[modeleng] Re: [modeleng] Re: Re: [modeleng] Re: 3½ versus 5
- From: "Jem Harrison" <Jem.Harrison@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 19:38:13 +0100
Rich,
Thankyou for this. I have had more constructive discussion from
modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx in a couple of days than from a couple of years of
questioning elsewhere!
I particularly like the comment in your second paragraph!
Best wishes,
Jem
----- Original Message -----
From: "R.L. Roebuck" <rlr20@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 2:10 PM
Subject: [modeleng] Re: Re: [modeleng] Re: 3½ versus 5
> Hi there Jem,
> I might be wrong, but I think it was in Brian Hollingsworth's book "LBSC,
> His Life and Locomotives" that there is some quote about LBSC saying that
> a proper coal fired boiler was surely more akin to a scaled down version
> of the prototype than the Smithies boilers which were then more prevelant
> in gauges like 3.5" on 'scenic' layouts, and how with a coal fired boiler
> you could haul people with the loco's as well.
>
> Hollingsworth then goes on to point out that the sight of a full size
> person behind a scaled down locomotive is surely the ultimate nail in the
> coffin as far as keeping everything scaled in proportion is concerned!
>
> Having said that - I do take your point though. I'm not convinced that you
> couldn't make a scale cab fitting layout in 3.5" gauge, but the scale
> fittings would be larger in 5" gauge, and thus easier to drive with.
>
> I am a great believer in doing things 1) because of the common sense of
> them, but 2) because of what to you seems right.
>
> Unless you can see some major reason why you shouldn't go for 5" gauge,
> then that is perhaps where you should head.
>
> One slight thing to watch for, on the lathe front though. Just because
> your lathe can take a 6.5" diameter disk of metal, that doesn't mean that
> it will machine something that diameter well. Case in point - my Myford M
> will machine a disc that is 10" diameter, but that doesn't mean it would
> be a good plan to try making the wheels for a 15" gauge Tich on it.
>
> As people have said - you shouldn't let that stop you - the ML10 will do
> just about all the other jobs you should want of it for 5" gauge loco
> construction.
>
>
> Yours,
>
>
> Rich.
>
> On Thu, 29 Sep 2005, Jem Harrison wrote:
>
>> 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.
>>>
>>> MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST.
>>>
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>>
>>
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