David, Your response sums up admirably the situation. Many thanks, Jem ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Everett" <deverett2003@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, September 26, 2005 12:42 PM Subject: [modeleng] Re: [modeleng] 3½ versus 5 > Hi Jem > > First you must ask yourself why you want to build a loco. Is it to have > as a showcase model or > will it be a working engine? If working will it be on a private track for > you + family and > friends or will it be on a club track? If a club track, will you want to > engage in public > passenger hauling? 3-1/2" will be very limited in serious passenger > hauling capabilities. > > The limiting factor on what loco you build will be the size of the driving > wheel you can turn - on > an M10 this will be 7" AS CAST. > > So it boils down to whether you want an express passenger type in 3-1/2"G > or a workhorse type in > 5"G. There is the possibility of NG which would give you a large engine > in either gauge. > > Once you get going with the construction, you will find that 5"G is easier > for the fitting out > because things are that much bigger and so are easier to hold and get at, > especially between the > frames. If you are looking at close to scale, then it it is definitely > easier in 5"G. As to the > amount of work, there probably isn't a lot of difference between the two > gauges so with 5"G you > will end up with a lot more loco for your efforts. > > There are also the cost and weight factors to take into consideration. > How deep are your pockets > and how agile are you at lifting? A 5"NG loco will be quite heavy. > > I started off in 3-1/2"G and regretted it. > > Enough rambling - I won't even start on didgital readouts! Hope this has > given you food for > thought. > > Regards > > Dave > Saudi-Arabia-On-Sea > > > > > > ___________________________________________________________ > Yahoo! Messenger - NEW crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with > voicemail http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com > 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.