Have I been collecting wrongly?

Well, I don't know.  If your intent is to be able to show newcomers the variety from which they could choose, how likely would they be to jump right into Standard or On3 (or On30)?

I do have one set of On30, but I don't believe I have ever had to explain it to any guest.

If you haven't had the great urge to have absolutely one of every scale, I guess I'd say, "why now"?  That's my two cents, and free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.

For what you're trying to do, I like the choices you made.  Following the tech's "gauge" advice, you would have to add his suggestions plus Gn3, P48, On30, On2.5, Sn3, etc. to be "gauge complete."  I think this would only serve to confuse people and leave you with a lot more explaining to do.

Chuck

Showing the same locomotive (I assume) would highlight the differences in scale quite nicely.  Besides I don't know of any On3 NYC Hudsons (again, I assume...)

On3 (also On30) are still O Scale, 1/4" to the foot. 

If the purpose of your display is to highlight the different scales, there no real need to include 3' gauge O scale trains, which would be physically smaller than the 4'8" gauge companions.

In my opinion, highlighting the differences between standard and narrow gauge trains would best be the subject of a separate display.

Rusty

I can see Standard Gauge but Once you start getting into Narrow gauge you may confuse your guests. First ON30 then HOn30  the N scale narrow gauge. How much can you mentally take and how big is your wallet?

Like the poster above says;

If you haven't had the great urge to have absolutely one of every scale, I guess I'd say, "why now"? 

quote:

Is he right?

Why are you collecting?

As far as I am concerned, collecting should reflect the collector's interest.

While other folks certainly can make suggestions, its really up to the individual.

Do you think standard and/or On3 belong?

(By the way "O" and "On3" are the same scale)

Another example as to why it may not be the best to include narrow gauge if your main purpose is to highlight the differences in scale.

Both are O scale 2-8-0's, 1/4" to the foot, but vastly different in size.  The 52 is On30:

Rusty