| Everyone has some type of memory from their | | | | a few of them that are among the most popular |
| childhood about model scale trains that has stayed | | | | to further aid you with this decision. |
| with them into their adult years. For some of us | | | | HO Model Scale - As previously mentioned this |
| these memories were so strong that they served | | | | scale is 1/87th the size of it's real life prototype, |
| as the motivation for becoming model railroaders, | | | | and frequently is the modelers scale of choice. |
| and not unlike myself, have happily invested both | | | | The reason for this lies in the fact that many |
| time and money building their model train empires. | | | | manufacturers carry this scale, and it is well |
| One of the first things that you discover when | | | | known for it's exactness in detail, and for having a |
| researching the amazing hobby of model trains is | | | | wide assortment of accessories to choose from. |
| that there are a number of scales to choose | | | | N Scale Model Trains - This scale is the perfect |
| from. You'll also realize early on that many people | | | | choice if you have a limited amount of space |
| confuse the meaning of scale versus gauge. | | | | because it is 1/160th the size of it's prototype. |
| If in fact you're a little confused about the | | | | Although diminutive in size it is still well known as a |
| difference between the two, just remember that | | | | scale that presents exacting detail in it's |
| scale is represented in fractional form, and it | | | | appearance, and most importantly this small scale |
| expresses the difference in size between the | | | | will allow you to build as grand a layout as you |
| model and the real life prototype. For example, | | | | please. If there is a drawback with this scale it is |
| the Ho scale model is 1/87th the size of it's real | | | | that smaller scales can be difficult to handle and |
| counterpart. | | | | this is especially so for children. |
| Another way to understand this fractional | | | | G Scale Model Trains - This scale is well known |
| representation is in knowing that the Ho train is | | | | for it's durability and is the perfect choice for |
| actually eighty seven times larger than the model. | | | | those hobbyist who would like to set up an |
| One of the most important and controlling factors | | | | outdoor layout which is more commonly referred |
| that comes into play when deciding on what type | | | | to as "garden railroading." |
| of scale to include in your model train layout is the | | | | Z Scale Model Trains - This scale is 1/220 the size |
| amount of space you realistically have available. If | | | | of the real life train and if you have a small area |
| you have a rather large area to work with your | | | | for your layout and the N scale won't work for |
| fortunate because many hobbyist are limited to | | | | you, the Z scale certainly will because it is 220 |
| confining spaces that dictate the size of their | | | | times smaller than the real version. |
| empire. One of the fringe benefits in having a | | | | These are just a small sample of the various |
| larger area to display your trains is that it will allow | | | | scales but should give you a good head start |
| you to select more than one type of scale if you | | | | when your trying to decide on the type of scale |
| so choose. | | | | you would like to include in your model train |
| Knowing that there are quite a few scales to | | | | layout. |
| choose from doesn't make the task of deciding | | | | Because there are many other scales I really |
| which of them you would prefer to build your | | | | couldn't cover them all in this article. |
| layout around any easier. I've elected to describe | | | | |