Photo 1 Copyright 2020 Nicholas Kalis
Essay
Three of about nine scales my layout incorporates are visible in this above photograph.
- Front model is HO (1:87.1 scale), the middle vehicle is 1:43 scale (not quite O scale), and at the rear is an example of the quite rare 1:20 scale kit (actually 1:20 is not that rare at all if one is seeking ready-built modern racing cars but since that is rarely something we depict on a model railroad, I will stick to calling 1:20 as rare).
- The Middle vehicle is a Dodge WC54 diecast 1/43
- Rear vehicle is a 4x4 Jeep under-construction in 1:20 scale - this is a pretty tough scale to find outside of racing cars; it is virtually dead on for the Fn3 scale (1:20.3) that my locomotives are modeled in.
Photo 3 An example of 1:22.5 scale by Preiser
My other four layout scales are figures in 1:22.5, my Preiser pigeons 47084 in 1:25 scale (see photo); the 1:20.3 scale of my Llagas Creek track and my Bachmann locomotive; and 1:48 scale structures. Notice that 1:20 scale is not that large in appearance if we stick to smaller vehicles and small narrow gauge motive power.
Photo 4 Copyright 2020 Nicholas Kalis
Three More Scales
I liked that this Thomas Gunn Miniatures sentry, a 1:30 scale pre-painted metal figure, had his sleeves rolled up - more appropriate for Hawaii's warm weather. Anyone incorporating military figures to their layout will soon discover most are wearing clothes appropriate for the cold of Northern Europe also known as ETO - European Theater of Operations. Figures such as these are primarily marketed to collectors but model railroaders are wise to incorporate them into their layouts when it makes sense.
This diecast Jeep (Photo 4) from New Ray Ltd. (weathered and with a cast resin cardboard box with string on the back set) appears to be 1/43, a scale we have covered before - it is instructive to compare it to a 1:30 figure.
This American Diorama package represents a whole slew (both civilian and military) of pre-painted 1:18 scale figures available to large scale modelers. If modeling in Fn3 you will find these models a tad over-size - the solution is to keep these figures away from anything that has scale - vehicles, buildings, rolling stock, locomotives. These figures are labeled as poly-resin material; they can be brittle so they should be handled carefully.
Just when I thought I had identified all the scales utilized on my layout, I came upon an empty package of Silflor mininatur at 1:45+.
In Conclusion
Some newcomers to the model railroading hobby - and admittedly, some veterans - can get bent out of shape about scale. My layout has ten different scales and I have not lost a night's sleep as a result. But don't get me wrong, if you mix scales with no rhyme or reason, sure you might get a mish mash. I believe that my various scales are either not noticeable or serve to create perspective with the reduced scale technique.
Photo 5 Copyright 2020 Nicholas Kalis
Just when I thought I had identified all the scales utilized on my layout, I came upon an empty package of Silflor mininatur at 1:45+.
Photo 6 Copyright Nicholas Kalis
Not sure what scale this pair of cows is
Photo 7 Copyright 2020 Nicholas Kalis
In Conclusion
Some newcomers to the model railroading hobby - and admittedly, some veterans - can get bent out of shape about scale. My layout has ten different scales and I have not lost a night's sleep as a result. But don't get me wrong, if you mix scales with no rhyme or reason, sure you might get a mish mash. I believe that my various scales are either not noticeable or serve to create perspective with the reduced scale technique.
Revised April 30, 2023
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