To Scale or not To Scale

It depends on the locos, if my experience is any indication.  Not to sound like I am blowing the topic off, but if it looks good, then it looks good, and if it doesn't, it just doesn't.  

Some non-scale steamers are big enough that they look good - or at least good enough - alongside smaller scale diesels.  Some traditionally sized rolling stock - I'm thinking of some  tank cars and gondolas I have, will look okay- maybe not perfect but acceptable - alongside scale stuff.  Some stuff won't, though.  

That said, if you are like me, over time you will acquire more scale and dispose of the non-scale. 

striped bass, definetly. mackeral, no

I think that Lee nailed it. Let's take a Berkshire for example, a scale verses a non-scale next to one another would not look correct to me. But, if you don't really mind the differences, then that is all that is important. Like Lee, over time, I got rid of all my non-scale engines.

Bob:  It all depends on what "looks good" to you.  You're in charge of your own layout.  Now, for me, I like to have all my trains, plus automobiles, buildings, people, etc. from one era.  To me the time period is what needs to "look good".  But, having said that, I have a lot of friends to whom time or era means nothing.  They have no qualms about running a modern GE or EMD diesel alongside an older steam engine, or for that matter, an older diesel.

I chose 1950 as my "target" era because at that time I was 15 years old and just beginning to appreciate the railroading that was taking place around me.  Also, I feel that this era represented the most significant changes in railroading in general with the demise of steam and the onslaught of diesel.  But those are my criterion for my own layout.

I would never try to tell someone that he's "doing it all wrong" because I don't happen to do it that way myself.  I have friends who also freely combine smaller scale, (semi-scale?) engines with full scale models.  Sometimes they will run trains of 12" passenger cars with scale length power.  Incorrect?  To me yes; to them it looks just fine.

The best thing to come from our hobby?  "Do your own thing!"

Paul Fischer

"Is that going to look funky with a diesel scale running on the same layout with non-scale steam consists?"

No, I think beauty is the eyes of the beholder. To me, if it's running it's nice. I am not a professional just a old toy train guy.

To give a little more information, I try to model 40s & 50s Texas railroads.  I have MTH T&P passenger, MTH UP freight, and have acquired Atlas MKT scale diesel to pull freight (don't want Texas Special).  Only problem is, I have non-scale MKT caboose, and can't find a scale MKT caboose.

My layout is designed with a large lower area for a small town and the RR yard with loco tracks and freight tracks.  The outer and upper area is industrial and open road running.  This give a different prospective to the lower area in which I can run non scale equipment and it doesn't look out of proportion. 

I am stating all of this because one of my most popular engines is a 1948 Lionel 1656 with a 6026 sloped back switcher.  It is really old and runs ideally at 9 volts.  I use this switcher to make-up all of my consists and run a small freight shuttle around town.   

The scale engines will then move to the outside and pick-up their consist and head for the rolling road. 

It works, it makes me happy and I don't really care about anything else.  LOL

1656 delivering coal.  Adjacent to the Postwar 773 and Lionel Standard Gauge Santa Fe F3.  

Closer look at the 1656

It should be pointed out that NOTHING made by Lionel, MTH or Atlas is true O scale. The bodies may be scale size but the wheels, the flanges, couplers and other details are far from scale. I support the "semi scale" argument. If its close to scale dimensions in unit size and/or looks good I run it. As any layout is always viewed in the context of the whole; casual visitors to my layout never notice the difference. While there is an abundance of diesel engines and rolling stock that are almost scale, there seems to be a shortage of steam locomotives that are sized to scale. Most of them are way off.  

Bob, what ever makes sense to you. For me I'm trying to create , and just for me, the look and feeling I felt for the era in the 50s when I was a boy and was just totally blown away by the last steamers and fast F3 pulled passenger trains.

I kind of gravitate to scale, but the 3 rail doesn't bother me. So... if it pleases you then enjoy what you have. If your views change, then change.

Ron

Bob, still looking for a 40's-50's caboose?  Email "Brother Love" that's his forum name anyway. He custom builds Cabooses, and does an "Extreme A+" job, some of the forum members have his products, and I haven't ever seen anything but A+ reviews on his end products.

If you want to try your hand at some kit bashing to get what you want. Bob Stevenson of Stevenson Preservation Lines Ames, Iowa.

stevensonpreservationlines.com pdf catalog is justa sample of what he offers!

bobdiesel@yahoo.com

1-515-292-8469

Bob;

Is the caboose one of MTH's Railking units?

I ask because the Premier ones are the exact same size, just more detail added.

Thus, they are if not scale, very close.

I can sit them side by side, they are the same except add-on railings, chains and such.

And I agree with Lee.

I recently got my first Scale engine, (I'm all steam)

I will be running the larger non scale rolling stock with it, the major difference is length of the engine. I have avoided buying scale cars except cabeese due to size differences. Also I'm modeling all steam so only smaller cars work anyway.

Bob, in case you didn't  know, here's the MKT HS website:

http://www.katyrailroad.org/

They've got some nice photos of MKT cabs that you can try matching up with what's being offered by the manufacturers.

Bob.....run what you have and enjoy it.....as times goes on your objectives will likely change and with this so will the pieces you select......you'll know when you find the right car or engine that better suits your tastes at that time in the hobby......

Russell,

Yes I have the MTH MKT caboose (30-77127), but haven't put it on the track with the scale stuff yet.  MTH does say that it is "near scale", so that may be the answer.  It is 4 1/4" high, so one should be able to see over the 4" scale cars from the cupola.

Bob, thanks for the reference.  I am aware of the organization and need to quit procrastinating and join.  The Katy was the principle railroad where I grew up, and my grandfather retired from their maintenance yards in Smithville, Texas.  Although I model T&P, it did not serve where I grew up, but my years in the oil and gas business exposed me to millions of T&P acres along its route from Fort Worth to El Paso.  MoPac and Frisco were also local railroads, but did not extend to my area, although MoPac was close.  I can't even find a reference to H&GN, the land grants to which I examined many land titles.

I try to match the size of engines to rolling stock.  A 1666 Prairie looks good pulling 6464 boxcars but not scale sized hoppers.  A 700E would look comical with 6464 boxcars too.  Both exist on my layout without looking strange. 

Nathan

The largest and smallest locomotives on the Frisco (frisco.org).  Rogers Arkansas, 1914.  You are being totally prototypical with different sized trains on the same gauge track!!! 

Nathan