1:20.3 Standard Gauge

trainguy111 · August 25, 2010, 09:43:46 PM

Tom Lapointe · August 25, 2010, 11:49:03 PM

You do realize that 1:20.3 standard gauge will NOT run

on regular G-gauge (45 mm.) track

(The whole point of 1:20.3 was getting accurate scale models of US 3-foot gauge equipment running on 45 mm. gauge track; LGB's original scale of 1:22.5 was to represent German meter-gauge narrow-gauge prototypes). The gauge for 1:20.3 scale standard gauge track is 70.64mm or 2.78", which is basically 2¾". Plan on hand-laying your own track & scratchbuilding turnouts!

Here's a link towards what I'm referring to: http://www.pcrails.com/DualGauge/SSG.htm .

Tom

Kevin Strong · August 26, 2010, 01:27:07 AM

Those are some cool locos, to be certain, but Tom's right--they'd be HUGE in 1:20.3 standard gauge, and there's virtually no market for them. You're not going to fit them around 5' radius curves; you're looking at a practical minimum radius of 8' (16' diameter.) There's not a whole lot of people with that kind of room. When you start pushing models to that size, you're knocking on the door of the ride-on scales, so you may as well build to that and have it pull you around.

I definitely think they'd make great candidates for 1:29 or 1:32, in which small locos are woefully under-represented.

Later,

K

tac · August 26, 2010, 04:12:10 AM

IIRC from reading a long-standing thread on another site, there are a few large-scale mavens actually building a number of GN S-2 locomotives in F scale - [1:20.3 standard gauge].

They are on offer at $25K each.

Another model is planned.

It's OK to dream, but every now and then a certain amount of reality has to creep into your wants list.

As Mr Strong notes - you are treading firmly on the paws of the ride-behind loco brethren here. Becoming a member there can be pricey, to say the least. Mass-production is a no-no.

tac
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Supporter of the Cape Meares Lighthouse Restoration Fund

trainguy111 · August 26, 2010, 09:14:18 AM

JerryB · August 26, 2010, 10:55:54 AM

Bachmann already manufactured a 1:20.3 standard gauge model. The GE 45 ton diesel is a standard gauge car body on narrow gauge trucks. GE designed it to be multi-gauge.

I am planning to convert all three of mine to SG in the near future.

Also, standard gauge and dual gauge 1:20 tie strips are available from Iron Creek Shops, so you do not have to handlay the track. Just slide the tie strips onto your code 250 rail.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

Kevin Strong · August 26, 2010, 12:01:35 PM

Quote from: trainguy111 on August 26, 2010, 09:14:18 AM
I know there is no market right now for engines of this scale, but if given the chance, this could be the ultimate scale for G/F scale modellers.

I don't agree. I think models in that scale will certainly be impressive (as evidenced by the 1:20 standard gauge models I've seen in photos) but standard gauge in that scale is too large to be practical for the mass market. You'll attract a few practitioners such as JerryB, but the numbers involved would be no greater than those who are already doing 1" scale (ride-on at 4 3/4" gauge) or 7/8n2 on 45mm track. The reason has everything to do with the physical size of the models, and the space needed not only to run them so that they have sufficient room to operate properly and look good doing so, but also to store them.

Look at the folks doing 7/8n2 right now. Most of them are doing small, industrial railroads. You don't see a whole lot of people doing full-length SR&RL trains. I've seen some--and they're beautiful models--but good Lord they're huge! 1:20 standard gauge models are very similar in size--between 2 to 3' long, 6" wide, and around 8" tall per car. Take Accucraft's J&S coach and add at least 1" in every dimension. I personally think 1:20.3 narrow gauge is pushing the limits of practicality in the garden. A K-27 is visually too large for my railroad, and mine's very typical in terms of overall size. I stick to the smaller moguls and consolidations because they just look better given the real estate I have to work with.

Another parallel - take Gauge 3 (also known as Scale II). This is 1:22.5 standard gauge. There's limited commercial support for that, but it's still very much a custom-build scale. And that's with two things in its favor--a slightly smaller scale, and the loading gauge (overall size) of European models is smaller than that of US prototypes. Even with that, the models are very large and take an inordinate amount of space to properly showcase. It has a very limited following, with the mass market end going to 1:32 instead. That scale has been around for 100 years. If it hasn't caught on yet, what confidence is there that an even larger scale would catch on?

My suggestion--and I'm not saying this to be flippant--is to get busy building. That's pretty much the only way you're going to see anything on your list, especially from a mass-producer like Bachmann. There are suppliers out there who have 1:20.3 (standard gauge) products to help you in your quest, but I think the 1:20.3 narrow gauge stuff is already about as close to the line as you can come in terms of sales and still justify mass production.

Later,

K

tac · August 26, 2010, 12:27:47 PM

Just to put things into perspective here -

One of the smaller road loco's the ever-popular GP-38, in 1/20.3 standrad gauge, is

35.5 inches long - plus couplers.

8 inches high, excluding horns.

6 inches wide, excluding sun-shades.

Mass-produced 1/20.3 standard gauge?

Never happen.

My $0.02.

tac
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1:20.3 Standard Gauge