Question on scales.

[Jim Banner]

Thanks Terry.

So HO at 3.5 mm/ft really is Half 0 scale as the British use it.  They got it right - and then invented 00 scale at 4.0 mm/ft to mess it all up again.

[glennk28]

Most of that sounds right.  1:32 is usually  referred to as #1 or No.1 scale.  It is a relic of the times when there was a descending series of numbered scales going down to 0, 00, and 000.  (Note that these are numerals.) "0" became "O" the letter.  OO lost out to the very close size, HO, in the US following WWII when the HO manufacturers beat the OO mfrs  to market saturation.  000 was among several close  scales that wound up as "N".

All American O Scale, no matter on what track gauge, is 1:48, or 1/4" = a foot.  We are blessed with the relic 1 1/4" track gauge since the scale work descended from the tinplate equipment, which was often used to get motor drives and wheels.  Too many of us had too much  in the old track gauge to make the change.  Also, Diesels and Electric outline locos could be changed  fairly easily by substituting wheel sets, but converting steam locos requires lathe work that not many of us want to tackle.  There is always that risk of damaging a wheel, leaving a prized loco as a 2-7-2.  It was the same sort of thing trhat kept noted pioneers as John Armstrong running with outside third rail.  It worked--why fix it.    gj