days 1952 at film society screening . music occasionally on radio.

I have adjusted plastic models with hacksaw and hot iron .....Try Roundhouse in Uk for an attractive replacement smoke box door/cover. They have a good website to browse. They make live steam for 32mm and 45mm gauges but also sell parts and kits for electric as well as live steam.

'The Train Department' is a US supplier who I have dealt with happily ... as I have Roundhouse. Both accept credit cards which make payment easier for me not in the States

[email protected] There are also plastic toy locos which could provide a smokebox door for you ... your estimate if suitable

 

[fliermike]

Hey Kiwi,
Please don't assume that because I am in the USA I don't know what I am talking about.
I am an expatriate Brit who grew up in the UK during the latter days of steam. I also deal regularly with UK suppliers.

Check my Topley Dale USA layout.

Please read these Wikis, single driving wheel locomotives are called "Singles", suggest you check your facts before posting.

http://locomotive.wikia.com/wiki/GNR_No._1...Stirling_Single
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNR_Stirling_4-2-2
http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/m_in_3001.htm

I asked a specific question as to what scale the Bachman Thomas "G" or "Large" scale locos are expressed as a fraction. Did not expect to get a lecture on gauges, I'm fully aware that standard gauge is 4' 8 1/2"

As for your toy comment I will treat that with the contempt that it deserves.

 

[jcuknz]

LOL another stroppy brit making himself unwanted in the wider world.
You said you were considering a garden railway so I gave some basic facts ... more fool you to react the way you have.

 

[fliermike]

Found the info I requested.

http://www.smallbrookstudio.co.uk/products...n-Parts/6971799

PS The rats are leaving the sinking ship.

 

[Richard Johnson]

*** Hi Fliermike...

You will find this helpful I think - it outlines all scale.gauge relationships for G and 1 gauge. In reality there are more errors of scale vs gauge with G than in 4mm scale - with no excuse as there is certainly no need to compromise anything with so much room to build mechanisms in these larger scales. Go figure!

https://www.gscalenews.com/information/what...ale-large-scale

BTW the US ready to run offerings are visually impressive, but the G scale track gauge vs loco scale is worse than British OO for its inaccuracy.... I have no idea why they are like this as it was unnecessary. I suspect that Bachmann may vary their scale/gauge relationships a bit depending on whether its a Christmas set, a Thomas or a scale model... but I do not KNOW so I suspect a bit of surfing around the larger scale societies may be useful.

kind regards

Richard

 

[fliermike]

Thanks Richard,
As previously noted I am an experienced OO modeller with an extensive working British DCC layout. Scenery is still not completed but I'm currently working in Alaska for the summer so MR is on hold. Next step is to upgrade the layout to LCC which I'm currently learning.

I grew up in the UK and my Father had a a O Gauge garden railway in the 50's, I would like to do this sometime in G gauge but I'm not impressed by the continental outlines. After seeing "Emily" and subsequently finding a conversion kit the single wheeler seems a good choice to start my garden railway. Thus my request for scale information because there is a whole range of scales on the 45mm track gauge. I guess the "Thomas" range are 1/22 on 45 mm track.

Thank you again.

 

[jcuknz]

There are I seems to me two basic groups ... those who are strict such as the P4 group and the NZ 9mm folk and those who do not unduely worry.... I myself being interested in Narrow Gauge once worked in 8.25mm/ft scale for a theoretical two foot 'prototype'. as well as working in 7.25" with a convieniently obscure diesel loco in East African though built in the UK.
I didn't knoe about 'Emily' and am puzzled by the lack of a face but apparently a face for HO/OO in the smallbrok catalog which is considerably larger than when I dealt with them some years back for 7mm.
I would class Emily as a plastic toy which isn't depreciating as I have kit-bashed several for my purposes based on NZR locos and stock.
All very useful for kids and kit-bashers alike.
That 8.25mm scale illustrates what I suggested in my first reply..... prototype v.actual model gauge etc. While my 7.25 loco illustrates not unduely bothering about accuracy when working from a 3/4 photo but getting it generally right along with the view that anything modeller comes up with has already been done by a lateral thinking railway engineer

The 4-2-2 is an unusual loco but not terribly efficient based on a 5" loco I knew at one stage. But each to their own. But then efficiency is not usually a requirement in model scales except in competitions.

 

[fliermike]

More on Single's,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgHFLgn1LP4#t=122.059166

 

[jcuknz]

Unless you do not want to follow your Dad's hobby [1:45.2 scale] I suggest rather than getting a 'Toy' loco like Emily you investigate 16mm scale which I believe is largely or wholy British in outline. I know little about 16mm but the UK magazine GardenRAIL or the 16mm Association
www.16mm.org.uk
could be starters for you. 16mm runs on 32mm track so models narrow gauge 2ft . Of course modeling a scale is rather more expensive than buying toys to be 'bashed' though somebody with skill can do it on the cheap building up from basic chassis. My personal preference as a Model Engineer.
Of course if you want to be 'different' then Emily immediately gets you there with period coaches. There is a very 'sameness' to most GR stock as people buy 'off the shelf' as I see in 'The Whistle', the monthly magazine of NZ Garden Railway enthusiasts, though each garden is very different naturally.
www.sandman.org.nz/GardenWhistle/Gardenwhistle.php NZ$20pa by email