[modeleng] Re: Re: [modeleng] Re: 3½ versus 5
- From: "R.L. Roebuck" <rlr20@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 14:10:14 +0100 (BST)
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.
>>
>> 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.
>
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.
Other related posts:
