[modeleng] Re: [modeleng] Re: 3½ versus 5

Rich,

Bear in mind that I am coming into model engineering from a background of 
building models in 7mm and 10mm to the foot, in which I tried to get the 
details as near to scale size as the Mark 1 eyeball could achieve.  In 
considering 3½ inch gauge, i had anticipated that this approach would be 
easier, BUT, as LBSC stated "You cannot scale steam", so the working bits 
and bobs have to accomodate steam & water & oil.  In my observations of 
3½-inch gauge locomotives....not that I have seen many, perhaps half a 
dozen....boiler fittings and pipework have appeared to be overscale.  To me, 
that does not matter, providing that those components are out of sight, but 
when driving a 3½ inch gauge loco, the backhead has to be one of the main 
focus points of one's attention, therefore I would like the fixtures to at 
least capture the essence of the prototype.  It seems to me that this would 
be a much more practical proposition in 5-inch gauge.

One of our club's members has recently finished a Simplex (his first loco). 
His next project is a 3½ Britannia.  The reason he gave for downsizing was 
the issue of weight.

Best wishes,

Jem
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "R.L. Roebuck" <rlr20@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 2:15 PM
Subject: [modeleng] Re: 3½ versus 5


> On the whole issue of 3.5" gauge versus 5" gauge, I've heard several
> people comment that they tried building a 3.5" gauge loco, then tried a 5"
> gauge loc and found it easier - but might this not be because of the
> experience gained in building the 3.5" gauge loco?
>
> Has anyone out there started in 5" gauge and then gone to 3.5" gauge, and
> if so, what are your opinions?
>
> Yours (working in 3.5" gauge and finding it just fine),
>
> Rich.
> PS You commented that you had looked at the Sweet Pea design, but this is
> available in 3.5, and 7.25" gauge as well as Sweet Violet and Sweet
> William.
>
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