HO Track id
- Thread starter huttojb
- Start date
Height is measured in 1000th's of an inch. Code 83 is therefore 0.083" high, and Code 100 is 0.100".
However, the overall height of the track can vary due to differing thickness of ties. For example, my Walthers/Shinohara turnouts and Atlas flextrack are both Code 83, but the ties on the turnouts are thinner, so need to be shimmed so the tops of the rails are even.
Atlas has addressedm a similar problem - their Code 100 and Code 83 track are the same height overall, since they put slightly thicker ties under the Code 83 rail.
Andrew
However, the overall height of the track can vary due to differing thickness of ties. For example, my Walthers/Shinohara turnouts and Atlas flextrack are both Code 83, but the ties on the turnouts are thinner, so need to be shimmed so the tops of the rails are even.
Atlas has addressedm a similar problem - their Code 100 and Code 83 track are the same height overall, since they put slightly thicker ties under the Code 83 rail.
Andrew
"OO" (double-O, or dubblo) is a Bristish scale of 1:76 - above the railhead. However, it uses HO standard gauge track, which scales out to slightly narrow gauge if measured in 1:76.
So the tracks are in fact the same. It is everything else that is slightly larger than HO scale.
Confused yet?
Andrew
So the tracks are in fact the same. It is everything else that is slightly larger than HO scale.
Confused yet?
Andrew
Code 100 is the safest bet, because if the wheels on the OO locos have large flanges (look like pizza cutters ), they *might* bottom out on the spikes on the Code 83 track.
Take a loco to the store with you if possible to check it out. Code 83 would look better in my opinion.
As for scale, I have no idea what the point is. Why do trains come in 1:87 in North America, but 1:76 in the UK? And why do airplane models come in 1:72? The most bizzare thing is that OO scale (1:76) is defined as 3.5mm (or is it 4mm) to the foot... mixing two entirely different measurement systems.
And while we are on that, why are US gallons different than UK gallons? I could go on...!
Andrew
), they *might* bottom out on the spikes on the Code 83 track. Take a loco to the store with you if possible to check it out. Code 83 would look better in my opinion.
As for scale, I have no idea what the point is. Why do trains come in 1:87 in North America, but 1:76 in the UK? And why do airplane models come in 1:72? The most bizzare thing is that OO scale (1:76) is defined as 3.5mm (or is it 4mm) to the foot... mixing two entirely different measurement systems.
And while we are on that, why are US gallons different than UK gallons? I could go on...!
Andrew
huttojb said:
You have seen the light! I've been screaming this for YEARS about various modeling practices.
masonjar said:
This being one of the issues I have. I can understand they want it to be easily transitional, but honestly, they've done the exact opposite of "true to scale". The ties on smaller weight rail should be SMALLER! Not bigger. They should manufacture proper height and produce a set of transitional pieces.
I take it you're on the "east side of the pond"?
Correct side maybe - but is it the right side?
Andrew
Correct side maybe - but is it the right side?
Andrew
We could discuss this all day, but I think it will be better if we call this a day.
Another question, could someone post a picture of a Point and Y track and tell me what bit's are electronically connected. And according to my father-in-law they are different (looks the same to me) could someone explain.
Thanks
Jason.
Another question, could someone post a picture of a Point and Y track and tell me what bit's are electronically connected. And according to my father-in-law they are different (looks the same to me) could someone explain.
Thanks
Jason.
huttojb said:
A "Y" track is a type of turnout. The prototype just call them switches, but we modelers refer to them as turnouts to keep from confusing them with electrical switches for turning power on & off. The turnout in the pic is a right hand turnout because the curved track goes off to the right. A "Y" turnout would not have a straight and a curve, rather it would be 2 curves going off in opposite directions to make a "Y" shape when viewed from the top.