US $6.88
Model trains come in many sizes. Some can reach lengths of up to two feet. Some are even smaller than your finger. But how do you know what the right size of model train you should get?
To start off, train sizes are measured in scale. Scale is the relative measurement of a model to the actual thing it is modeled after or its prototype. In model trains, a standard set of scales is used, each scale represented by a letter. The O scale train for example corresponds to a scale of 1:48, or an O scale model will be 1/48th the size of the actual train its prototype. That means every measurement of the prototype is divided by 48 to get the measurement of the model. If a real train is about 48 feet long (not a real example but you get the idea) the O scale model would be 1 foot long.
There are of course the big trains. G scale trains are one of the biggest. They have a scale of 1:22 (or 1:20 for most American G scale trains). O scale models are half the size of the G scale counterparts, having the numerical scale of 1:48. These models are two of the most popular of the large scale models and will probably be your first choice if you are looking for something big. However, they do come with certain considerations. Their size makes modeling for them rather expensive in terms of real estate. Since the locomotives are already big, everything else will also be big. Imagine building scenery for locomotives this big... you'd need something like a whole yard! In fact some G models have become known as garden models because they can only be used in garden sized tracks.
HO scales are in the middle. They are quite literally half the o scale at 1:87, hence their names. They are usually a good balance between size and functionality. This can also be a good start off point for you since they are one of the most popular scales. This popularity has led to many modeled prototypes in this scale. If you decide to go with HO, you'll have a lot of choices for your modeling needs. They still however require some investment in terms of space. At even at half the size of their larger brothers, these models can still eat up sizable chunks of your rooms.
Smaller scales are of course the friendliest in terms of real estate considerations. Arguably the most popular small scale model is the N scale. At 1:160, almost half the size of the HOs, these are extremely efficient models in terms of space. They are actually known to be even more detailed as far as realism is concerned, often modeling their prototypes more closely than the larger models. This is due to the fact that these scale models were introduced later, when the world of model railroading was becoming less of a children's activity to a more serious hobby.
Other scales do exist, although their popularity is not as great. The S scale for example is slightly smaller than the O scale but larger than the HO scale, at 1:64. There are even larger scale models, up to 1:12 which are almost as big as the train rides in parks. There are also extremely small ones like the Z scale, which reaches about 1:220, or the newer T scale, which reaches a mind boggling 1:450! At this size, you can hold an entire train set in just one hand!
At the end of the day though, you have to remember that there is no one true good scale. They're all good! People love them for different reasons and will continue to build them for their enjoyment. So whatever the scale you end up choosing, as long as you enjoy modeling them, they will always be right for you.
James Stonebright is a model train enthusiast and loves collecting the different types of toy model train. For more great information on Model Train Scale, visit http://www.ModelTrainsGalore.com.