How Important Is Scale In Model Railroading? Answered!

Model Railroading is a popular hobby among men, especially those in old age or post-retirement stage of life, because it is mentally stimulating. When building railroads for model trains, ‘scale’ is one of the most important elements builders plan for. If you want your model train project to be successful, you must gather all necessary information on scale and its specs before proceeding. But why so? Why is model railroading scale so important? We will attempt to answer these questions as briefly as possible and show you how to pick the right scale.

Why Model Railroading Needs Scales

Scales in model railroading help ensure that their freight cards fit right when placed on the rail lines. As you already know, trains come in different lengths based on the number of freight cars used. There are 4 car trains, 6 car trains, 8 car trains and so on. Without the scale, freight cars will not fit right when placed side by side on the rails. Some scales are used globally because of their size and how they fit with the cars used, while others are only popular among a few railroad car hobbyists.

If you are building a model railroad, the scale you use should depend on your preference. Larger scales have more detail than smaller ones; however, they occupy more space, but you can add more intricate design details to them. Smaller scales, on the other hand, are also great but suitable for only a small collection of model trains. The good thing about smaller scales is that you can pass them through tunnels and mountains depending on the design elements you use. 

Choosing The Right Scale

Scales come in different sizes, and they are a proportion of the size of a prototype train or a real train. For instance, a 1:4 scale will be the ideal model for a 25% prototype train, while a 40ft freight car can extend for 10ft depending on the scale used.

So how do you choose the ideal scale for your model train project? What are the things you should consider when making a choice? 

Here are some things to consider.

Space

You need to consider the space in your home, garage or wherever you plan to build the railroad. Remember that larger scales occupy more space, so you need to consider this when planning the layout. The last thing you want is to have little or no space left to add other creative elements to your railroad after laying the scales.

Budget

How much is your budget, and how much are you willing to spend on the scale? This is something to think about. While scaling is very important, other important elements include the freight cars, tracks, and other items that will cost money.

Train Count

How many train cars are you planning for? Trains with more cars may require bigger scales to accommodate their weight and size; if you are unsure about this, consult an experienced hobbyist to give expert advice.

Mileage

Will it be short or give extensive mileage? This is another thing to consider when choosing the scale for your model train.

Ease Of Handling

You want a scale that you can easily install and uninstall when the need arises.

In early times scales were not standardized and could only be found in certain markets. As time went on, they became standardized by European and American manufacturers. This led to the introduction of many more scale sizes, so builders had more options than ever before. Also, this made scales more affordable as manufacturers found ways to produce them at cheaper rates.

Another factor that increased scale options was the decision by manufacturers to create scales that could work interchangeably with the train cars made by other manufacturers. All these positively impacted model railroading, and builders were the biggest beneficiaries.

Making the best choice of choice like we pointed out above is first evaluating the space you have and then picking a scale that will fit into the space. Note that the bigger the scale, the easier it will be for you to add design elements to it. You can customize your rail with paints and other custom designs on larger scales than smaller ones. 

Conclusion 

Model Scale is so important; that is why hobbyists put a lot of effort into it, and you should do the same. When embarking on a model railroad project, take your time reviewing all the available local market scales. We emphasize the local market because it’s best to use easily available materials lest the need arises to replace some of them. 

You should also consider the type of train car you wish to use, the mileage, available space, and, more importantly, your budget. If everything has been fully considered, you can procure all the materials required and start your project from scratch. And we are sure you will relish the experience as you build your first ever model railroad.