The G in "G gauge" derives from the German word for large. "G Scale" is a less useful term, because the scales used for trains designed to run on G gauge track vary from 1:20.3 to 1:32. The scales used for Standard Gauge trains also varied, usually in relation to the anticipated retail price, rather than the prototype being modeled! Many G gauge trains are a reasonable size for conversion to Standard by changing the trucks. However, many are constructed of plastic rather than metal, which is a problem for the purists.
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