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What is the first question to ask?

Most people begin the hobby with the purchase of a model locomotive, some carriages or wagons, and a circle of track. They then arrive at the second hand stall of our exhibition with questions about the compatibility of their present system with what they are intending to purchase. This article is intended to answer the commonly asked questions, and put a prospective modeller on the right track.

The question to ask before purchasing anything is "What prototype I am going to model"? Most people have a preference for a particular country, and this will determine the prototype of the model system.

What is Prototype?

Prototype is the style of railway system particular to a country or region.

Here are the top 5 model prototypes available for the Australia modeller:

Australian - manufacturers include Lima, Austrains, Eureka, Ontrack Models and Auscision. Models are typically diesel or steam locos with express trains. Examples include the Lima models of the Indian Pacific or Western Mail trains, and latter day models include well detailed diesel and steam locos plus wagons.
British - manufacturers include Hornby, Bachmann in OO scale plus Dapol and Graham Farish in N scale. Models are typically classic steam locos with express trains, plus modern diesels and electrics. Examples include the Hornby Great Western express trains sold as a train pack.
American - manufacturers are many and varied due to the size of the US market. Typical examples of trains would have to include a high performance digitally controlled diesel with a goods train. There are also many models in N scale.
European - manufacturers include Marklin, Fleischmann, Roco, Trix, Lima and Bachmann in HO plus Fleischmann, Roco and Minitrix in N scale with Marklin in Z scale. Models are typically HO scale steam locos with express trains, or old or new electrics. Examples include high speed interurban trains hauled by a modern electric loco. European HO trains are divided into two camps - basically Marklin compatible HO based on 3 rails with AC motors, and standard 2 rail HO with DC motors. Most European manufacturers produce both.
Japanese manufacturer Kato, which produces accurate and reliable HO and N scale models in Japanese prototype.

What is Gauge?

Gauge is the distance between the rails, which determine the proportions of the prototype.

Standard Gauge at 1435mm (4'8.5") between the rails is the most common rail gauge in the world. Most Australian, British, American and European main lines use Standard Gauge, as do most tram systems.
Broad Gauge at 1600mm (5'3") between the rails is used in Victoria, South Australia and in Ireland, while Russia and Finland use 1524mm (5'0").
Narrow Gauge at 1066mm (3'6") between the rails is used for pioneering railways as in Queensland, West Australia, Tasmania, rural parts of Victoria, the original Ghan line into the Northern Territory and the Zig Zag railway at Lithgow. Puffing Billy in Victoria uses 762mm (2'6") between the rails.
Metre Gauge at 1000mm (3'3.4") between the rails is typically found in the extensive Swiss cantonal networks and in rural France and Germany.

A great percentage of model railways is based on Standard gauge track, with the occasional discrepancy for broad gauge (for example modelling Victorian or Finnish Broad Gauge models on scaled Standard gauge track).

What is Scale?

Scale is the ratio between the full sized railway and the model. Most models available for the beginner are in HO or OO scale.

HO scale (Half O scale) is based on a ratio of 3.5mm to the foot, at approx 1:87.1 ratio. If you were to scale down 1435mm (4'8.5") standard gauge trains at 3.5mm for every foot of the original, your model track would be 16.5mm between the rails. This is the worlds most common scale, also usually used for Broad Gauge models.
HOm scale (Metre Gauge) is based on 12mm gauge track to represent Continental 1000mm (3'3.4") narrow gauge track scaled 1:87.1, as well as Australian 1066mm (3'6") narrow gauge.
HOe scale uses 9mm gauge track to represent 760mm (2'6") narrow gauge track scaled 1:87.1.
OO scale uses a ratio of 4mm to the foot, scaled approx 1:76.2. It is the most common scale used for British models. When prototype 1435mm (4'8.5") track is reduced to OO scale, the track spacing of the model should be 18.83mm, but OO models are built with narrow axles to fit HO scale 16.5mm track.
P4 scale (Prototype 4mm) is OO scale using the correct 18.83mm gauge track.
TT scale (Table Top) uses 12mm gauge track, with standard gauge trains scaled approx 1:120. This scale is supported by German, American and British specialist manufacturers.
N scale uses 9mm gauge track, with standard gauge trains scaled approx 1:160. This is the worlds next most popular scale after HO and OO.
N scale-British uses 9mm gauge track, with standard gauge trains scaled approx 1:148. There is a similar problem to OO whereby the body and track scale ratios are different.
Z scale uses 6.5mm gauge track, with standard gauge trains scaled approx 1:220. Developed by Marklin, this is the worlds smallest mass usage scale, gaining popularity where space is restricted in modern homes.
O scale uses 33mm gauge track, with standard gauge trains scaled approx 1:43.5. Tends to be supported by enthusiast groups.
No1 scale uses 45mm gauge track, with standard gauge trains scaled approx 1:32. Produced by Marklin for enthusiasts.

And why the ratio of 3.5mm or 7mm to the foot as a scale? Original locomotives were built in Imperial measurements by their British builders. Stephenson and Co built most of the original railway locomotives in Europe. By the time models were being produced, the German toy makers were using metric drawings. The scale ratio became the ratio of the Imperial drawing in feet to the model drawing in mm.

What are the different types of Couplers?

The four main HO model prototypes have different coupling systems. BE AWARE, they are all different and they are all incompatible. When you have decided on a prototype, stick with this prototype in future purchases to ensure compatibility with the couplers. The five coupler systems are:

European Horn Loop Couplers use a small horn on a mount, with a vertically swinging loop that couples onto the horn on the adjacent rolling stock. This is typically fitted to most European rolling stock such as Marklin, Roco and Lima HO, although Fleischmann and Roco use proprietory close couplers. These models are accurate, detailed, reliable and powerful but are costly to purchase.
British OO Tension Lock Couplers use a fixed loop and a hooked vertically swinging lever, which hooks onto the loop on the adjacent rolling stock. It is typically fitted to all British OO models such as Hornby, Bachmann and Lima OO. Modern models of these are accurate and perform well.
US Horn Hook or X2F Couplers use a horizontally moving plastic knuckle that grips an the knuckle on the adjacent rolling stock. It is typically fitted to the cheaper toy store model trains as sold in the US, such as Tyco and Lifelike. Try and avoid these models due to poor durability, accuracy and performance.
Kadee Couplers are fitted to most US and now most Australian models. The Kadee is a realistic representation of a Knuckle coupler, and can be retrofitted to most rolling stock. Conversion to Kadee couplers will enable coupling compatibilty of all rolling stock. Models typically fitted with these couplers are accurate, powerful and affordable.
N scale Couplers are typically used as standard on all N scale models, although there is now a smaller Kadee for N scale; Z scale Marklin models have a proprietory coupler system. These models may have reliability problems due to the use of smaller components and poorer electrical pickup from the track.

What are the different types of Controllers?

HO and N Scale DC model sets included a simple 12 volt DC controller, fitted inside a transformer case, able to supply current for one loco only. A larger transformer will allow power for two or more locomotives plus point motors and lights, but a separate speed controller will be required to contol the locos individually. N scale models are controlled from the same type of 12 volt DC controller as their HO models.

HO Scale Marklin AC model sets use a proprietory 16 volt AC controller, as do their 8 volt DC Z scale models. These controllers cannot be used to control a DC system.

Digital Controllers are supplied in modern sets, both two rail and three rail, can now come with a digital controller capable of addressing 256 discrete locomotive numbers, but with adequate power for driving only three or four models. Buying a decent digital controller would be a means of future proofing a layout should you run a few engines.

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