Some questions.

AlloySkull · Post by **AlloySkull** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:17 pm

I'm going to create a diorama in 1:32 in the near future, involving railroads. I have this cool train maintenence building and it is very close to 1:32 if not then 1:35. It looks to be about right for Lionel trains. If I wanted to convert a locomotive into a German engine of some sort. I can't find much on German steam during WWII, sadly. Is the Lionel scale 1:32, or close? I'd really love to do what I've got in my head.

I can get locos and track pretty cheap. Decals, painting, chassis mods, and god forbid I run into something with the running wheels...

If only I could use all my frickin' HO scale trains.

chunks · Post by **chunks** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:53 pm

You might be able to find one closer, it used to be everywhere.

http://www.frontiermodels.co.uk/Trumpet ... 17059.html

At the very least it might give you some parts to use as well as an ides for the best engine you have on hand to use.

Rogue · Post by **Rogue** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:39 pm

G gauge is 1/32 IIRC

AlloySkull · Post by **AlloySkull** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:58 pm

I hate building plane models. But cars I have no problem. Trains, I damn well might could do. 710 pieces...

I know I can find it locally, which is good. I've always had a knack for trains, especially steam engines, I never was big into diesel or electric. I just never could afford those really nice engines, with the intricate details, my faves were the Big Boys and the Southern Pacific GS-4 in the Daylight colors...

I've had the pleasure of being around a Big Boy and they truly are massive. The drive wheels alone are taller than me with my arm up. It amazes me how much they weigh.

I always went to train shows and got the bargain stuff. Sometimes I ran across sweet stuff. I have some unique freight cars and a really cool set of Santa Fe passenger cars in the OLD colors.

What stops me from buying such a nice model and building it is the fear of screwing up. It's odd, but I can skate and not care... because I can do it again. But a model, you get one chance. It would grace the window sill in my military room so nicely...

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:15 am

G gauge is 1/32 IIRC

Yes, but that's the gauge of the track, the distance between the rails being 1 3/4 in. The G scale structures (buildings etc.) are another matter, these being roughly 1:20 (or 1:22 depending on who you ask) and this is why some XD fans use Pola G scale buildings for XD diorama purposes, it's reasonably close to 1:18th. The "scale versus gauge" thing can get very confusing to say the least.

HO gauge is 1:87 as I recall, which makes it closest to 1:72 for military modeling purposes, but the structures are a bit on small side compared to 1:72 diorama pieces by Build A Rama and Conflix etc.

Model Railroading Scale & Gauge: http://www.thortrains.net/scale1.htm