Is it me, the O Scale vehicles of 1:43 too small for an O Gauge Layout?
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They are actually too big.
1/48, unless you are in the UK where 1/43.5 is perfect.
Menards sells 1/48 scale vehicles made by Denver Diecast. They're cheap and are about the only 1/48 scale vehicles you'll find without having to check auction sites or trade shows. Most commercial trucks and construction equipment are 1/50 scale which is close to spot on for O scale as well. Any bigger (1/43) or smaller (1/53) and cars, trucks, trains, buildings, people, etc. will look out of proportion.
This has come up a few times on here.
1:48 is the "correct" scale, but with limited-to-no availability in this size, people tend to use 1:43 (a little larger) and 1:50 (a tad smaller). Some use other scales, all depends on where the vehicles are located on the layout!
Woodland Scenics make some awesome 1/48 cars. Menards does also. And I'd say there are more out there that do. But be careful with 1/43.. producers of 1/43 have varying ideas what 1/43 is lol
Jim
If you are doing a steam era, period layout, and a model, where generic toys won't do, you are stuck with expensive imports. Even the cheaper of those, Rextoy, has long since joined the dinosaurs. And for existing imports, l am not sure of current duty cost status. And, these are all oversize 1/43d.
they are toy trains, who cares 
I use 1/64 scale tractors on my flat cars, can get 4 tractors to a flat car. they get more attention at shows than anything else
and the general public has no idea that they are out of scale.
To be clear I prefer scale for all items. That said, what I find most troubling is seeing a 1:43 scale car next to a 1:50 scale Greyhound or Trailways bus.
The trains in 1:48 scale are usually on "elevated" rails making the larger scale 1:43 vehicles less of a optic problem. I attempt to buy only 1:48 vehicles but, as previously commented, these are very limited in supply and variety.
I use 1/50 Cars and Trucks,and from European builders like Rex,Solido and Vitesse I use 1/43 and they Look ok because they are from the 30s and 40s.
Mikey
carsntrains posted:But be careful with 1/43.. producers of 1/43 have varying ideas what 1/43 is lol
Jim
In the pic are 3 buses in my bus collection. On the right is a Corgi 1/50 GMC "New Look" bus, next to what is supposed to be a 1/43 "New Look" bus by Hachette. The school bus to the left of the huge Toronto bus is also said to be 1/43. None of these are perfect but the Corgi and School bus are closest imo.
I have some allegedly 1/43 cars that look just fine though.
I think the determination of size 
by the manufacturers is not always correct
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Popi posted:they are toy trains, who cares
And there we have the usual catch-all answer!!!!!
I use 1/64 scale tractors on my flat cars, can get 4 tractors to a flat car. they get more attention at shows than anything else
and the general public has no idea that they are out of scale.
Well, I've NEVER modeled for "the general public". I've always attempted to model as prototypically as possible, in spite of the center rail.
Placement of the varying sizes is important. I have a 1/43 AMC Matador coupe that looks fine where it is. Also 1/50 Greyhound buses at the MTH bus station look fine. But if I placed the Matador right by the Corgi Greyhound buses it wouldnt look right.
A 1/50 Corgi bus passes a 1/43 MG. Neither are O scale but they seem to look fine in a scene together.
But, in my world, the town is served by Johnstown PA transit, has Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada service, as well as a very off course "auto - train." You will see cars from the 1970s as well as modern, and a Ford plant making 1990s trucks. A Santa Fe Northern sometimes brings in Amtraks National Limited! So I cant pretend to be a purist!
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O scale is 1:48 so 1:43 vehicles are actually a little too large. Smaller ratios, larger vehicle
But there are numeous issues after you know that. First, there are very few 1:48 vehicles, most are 1:43 and there are some 1:50 mostly construction vehicles. There are also some kits and a few things that are scale 1:48.
The next thing is what are you running? If it is O27 stuff, S scale 1:64 vehicles might look better. If full scale I like the larger ones.
Now since so much is available as 1:43, I have sort of stuck with them. With all vehicles the same scale they do not look too bad unless you study and compare real photos of cars next to trains. I have a few 1:48 that I put farther back since farther away would look smaller.
I think the best idea for a semi-scale layout is to pick a size and pretty much stick to it.
The green PCC is an R&T 1/48 . the red car is a Corgi 1/50; a huge difference to me.
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"Correct vehicle scale for O gauge layout."
As N. American O scale is 1:48, isn't your answer contained in your question?
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"they are toy trains, who cares "
That tired old chestnut is one of the reasons that we 3RO'ers still get laughed at. That, and that stupid blue engine with a face.
Apparently a lot of us "care", as we buy all this absurdly-priced 1:48 equipment. Speak for yourself - these are not "toys".
Alabama Joe posted:Is it me, the O Scale vehicles of 1:43 too small for an O Gauge Layout?
D500 posted:"Correct vehicle scale for O gauge layout."
In an effort to be completely accurate the OP asked for the correct vehicle scale for O-gauge layout. Note that he did not say O-scale layout. O-gauge merely notes the distance between the outer rails, or about 1 and 1/4 inches apart. Most all of us would understand that O-gauge means O-scale, or 1:48.
It would be interesting if anyone knows what scale O-gauge traditional trains are? Probably they would fall within a range of scales between 1:64 and 1:50, if what they are could be referred to as scale at all.
An extreme example: I once owned a G-gauge live steam Roundhouse SR&RL #24, where they offered a more correct gauge wheel spacing of O-gauge to better represent the 2' narrow gauge track the 1:1 scale locomotive operated on. The locomotive's scale is close to 1:20.
I use 1:43 scale vehicles, mostly because they are cheaper and easier to find. They look ok with scale equipment. Most people have issues when they put a 1:50 scale truck/bus next to a 1:43 scale car. Best thing is to place smaller 1:43 scale cars near the 1:50 scale truck so they look correct together.
My advice might agree with what VISTADOMESCOTT has stated.
That is, I believe careful and judicious emplacement of the varying sizes depends on the context of the scene, and all of the attendant details, in which the vehicles are featured...such as....
Can you discern what the scale is of each of these vehicles, 1/50, 1/48, or 1/43 ?
If you can, you are a better modeler than I, and much more fastidious about such matters than I.
See what I mean, sir?
FrankM
I trust this is helpful.
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Give these folks a try:
Frank it seems that in the hands of a master such as yourself different scale vehicles peacefully coexist on a single layout.
Coach Joe, I'm real glad you like what you have seen, and of course it is an honor to receive such approval as yours. Thank you, very much, sir.
FrankM
mjrodg3n88 posted:This has come up a few times on here.
The understatement of the year! 
1:43 cars go well with our 1:44 3-rail track. The trains are too small.
1:43, 1:48, and 1:50 all look great on an O-gauge layout, its just a matter of how they are grouped together and grouped around the trains!
You could even use 1:64 on a layout, just put it towards the back for a forced perspective! 
Jim
Moonson posted:My advice might agree with what VISTADOMESCOTT has stated.
That is, I believe careful and judicious emplacement of the varying sizes depends on the context of the scene, and all of the attendant details, in which the vehicles are featured...such as....
Can you discern what the scale is of each of these vehicles, 1/50, 1/48, or 1/43 ?
If you can, you are a better modeler than I, and much more fastidious about such matters than I.
See what I mean, sir?
FrankM
I trust this is helpful.
I've been hitting the E bay and other places looking for campers in 1/43 .. yours are great!
Jim
