S scale: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox model rail scale | {{Infobox model rail scale | ||
|name = S scale | |name = S scale | ||
|image_filename = | |image_filename = Modelleisenbahn Spielzeugmuseum Nürnberg 02.jpg | ||
|image_caption = | |image_caption = German S scale model railroad | ||
|widthpx = | |widthpx = | ||
|scale = {{frac|3|16}} inch to 1 foot | |scale = {{frac|3|16}} inch to 1 foot | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
S scale is one of the oldest model railroading scales. The earliest known 1:64 scale train was constructed from [[card stock]] in 1896.<ref name="ukhistory">[http://www.s-scale.org.uk/history.htm S Scale MRS Standards: History]</ref> The first working models appeared in England in the early 20th century.<ref name="ukhistory"/> Modeling in S scale increased in the 1930s and 1940s when CD Models marketed {{frac|3|16}}-inch model trains. | S scale is one of the oldest model railroading scales. The earliest known 1:64-scale train was constructed from [[card stock]] in 1896.<ref name="ukhistory">[http://www.s-scale.org.uk/history.htm S Scale MRS Standards: History]</ref> The first working models appeared in England in the early 20th century.<ref name="ukhistory"/> Modeling in S scale increased in the 1930s and 1940s when CD Models marketed {{frac|3|16}}-inch model trains. | ||
[[American Flyer]] was a manufacturer of standard gauge and O gauge "tinplate" trains, based in Chicago, Illinois. It never produced S scale trains as an independent company. Chicago Flyer was purchased by A.C. Gilbert | [[American Flyer]] was a manufacturer of standard-gauge and O-gauge "tinplate" trains, based in Chicago, Illinois. It never produced S-scale trains as an independent company. Chicago Flyer was purchased by A.C. Gilbert Company in the late 1930s. Gilbert began manufacturing S-scale trains around 1939 that ran on three-rail "O"-gauge track. This was known as {{frac|3|16}}-inch O gauge. Gilbert stopped producing trains during the Second World War. When the war ended, Gilbert began producing true S-scale S-gauge trains in 1946 under the American Flyer mark. | ||
The term | The term ''S scale'' was adopted by the [[National Model Railroad Association]] (NMRA) in 1943 to represent that scale that was half of [[1 gauge]] which was built to 1:32 scale. A.C. Gilbert's improvements in 1:64 modeling and promotions of S gauge largely shaped the world of 1:64 modeling today. | ||
As early as 1948, an industrially produced narrow-gauge railway on tracks with a model gauge of 16.5 mm was available from the French company | As early as 1948, an industrially produced narrow-gauge railway on tracks with a model gauge of 16.5 mm was available from the French company Allard. The vehicles in the scale of 1:60 to be assigned to today's Sm gauge run with direct current on commercially available H0-gauge centre-conductor tracks from the same manufacturer or from competitors, which also have a model gauge of 16.5 mm and centre conductor. The traction units, a steam locomotive and a rail bus (autorail), were also available with a clockwork drive.<ref>François Robein: 50 ans de trains miniatures H0 en France 1950 - 2000. LR Presse, chapter 4: Les productions françaises Antal, VB, PMP, Allard, TAB et les autres, page 80 ff.</ref> | ||
S gauge entered what many consider its heyday in the 1950s (although there is more available in S scale today than was available during this period). However, during that period, [[Lionel Corporation|Lionel]] outsold American Flyer nearly two-to-one. American Flyer's parent company went out of business and the brand was sold to a holding company that also owned Lionel in 1967. | S gauge entered what many consider its heyday in the 1950s (although there is more available in S scale today than was available during this period). However, during that period, [[Lionel Corporation|Lionel]] outsold American Flyer nearly two-to-one. American Flyer's parent company went out of business and the brand was sold to a holding company that also owned Lionel in 1967. | ||
Lionel re-introduced S gauge trains and accessories under the American Flyer name in 1979. Another S manufacturer, American Models, entered the marketplace in 1981 and is now also one of the major S suppliers. S-Helper Service, another major S gauge manufacturer of locomotives, rolling stock, track and other products, began operations in 1989 and delivered their first S products in 1990. In 2013, S-Helper Service was sold to MTH Electric Trains. And while the S scale market has seen a number of brass model manufacturers, today the major brass model supplier in S scale and S gauge is River Raisin Models. Today's S gauge and S scale modelers have a greater selection and higher quality products, from a wide range of manufacturers, than at any time in the past. In addition to the basics of locomotives, rolling stock, and track, various manufacturers now offer S scale structures, detail parts, figures, other scenic items, bridges, and more. | Lionel re-introduced S-gauge trains and accessories under the American Flyer name in 1979. Another S manufacturer, American Models, entered the marketplace in 1981 and is now also one of the major S suppliers. S-Helper Service, another major S-gauge manufacturer of locomotives, rolling stock, track and other products, began operations in 1989 and delivered their first S products in 1990. In 2013, S-Helper Service was sold to MTH Electric Trains. And while the S-scale market has seen a number of brass model manufacturers, today the major brass model supplier in S scale and S gauge is River Raisin Models. Today's S-gauge and S-scale modelers have a greater selection and higher quality products, from a wide range of manufacturers, than at any time in the past. In addition to the basics of locomotives, rolling stock, and track, various manufacturers now offer S-scale structures, detail parts, figures, other scenic items, bridges, and more. | ||
==Terminology== | ==Terminology== | ||
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==Narrow gauge== | ==Narrow gauge== | ||
*[[Sn3½]] or Sn42 gauge - {{RailGauge|3ft6in}} gauge on {{RailGauge|16.5mm}} gauge track (the same as [[HO gauge]]) | *[[Sn3½]] or Sn42 gauge - {{RailGauge|3ft6in}} gauge on {{RailGauge|16.5mm}} gauge track (the same as [[HO gauge|HO scale]] Standard Gauge) | ||
*[[Sn3½#Sm|Sm]] – 1 m gauge on 16.5 mm; Continental European.<ref name="NEM010">{{cite web | *[[Sn3½#Sm|Sm]] – 1 m gauge on 16.5 mm; Continental European.<ref name="NEM010">{{cite web | ||
|url=http://www.miba.de/morop/nem010_d.pdf | |url=http://www.miba.de/morop/nem010_d.pdf | ||
Latest revision as of 19:01, 6 December 2025
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template other S scale (or S gauge) is a model railroad scale modeled at 1:64 scale, S scale track gauge (space between the rails) is Template:Cvt.[1][2][3] S gauge trains are manufactured in both DC and AC powered varieties. S gauge is not to be confused with toy train standard gauge, a large-scale standard for toy trains in the early part of the 20th century.
History
S scale is one of the oldest model railroading scales. The earliest known 1:64-scale train was constructed from card stock in 1896.[4] The first working models appeared in England in the early 20th century.[4] Modeling in S scale increased in the 1930s and 1940s when CD Models marketed <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄16-inch model trains.
American Flyer was a manufacturer of standard-gauge and O-gauge "tinplate" trains, based in Chicago, Illinois. It never produced S-scale trains as an independent company. Chicago Flyer was purchased by A.C. Gilbert Company in the late 1930s. Gilbert began manufacturing S-scale trains around 1939 that ran on three-rail "O"-gauge track. This was known as <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄16-inch O gauge. Gilbert stopped producing trains during the Second World War. When the war ended, Gilbert began producing true S-scale S-gauge trains in 1946 under the American Flyer mark.
The term S scale was adopted by the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) in 1943 to represent that scale that was half of 1 gauge which was built to 1:32 scale. A.C. Gilbert's improvements in 1:64 modeling and promotions of S gauge largely shaped the world of 1:64 modeling today.
As early as 1948, an industrially produced narrow-gauge railway on tracks with a model gauge of 16.5 mm was available from the French company Allard. The vehicles in the scale of 1:60 to be assigned to today's Sm gauge run with direct current on commercially available H0-gauge centre-conductor tracks from the same manufacturer or from competitors, which also have a model gauge of 16.5 mm and centre conductor. The traction units, a steam locomotive and a rail bus (autorail), were also available with a clockwork drive.[5]
S gauge entered what many consider its heyday in the 1950s (although there is more available in S scale today than was available during this period). However, during that period, Lionel outsold American Flyer nearly two-to-one. American Flyer's parent company went out of business and the brand was sold to a holding company that also owned Lionel in 1967.
Lionel re-introduced S-gauge trains and accessories under the American Flyer name in 1979. Another S manufacturer, American Models, entered the marketplace in 1981 and is now also one of the major S suppliers. S-Helper Service, another major S-gauge manufacturer of locomotives, rolling stock, track and other products, began operations in 1989 and delivered their first S products in 1990. In 2013, S-Helper Service was sold to MTH Electric Trains. And while the S-scale market has seen a number of brass model manufacturers, today the major brass model supplier in S scale and S gauge is River Raisin Models. Today's S-gauge and S-scale modelers have a greater selection and higher quality products, from a wide range of manufacturers, than at any time in the past. In addition to the basics of locomotives, rolling stock, and track, various manufacturers now offer S-scale structures, detail parts, figures, other scenic items, bridges, and more.
Terminology
The terms "scale" and "gauge" are often confused. Strictly speaking, scale is the ratio of the size of a model to that of its prototype and gauge is the distance between the track railheads. In the case of S scale, the proportion is 1:64 or <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄16 inch modeling 1 foot. Standard S gauge track has a spacing of Template:Cvt. Three-foot gauge in S scale (Sn3 gauge) is Template:Cvt.[6]
Narrow gauge
- Sn3½ or Sn42 gauge - Template:RailGauge gauge on Template:RailGauge gauge track (the same as HO scale Standard Gauge)
- Sm – 1 m gauge on 16.5 mm; Continental European.[7]
- Sn3 - Template:RailGauge gauge on Template:RailGauge gauge track.
- Sn2 gauge - Template:RailGauge gauge by the majority on Template:RailGauge,[8] the same as HOn3 gauge track, or Template:RailGauge, the same as N gauge track)
Associations
The S scale SIG is an NMRA-affiliated special interest group dedicated to promoting and providing information on scale model railroading at 1:64. The National Association of S Gaugers serves as an organization to promote all forms of S gauge model railroading. The S Scale Model Railway Society also works to promote the scale in the UK.
Notable layouts
The largest S scale layout in the United States is the Cincinnati in Motion exhibit at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. A large Sn3.5 or Sn42 scale layout of Swan View belongs to the Australian Model Railway Association in Bayswater, Western Australia
See also
External links
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ a b S Scale MRS Standards: History
- ↑ François Robein: 50 ans de trains miniatures H0 en France 1950 - 2000. LR Presse, chapter 4: Les productions françaises Antal, VB, PMP, Allard, TAB et les autres, page 80 ff.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Sn2 Trains, Standards, S-scale Two-foot gauge modeling railroading. Retrieved 22. November 2021
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