Subject:
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Re: train width
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Thu, 29 Jan 2004 17:52:44 GMT
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Viewed:
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4095 times
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In lugnet.trains, John Gerlach wrote:
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In lugnet.trains, Aaron Sneary wrote:
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7 wide! Now that’s what I’ve been saying since I first heard of the how
wide debate. It’s about time a real train builder came around to the truth:
Trains are 7 wide and cars are 5 wide!
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Well, considering trains in the U.S. are about twice the width of the rails,
and overhang the ends of the ties, I’d say the actual width should be 10
wide, with automobiles being 7 wide -- wide enough for two minifigs to sit
side-by-side. But 8-wide trains seems like a good compromise, and that’s why
our club builds our trains to that scale.
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John is absolutely correct here. You have 2 choices upon which to gauge your
scale-- the height of the minifig or the track gauge (the distance between the
rails). As John mentioned, a typical US train is about 10 feet wide, and
standard track gauge is 4’ 8.5”, or about 5 feet (half of train width). Since
the distance between the LEGO rails is 5 studs, that would put you, as again
John noted, 1 stud = 1 foot, or 10 wide. This is the true scale using LEGO
track gauge. That makes a minifig about 5 feet tall, and this would be perfect,
except for the unfortunate reality that the LEGO wheels are terribly small
at that scale, making 10 wide trains look rather funny.
So the question becomes how far do you want to deviate from the ideal
proportions (not considering the wheel size issue). 8 wide scale says that a
minifig is about 6 feet tall and the track gauge is a bit wider than standard,
but the wheels are about spot on in terms of size, and again as John said, it is
the best compromise if you are trying to build as “realistically” as you can.
I honestly wouldn’t even bother to build 7 wide (I’m sure Ben and I will have
some discussions about this at BrickFest PDX!;-) It is inferior to 8 wide, and
isn’t really much better than 6 wide. 6 Wide is minifig scale and is its own
thing which I enjoy viewing as well, especially when crafted by James Mathis,
who has the best feel for 6 wide train building I have seen.
Having said all of that, I like to hear your reasoning, Aaron, as to why you
think 7 wide is the Truth;-)
JOHN
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Message has 4 Replies:
 | | Re: train width
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| In lugnet.trains, John Neal wrote: <snip> (...) I would honestly do 8 wide if a) I had the pieces--8 wide takes up soooo many more pieces and b) if LEGO track geometry was better!! I mean, those curves!! Grr!! I have a 6 wide model of the GESD70ACe, (...) (20 years ago, 29-Jan-04, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
| | | Re: train width
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| In lugnet.trains, John Neal wrote: (blather blather blather... as if analysing the *height of a minifig* gets you anywhere... analyse the WIDTH, I say... then you get 12 wide as the right answer (0) ) Scale, schmale. I build 6 wide trains for the (...) (20 years ago, 29-Jan-04, to lugnet.trains)
| | | Re: train width
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| Snippage (...) I have to disagree about 7 wide. Its a good compromise between 6 and 8 wide. You can still use some 6 wide elements (centered with jumper plates) while building a bigger beefier train. Its also a lot of fun and a challenge. Working (...) (20 years ago, 29-Jan-04, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
| | | Re: train width
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| (...) I'm aware your not taking it seriously but The trains Ben builds (I'm assuming your talking Beneke) are models of smaller trains than the ones you build. I.E. US Vs European loading gauges Tim (20 years ago, 29-Jan-04, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: train width
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| (...) Well, considering trains in the U.S. are about twice the width of the rails, and overhang the ends of the ties, I'd say the actual width should be 10 wide, with automobiles being 7 wide -- wide enough for two minifigs to sit side-by-side. But (...) (20 years ago, 29-Jan-04, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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