In the US, we use 1:48 scale for O scale, meaning 1/4" = 1 ft. So 1:50 vehicles work fine. However, be aware you may find that more 1:43 scale vehicles are available than 1:50.
Seems like many “O scale” model cars and trucks are from Europe (Germany for example). In Europe, where they prefer the metric scale, they use 7mm = 1 ft., or 1:43 scale, for O scale.
BTW the actual “correct” O scale is 1:45, or 17/64ths = 1 foot.
It is interesting when you look at the packaging for small scale vehicles. Often, the labeling includes not only the alphabetic scale (e.g., O scale) but also the numeric ratio (e.g., 1:50).
Rich
I use forced persepctive quite a bit. On my main layout which is mostly HO, I use N as well as a few pieces in Z off in the distance.
The great thing about this approach is that even if pieces are of no particular scale (i.e. kit-bashed buildings, misc. vehicles found at the swap meet, etc.) there is a place of them.
If you’re a beginner who found your way here, check out the web site below.
To all who replied: Enjoyed the humor and the information. Thank you.
Good to hear back from you.
Rich
I think the terms we use like HO and N are more directly model railroad related. People who collect model cars I believe think of them more as “1:87” models rather than “HO” models. I had a friend who collected 1:64 scale fire fighting equipment models. When I said “Oh, you’re in S scale”, he didn’t know what I was talking about.
BTW “O” scale started out as Marklin’s “0 gauge”, the number zero rather than the letter O. Marklin electric trains used numbers, originally I believe 1-4, with No.1 (now often called “G gauge”) being the smallest and No.4 the largest. When they created a gauge smaller than No.1, they had to call it ‘0 gauge’. Over time it became the letter O. When a gauge half as big was created, it was “Half O”…“HO”.
LOL. I love that. [(-D]
Rich