I accept your logic. However, engines are going to spend most of their time on a shelf or on the floor! 7¼ is too big for me. It is a popular size at our club (three Roms, an Edward Thomas, a Bantam Cock and a superb Holmside). I can see the practicality of 5-inch and accept the weight of opinion for it. Thanks, Jem ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barrie Purslow" <bpduo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: "Model Engineering List" <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, September 26, 2005 7:56 PM Subject: [modeleng] Re: [modeleng] 3½ versus 5 > Hi Jem, > > I think the first thing to do is decide what you intend to do with the > engine. If you intend to keep it in a showcase then your choice of gauge > is > more or less determined by the space available for your showcase and the > limitations of your equipment (including lifting equipment). > If you intend to run the engine on a track then 5" is to be recommended as > 31/2" is really too small to do serious work, more difficult to fire and > not > elligible for the GL5 ground level events. 71/4" is often too large for > most > peoples equipment and good tracks are few and far between. > Pleased to hear this question being asked before committing to cutting > metal - it never fails to amaze me how often people set off building a > model > without giving sufficient thought to issues such as this. > > Good luck, > > Barrie Purslow, > WarringtonUK > > MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. > > To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, > modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject > line. > MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.