Scale vehicles

Hey Tom,

 

A common trend I have found while asking that question on here is 1:43 for cars/pickup trucks, and 1:48-1:50 for semis..etc.  However, after (recently) asking this question you'll find most people will say, whatever looks best on your layout.  I dont have a layout yet, but have started collecting the diecast and am sticking to the 1:43 for cars/trucks and 1:48-1:50 for semis (thanks Lee Willis).

 

Mike

 

You can see another similar thread here:

 

https://ogrforum.com/d...9987982661214/page/1

Check out Richard E's weekly thread "O-Scale motor chronicle" - there was a thread started this moring, and previous weeks (use the serach feature).  There is a lso a good discussion right now on the Scenery and Structures forum specifically above trucks and what scale is best. 

While cars and trucks can be found in lots of scales, for example 1:43, 1:48, and 1:50, many of the medium priced die-cast vehicles I find are 1:43 for cars and 1:50 for trucks.

 

Thus, over the years most of the trucks that I have collected are 1:50 and most of my cars are 1:43 and 1:48.

 

Jim

 Thanks guys: For the info. Very informative as usual on this forum. Tom

1:43 up close, 1:48 a little farther back, and some 1:50. (not many of the last thought)

 

90% of my stuff is 1:43.

It is very difficult to find any 0 scale autos in anything other than 1:43 scale, which is the English version of 0. Trucks are typically 1:50; you can find some construction equipment and miscellaneous in 1:48. The actual size of 1:43 cars varies; some of them are undersized and closer to a true 1:48. The English are the same folks who gave us Lucas electricals and Smiths instruments, so why am I not surprised that their gift to 0 gauge is cars that are the wrong size. (Speaking as a former BSA/Triumph mechanic.) 

You must have had all the work you wanted, and more!  I never saw Triumph motorcycle (or car for that matter) that did not leak oil.

Lee

 

I never saw Triumph motorcycle (or car for that matter) that did not leak oil.

 

I actually built up a '62 (pre-unit construction) Triumph for my college roommate that didn't leak. It was a lot of work. The bike screamed - it had 11:1 pistons, hot cams, etc. It had a custom tank and was painted candy apple yellow with black fogging around the edges. It got stolen from the college parking lot while he was at class. 

Ah yes Lucas, the Prince of Darkness. 

 

Like most other "0" gaugers, I bought a number of 1/43 cars, both cheap, common die cast cars but also more expensive Brooklin, Franklin and Solido cars, because that was what was available.  Yeah, I knew they were oversize but I got used to it.  When I finally had the chance to pick up a couple of 1/48 cars and I put them on the layout, they looked too small.  Maybe it's my eye or the fact that this oversize scale just looks OK, I don't know but I ended up putting the smaller, 1/48 cars way in the background in order to look somewhat correct. 

 

A couple of years ago Atlas announced that they were going to introduce a line of "scale O gauge" cars and I, for one, recommended against doing that.  Why buck a trend for the whole industry, even though it probably is more correct?  To this date, I haven't seen any production 1/48 cars from Atlas.  If they had started to offer 1/48 cars 10 or 12 years ago when they first went into Atlas "0", it would have made sense, but now, I fear that like me, everyone has loaded up their layouts, and collections with 1/43 cars.

 

Paul Fischer

A list I have been compiling: I use it to deterimine both placement and suitability for my layout

 

 

I lot of the other New Ray '50s convertibles including the Olds, Pontiac, and Buicks are closer to 1/48 than 1/43.  I have a lot of them but keep them in a box.  I prefer the slightly larger size for cars, but 1:48 or 1:50 for trucks.  (See the model truck thread now going on in the scenery forum, the New Ray trucks,unlke many of their cars, are 1:43 and some as just "too big" to go on a layout.

And sometimes you find some vehicles of unknown scale that just work out right on your layout!

 

The two pick-up trucks in front of the diner and parked facing the street were $1.00 in a blister pack at Walgreens a few years ago.  Yes, sir, one dollar as in four quarters!  The scale was not marked on the package.  I bought them because they have the "low rider" look, had metal bodies and plastic windows.

 

 

I think they look pretty good there parked in front of the diner. 

 

I have a "daytime" photo of the diner scene, but I can't find it at this very moment.  When I do, I'll post it.

John, that chart you compiled is impressive, and very interesting.

Thanks for the chart John. Handy reference.

Over the years I randomly bought cars and trucks. Now on the layout it's amazing how different the scale sizes really look. The shift of placing different scale sizes in rear and front of layout works but I'm now stuck with too many "larger" vehicles.

Due to my road sizes, parking lot sizes and other reasons I've found that vehicles close to the 1/48 scale work best for me. they just " fit" better. I also like how they line up with my building door heights and they make my locos just a bit more powerfull looking.

Problem now is the size of my people look too big when placed near the cars. There is always the struggle to get the right feel. I'm sure you all feel the same, if done correctly the scene just "pops" and looks real. I make it work as we all do.

Nah, they're in a big box under the workbench!  The cars on the layout are mostly Vitesse, American Excellence, and other brands like that. New Ray are just too smal to look good even if they are scale.

Altas never made them because thet realized they would need to charge $30.+ for them.

I seem to remember reading that 1:43 got started for car models because toy trains made in Europe were 1:43. Remember, our "O" track is about 1:45, not 1:48.

That seems to be the case.  Historical fact (when companies first started producing them, and where) bears that out and I've seen a lot of discussion that that is true.  But again I think market forces kept 1:43 popular - it is a convenient good scale for model cars in general, irrespective of model train considerations.  A lot of people prefer model cars in that scale, period (I being one of them).  

What many of us don't realise is that 1:43 is, by far, the most popular scale for collectors outside of the US. Americans collect the larger scales. Also, most 1:43 models are NOT bought for train layouts.

I do not like 1/43 scale model cars - they make my trains look undersized.  I look for 1/48, 1/50 or undersized 1/45 cars because they just look right next to the trains.  For the few 1/43 cars I have, I'm looking at putting them on the front of the layout in areas where the track is farther back.

 

Ron