What a fine discussion. Tom tee is on point, nothing is scale. To me semiscale and scale engines and cars usually do not look good together, so I pull one or the other off my layout depending on what I feel like running. After that it is a matter of detailing.
Regarding Tom's sweeping curve comment, I just rode amtrak thru the cascades from Portland to Chemult Oregon. There were some pretty tight curves and lots of squealing as we wound through those mountains climbing 4000 feet. I am sure there was a lot of overhang on the passenger cars. Based on the angle I saw between cars, it did not appear to be much different than my passenger cars on my sweeping 072 curves. No comparison of course with the long straight runs and sweeping curves seen in the Midwest. Needless to say nothing is happening on my layout this week.
