Would someone please explain the difference in HO and OO scales to me? Is there a difference? I am always seeing them grouped together like they are the same. If they’re the same, why are there two different scales?
HO = 1/87
OO = 1/76 (but runs on HO track, I believe)
OO is technically 4mm to the foot and HO is 3.5mm to the foot.
HO scale is 1:87.1 proportion, and OO is a bit larger in size. But, they run on the same gauge track.
HO is popular here in America, and OO is popular in Europe.
Hey Redneck-
Don’t you know what stupidity is? That’s what you call experience while you’re getting it!
Al
Al,
I love it!!! I guess that makes me one of the most experienced people here!!
Seriously. I think Rob’s question is a very valid one and one that is not easily found in the modeling press here in the U.S. since OO is mostly a European thing.
When I was young they were just starting to advertise OO and it seemed like a different way to get smaller than O. There was a time when there were as many OO ads as HO but you don’t see much now. Maybe like VHS and Beta.
what makes it even more confusing is that some “HO” models of pre-1900 locos and rolling stock are closer to OO than HO
see http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/ for more info , and some excellent OO modelling
Another thing to point out is that British OO gauge trains and regular HO gauge trains run on the same track, even though they are different scales.
The reason for this is that back in the 1920’s, when the idea first came to make trains that were smaller than O gauge, it was decided that they should run on track exactly half the width of O gauge. The correct scale for the gauge of the track was 3.5mm to the foot, but at that time they didn’t have the technology to make motors to fit in trains that small, so they just decided to make it 4mm to the foot, figuring that it would be close enough and that nobody would really care. These first OO scale trains were made for the British market. In real life, North American trains are larger than British ones, so we didn’t have that problem over here and could make trains the correct scale. All British OO model trains currently made are still OO scale and run on HO track, even though it is too narrow for the scale (there are a few British modellers that run OO scale trains on the correct gauge of track, but they are a small miniority). The only time that British HO scale trains were ever made was briefly in the 1970’s when Lima offered some, but they were not successful.
However, there are also American OO scale trains that run on the correct wider gauge of track. These were at the height of their popularity in the 1930’s and by the 1950’s had pretty much disappeared. Lionel actually made some trains in this gauge in the 30’s.
This is the web site for the OO SIG http://www.getnet.com/~dickg/nmra/sigs/AmericanOO/AmericanOO.html
It has a brief overvview and history of the scale in America.
Enjoy
Paul
It’s the “stupid” question that you don’t ask that comes back to haunt you! Ask NASA, they seem to have mastered this as a new art form.
Will
Bob, Guys,
We still have OO scale,… sort of.
Many of the diecast cars and trucks on the market are very close to OO gauge (1/76th and 1/75th ). A good example are the “Road Champ” vehicles. Best thing for modelers to do is to look for the scale of a vehicle on the package or, in some instances, on the bottom of the vehicle.
My wife’s cousin has several diecast cars and trucks on his HO town. He was convinced that they were HO scale until I showed him a little trick. If, for example, you have a 1970s or early 80s tractor-trailer truck that is HO scale, then the typical trailer of that time period is 40 feet long. That trailer should be the same length as a 40ft boxcar. I showed him that his gasoline tankers were slightly longer than his Athearn 40ft. box cars. He was a little skeptical at first.
At a later time, while at my house, I took my APM Models 40ft. GMC “Old Look” transit bus and held it next to one of my Athearn 40ft. box cars. The lengths were exact! I then put both vehicles next to my son’s Road Champs transit bus. The Champs bus was "3/4 longer and "1/8 taller. He was amazed! I did the same thing with various automobiles.
I explained to him that I wasn’t putting down his modeling, just sharing knowledge as I know there are modelers (yes, the ones we call “Rivet Counters”) that would immedietly criticize anything out of scale. He understood and appreciated it. He is still going to use his trucks and cars as he’s been collecting them for over a decade. But now, he’s interested in buying accurate HO trucks and cars in the future.
But, again, modelers…you are the president of your railroad! Do what makes it fun for you and learn as much as you can in the process.
Cheers!