Railway modelling – scaling it down, and then scaling it down a bit more

Modern models in ’00’ are by and large true to scale, and any compromises are the necessary ones to keep them on the (underscale) track, and to accomodate the electric motors, but it was not always the case.

In this post I shall discuss some of these models which have been available in the past, and how they can be converted to something closer to scale (or even to a different scale.)

Let’s start with Hornby. I’m not going to go into their history here, which is long and involved. There has been much written elsewhere about the takeovers, mergers, bankruptcies and all the other corporate machinations that have lead to the current Hornby Hobbies plc. I am concerned here more with their various models produced over the years.

Triang Hornby (as they were then) produced a model of the LMS Stanier 20 Ton Brakevan in the early 1970’s under their reference R718. In isolation it appeared fine, it captured the look of the prototype, and we modellers accepted it. However, it wasn’t until the advent of the Airfix GMR version in the late 1970’s which showed the Hornby one to be at least a scale 4 feet too short. Oddly enough, the length of it is almost spot on for an ‘H0’ scale Stanier 20 Ton Brakevan, into which I intend to turn it at some point. (The Airfix one is now part of the Hornby range as R6801.)

Another model which was shrunk twice is the Hornby Dublo 20 Ton Grain Wagon. Right height, right width, but again a scale 4 feet too short. Once more, this has been shown up by a better ’00’ model, this time from Bachmann. Again the Hornby Dublo model can be turned into a passable ‘H0’ version by removing 4mm from the height & lowering the ends, one of these is on my list of projects for a future Scottish ‘H0’ branch line layout (not yet built). Despite originating with HD, this model is no longer with the modern Hornby company, the moulds went to G & R Wrenn, then to Dapol who are currently producing it. Confusing, isn’t it?

Coaches are another thing which manufacturers in the 1960’s & 1970’s tended to make shorter than scale, whereas they were usually to the correct 1/76 or 1/87 scale height & width, length tended to be 1/100 scale in order to fit round train set curves.

For the next entry I will be turning to some narrow gauge modelling, and if I can work out how to do it, some photos too! Until next time.