16 mm scale

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16 mm scale
Rail-buskerville-railway-amoswolfe.jpg
Modified Mamod live steam locomotive and train on a garden railway layout
Scale16 mm to 1 foot
Scale ratio1:19.05
Model gauge32 mm (1.26 in)
Prototype gauge2 ft (610 mm)

16 mm to 1 foot or 1:19.05 is a popular scale of model railway in the UK which represents narrow gauge prototypes.[1] The most common gauge for such railways is 32 mm (1.26 in), representing 2 ft (610 mm) gauge prototypes. This scale/gauge combination is sometimes referred to as "SM32" (terminology popularised by Peco, one of the principal manufacturers of appropriate track)[1] and is often used for model railways that run in gardens, being large enough to easily accommodate live steam models. The next most common gauge is 45 mm (1.772 in),[2] which represents the theoretical non-existent gauge 2 feet 9+3⁄4 inches (857 mm). This gauge is commonly used to portray prototypes between 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) and 3 ft (914 mm) gauge.

Overview[]

There are a number of commercial manufacturers of 16 mm scale models[3] as well as many enthusiastic amateurs who build their own rolling stock. Because real 2 ft (610 mm) railways were most commonly found in the UK, many of the models are of British prototypes. European and North American narrow gauge railways are also modeled in this scale, mainly with scratch-built or kit-built models.

Although models of approximately this scale were being built as early as the 1930s, it was the founding of the Merioneth Railway Society just after the Second World War that marks the popularization of this scale.

This set the light-hearted spirit of the 16 mm fraternity, where a sense of fun and whimsy often override more serious concerns. The use of live steam as the predominant motive power of the models means absolute scale reproduction is often sacrificed to the demands of steam engineering at this scale. However the realistic sound, smell and visual effects of steam-driven locomotives makes up for loss of fidelity elsewhere. Driving a live steam locomotive, even at this small scale is very different from driving an electrically powered model.

For many years there were no commercially available parts, and everything was hand-built or kit-bashed from O scale components. In the early 1970s Archangel emerged as the first commercial manufacturer on a large scale, followed by Merlin and Beck at the end of that decade. All three companies produced affordable live steam locomotives in this scale. In 1981, Mamod entered the market with a cheap if somewhat crude steam loco for the UK market. Although not perfect, the low cost opened the hobby to a much wider range of people and as a result demand for other products grew. Roundhouse controls a large share of the market as builders of high quality live steam locomotives. A group of professional and hobbyist makers have emerged to meet this demand.

Manufacturers[]

  • Accucraft UK
  • Archangel
  • Argyle
  • Brandbright
  • Bole Laser Craft
  • Bowaters Models
  • Busy Bodies
  • Cooper Craft
  • DJB Engineering
  • IP Engineering
  • John Prescott Engineering
  • Locomotion
  • Merlin Locomotive Works
  • Mike Beeson Models
  • PDF Models
  • Pearse Locos
  • Perfect World
  • PPS Steam Models
  • Roundhouse Engineering
  • RWM Steam
  • Slaters
  • Swift Sixteen
  • T&S Models
  • Tenmille
  • Timpdon Models
  • WellChuffed
  • Worsley Works

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Jones, Gareth (January 2007). "Roundhouse Linda". Railway Modeller. Peco Publications: 22–25.
  2. ^ Heaps, C.A. (July 2007). "Deadwood Light Railway: A post-retirement 45 mm (1.772 in) gauge garden railway". Railway Modeller. Peco Publications: 462–463.
  3. ^ Rhodes, David (July 2007). "Return to the Vale - 2: The Selby & Hull Railway revisited". Railway Modeller. Peco Publications: 459–461.

External links[]

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