Scale & Gauge
See below for the product groups for each scale.
The terms Scale & Gauge are often used transposed - as if they have the same meaning. This is not the case. These terms have very different meanings.
GAUGE: This is the distance between the rails.
SCALE: This is the proportion or ratio of the model compared to their full size counterpart.
Models of the same scale may run on a different gauge track. For example, each scale has a representative narrow gauge and broad gauge, as well as standard gauge. The may also be different variations of narrow gauge.
As in the full sized world (often referred to as the 1:1 scale), there are various Scales & Gauges used in Model Railways. We will show the most common here along with some variants. We will stock items for most of the scales shown and can easily acquire equipment for those we do not have in stock. Many of the items we stock are not made for a specific scale and are therefore available to "All Scales".
Notations re Gauge:- SG = Standard Gauge (internationally recognised)
- NG = Narrow Gauge
| Scale | Ratio | Model Gauge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Z | 1:220 | 6.5mm | NMRA does not provide any further guidance with Z scale apart from the gauge. The gauge is the SG equivalent - Actual SG 6.52mm |
| N | 1:160 | 9mm | SG equivalent |
| HO | 1:87.1 | 16.5mm | SG equivalent - Traditionally considered to be half "O" scale although it is slightly larger than half "O". |
| OO | 1:76.2 | 16.5mm | SG equivalent - Actual SG 19.05mm but HO track is used due to commercial availablilty. OO only used for British Models |
| On30 | 1:48 | 16.5mm | NG - represents 30" gauge track - Actual NG 15.88mm |
| O | 1:48 | 31.75mm | SG equivalent - Actual SG 29.9mm |
The European (NEM) Standards only vary slightly:
| Scale | Ratio | Model Gauge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| On30 | 1:45 | 16.5mm | NG - represents 30" gauge track - Actual NG 16.9mm |
| O | 1:45 | 32mm | SG equivalent. Closer to SG than the NMRA Counterpart at 31.9mm |
The British Standards vary also:
The main British Railways used the international standard gauge but their loading gauge was narrower and lower than their European and American counterparts. This is one of the reasons the British has used its own distinctive model railway scales which are rarely found outside of Britian.
| Scale | Ratio | Model Gauge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | 1:148 | 9mm | SG equivalent - British adoption of N scale for modelling British prototypes with the smaller loading gauge. Actual SG 9.7mm |
| OO | 1:76 | 16.5mm | SG equivalent - Most popular scale in Britain - replacing HO to allow for the smaller loading gauge. Actual SG 18.88mm but HO track is used due to commercial availablilty. OO is only used for British models |
| O | 1:43.5 | 32mm | SG equivalent - Actual SG 33mm Use of the larger scale to compensate for the smaller loading gauge. |
There are other variants, specifically narrow gauge and scales specific to particular countries e.g. Japan.
We are able to obtain products for some of these but many are commercially unavailable.
We do have some sound decoders for Large Scale locos e.g. O Guage, LGB, and other larger scales. These will be listed generically under Large Scale.
