How BIG is 0 scale?

O Scale is twice the size and 4 times the volume of HO.

A good reference is if an HO Scale railroad built on a 4'x8' framework, the space needed to build the same railroad in O Scale will need 8'x16'.  All dimensions (Height, Width, Length) are doubled be it rolling stock or structures.

It can be hard to imagine the space requirement's in your mind.

Pick up a pre-owned freight car or two to get the feel of O, that way the investment will be minimal.  Look at them, poke at them, compare them to their HO counterparts, roll them back and forth on a section of track to become comfortable with them.  That's what I did when I transitioned from HO to S Scale.

Rusty

Two dimension, I.E. track plan, double.

Three dimension,  actual volume displacement, 8x.

rattler21 posted:

Rusty,  Is that four or eight (2x2x2) the volume?  Respectfully, John

8.  You're correct.  Never was good at math...

Rusty

Actually, 1.8 times as big, not twice as big.   Was always good at math.

Arthur P. Bloom posted:

Actually, 1.8 times as big, not twice as big.   Was always good at math.

That extra .2 times gives some "wiggle room."

Rusty

thank goodness for Arthur and math minds..... (whew)

For the rivet counters:

O (1:48) compared with HO (1:87)

Linear dimension 1.8125 times the length

Square footage (2D) 1.8125 squared = 3.28515625 times the area

Volume (3D) 1.8125 cubed = 5.954345703125 times the volume

Bob

gettin' my geek on 

And then there's 17/64s scale . . . .

I respectfully disagree with those above.  Technically, what they are answering  is correct from a mathematical viewpoint.  However, the reality is this.  As a "standard" for years, HO sets come with 18 radius curves.  O sets come with a 36 diameter curve.  Guess what?  A 18 radius curve is a 36 diameter curve--IDENTICAL--yes the O track is wider.  I can put the identical set layout on an 8 by 4 surface in either scale.

Obviously the VOLUME of "O" scale stuff is greater and an the average O scale boxcar from a set is 10 inches long compared to the HO 7 inches.  Still, this is a difficult question to answer without SPECIFIC facts.

You could have an AWESOME O scale layout in an 8 foot long by 2 foot wide area if you had a small switch engine and ore cars, but if you wanted huge steam engines or scale passenger cars you wouldn't be satisfied in either scale in an area this size.

It all depends on specifically and exactly what you want!

And if you are talking about 2-rail "O"....then YES you need larger radius curves....

Lastly, you have 16 by 10 which is MORE than the average person regardless of scale.  What is it you want to do?  You have room for either scale.

John C. posted:

I respectfully disagree with those above.  Technically, what they are answering  is correct from a mathematical viewpoint.  However, the reality is this.  As a "standard" for years, HO sets come with 18 radius curves.  O sets come with a 36 diameter curve.  Guess what?  A 18 radius curve is a 36 diameter curve--IDENTICAL--yes the O track is wider.  I can put the identical set layout on an 8 by 4 surface in either scale. 

I don't know where you shop but, I have not seen ANY O-Gauge "starter sets" with 036 track included. Everything at our hobby shop has 027 or 031 O-Gauge track included.

I’ve noticed what appears to be two different sizes for O scale. First, there’s the actual 1/48 scale stuff which technically is correct. Then, I supposed due to the toy train/3rail types, there’s more of a 1/43-ish size. You can go to a good hobby shop and see figure sets that are clearly two different sizes for O.

I have plenty of O scale figures that tower in every way over true 1/48 scale figures. I bought/painted a set of WW2 GI’s in 1/48 (for airplane and military modelers) when I was still building the layout and I found they simply look way too small for O. I’ll probably sell them or maybe stick them in the back of the layout for forced perspective. Otherwise, they’re useless.

1/43 works okay for me as they make my narrow-gauge trains look even smaller, which I’m just fine with.

Hot Water posted:

John C. posted:

I respectfully disagree with those above.  Technically, what they are answering  is correct from a mathematical viewpoint.  However, the reality is this.  As a "standard" for years, HO sets come with 18 radius curves.  O sets come with a 36 diameter curve.  Guess what?  A 18 radius curve is a 36 diameter curve--IDENTICAL--yes the O track is wider.  I can put the identical set layout on an 8 by 4 surface in either scale. 

I don't know where you shop but, I have not seen ANY O-Gauge "starter sets" with 036 track included. Everything at our hobby shop has 027 or 031 O-Gauge track included.

Don't Atlas and LionChief sets come with O36 curves?

OK John.   You got us off of our ivory towers.   You had to go and get practical.  

Good analysis.  Much more helpful to the OP.

Bob

RRDOC posted:

OK John.   You got us off of our ivory towers.   You had to go and get practical.  

Good analysis.  Much more helpful to the OP.

Bob

Which is why in my first response (in spite of my bad math) I suggested to the OP to get a couple of used O scale cars to poke and prod at.  You can do all the good math you want, but nothing beats holding something in all 3 dimensions to really get a feel for it. 

He mentioned about being drawn to Proto:48 and not into the toy aspect of O.  That makes any discussion about what's in Atlas (Do they even offer 2-rail scale sets anymore?) and LionChief train sets, or any 3-rail track system useless banter.  I don't think there anything in the Ready-To-Run O Scale world that's Proto:48. 

Rusty

RRDOC posted:

OK John.   You got us off of our ivory towers.   You had to go and get practical.  

Good analysis.  Much more helpful to the OP.

Bob

Thank you Bob.  I hesitated because I didn't want to unnerve anyone--not my intent.  Guys are always saying to me "O scale takes too much room!"  And I point out the reality as above.  Technically it is significantly larger than HO; even the undersized stuff.  But, 3-rail was made to turn VERY sharply in order that people would have room for the oval of track.  In my day, the sets I saw were O27--that under a super-sharp HO scale 15 radius curve!  O looks awkward on O27, but it works.

Reading the OP's post again, I get the impression he might be referring to O-scale without traditional O-gauge track or equipment. He used the word "realistic", which could imply both wide track curvature and 2 rails.

It would be helpful if the OP clarified further.

Just re-read---there are specifics, my mind goes blank too quickly.  If you are doing P48 switching you are gold.  You won't require super sharp curves.  2 rail curvature, generally speaking, you do need for it to be wider...

Just make certain you can reach EVERYTHING.  Nothing should be more than 30 inches away and if that thing is a turnout, I'd have it in 24" or less.  No area should be five feet wide---assuming you can access it via aisleway from all sides!--- if NOT you will need access openings.

Do yourself a HUGE favor and arrange your track in a manner that allows you to walk right up to it unobstructed.  

You may want to check the appropriate historical society for blueprints, track diagrams to replicate something....duplicating is tough unless it's is a very small switching area...please post pictures and progress.

I have written a design process book and I recommend having a plan prior to starting.  You are on your way.  Still, plan everything out carefully before diving in.  

PS:  I don't know.  BUT, I believe Rusty is on the right track.  I have personally ONLY seen a very small offering for P48.  Maybe there's more.  I'm a 3-rail highly realistic guy and choose the 3 rail because of availability.

Because of Rusty's comments, I would suggest the OP research the P48 market.  My experience is I know 1 man who has it and he is a highly skilled craftsman who "adjusts" everything he buys to Proto48 standards.

I wish I possessed a 1/100 of the skills he has. 

If you can find some trackplans from the 'Railroads You Can Model' series, they give you an idea of space requirements by checking the plan legends. Google Books usually has some pages you can work from.

What I know about H.O. track and O gauge track is that with O gauge track you have a curve diameter of 031(31 inch curve) to start with and H.O. uses a curve size of 30 inches or 15 inch radius for their smallest curve section, these are factory made size.

Also Lionel made 027 track with a curve size of 27 inches, so it is about 3 inches smaller in diameter then the factory H.O. curve of 30 inches or 15 inch radius.

There are many sizes in both O gauge and H.O. size tracks and switches. However side by side you may get more H.O. track in the same area for the corner of a layout.

Lee Fritz