Hi Raleigh; Regardless of what those folks decided in 1943, these days most "serious" modelers in any scale will view you as either new to model railroading or naive if you announce you model in "X Gauge". The reason being it doesn't say very much (unless we make assumptions). After all, HO Standard Gauge, Sn42, On3 or On36 and Gn15 all run on "HO Gauge" track.
HOn2, HOn30, HOn3 and HOm (meter gauge) are all HO scale (1/87) but none run on HO Gauge. Pieter Roos raleigh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: and he notes - The correct designation for 3/16ths scale modeling is S Gauge, not S Scale. It was so named at the 1943 NMRA convention where a committee headed by 'Tex' Guess with members Louis Hertz, Willis Stewart and Rolllin Lobaugh, and others I can't recall, designated the names for the various scales. As the story goes it was hot and the meeting was held in a non air conditioned room. Zero or 0 Gauge (not 'Oh', although it pronounced as such) was established as 1/2 of 2 1/2" Gauge or 'Standard Gauge' which was also preferred of 2 1/4" track gauge (also called Standard Gauge by some manufacturers). When it came to "S", Louis Hertz wanted it called "H1" Gauge as it was 1/2 of No.1 Gauge which was popular in Europe. He also proposed, as an alternate, 'Theta Gauge' , the symbol for which represented a geometric value. It was getting hotter and smokier as lengthy discussions went on, so Tex called for a vote and Willis Stewart's suggestion for 'S' was adopted due to the fact that the letter 'S' appears several times in the scale (i. e. three sixteenths, one sixty-fourth, seven eighths etc.). With that accomplished the meeting ended and everyone headed for the bar! The term 'S Scale' is a colloquialism used by those who feel that there should be a distinction between those who use accurate rail height and those who use the more common heights for 'Hi-Rail' or 'Tinplate'. In English grammar, 'scale' as applied to a drawing or model requires dimensional data such as 1/4", 3/16", 1/8" etc. Since there is no universally accepted letter designation for a dimension, 'S Scale' has no meaning to anyone but a select few hobbyists. To most S Gaugers the term is adequate and acceptable, but there is a certain faction that do not like it and go to great ends to make the distinction. But in the long run, calling S Gauge 'S Scale' doesn't make the hobby less enjoyable. Anyway, that's how I sees it... Raleigh in cold Maine www.emporiumpictures.com At 04:37 PM 2/16/2008, rebendever wrote: >Are you S Guage or S Standard Gauge and does the height of the rail >determine whether you are or are not scale? The below text (actually >taken out of context) caused me to think, why do S-folks use the term S >Guage? FWIM HO Scalers do not call other HO Scalers who run their model >trains on Code 100 (or bigger) track "Hi-Railers" like the S-folks do. >Yes, I understand that the flanges are really wide on them AF , but >have you seen the flanges on a Model Power unit? >Perhaps this is indigenous to S-scale (& O scale, too?). Why do folks >use the term S Guage? I have been called on the carpet for using S >Guage in reference to AF modelers and if I have offended anyone, I >sincerely apologize. After all, the majority of our "1:64 Modeling >Guide" subscribers come from an AF background with aspirations of >evolving to a more "scale-like" empire. >And if you decide that the term "S Guage should no longer be used, >would Don H. need to changer his magazine to the S Scaleian? I realize >that all this may sould rediculous to many of you, but think how >confusing it is to us newbies who come to S-ville from another scale >only to find out that now up means down and so on. >Structure determines behavior. > >Sincerely, Richard E Bendever, Editor >"1:64 Modeling Guide" magazine | www.ModelingGuide.com > >--- In [email protected], >"ctxmf74" wrote: > > >Hi Ed, That's the question and answer. "Necessary" not for us to > > enjoy S scale but for S scale to become an equal to HO scale. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links Pieter E. Roos Railroad Home Page at www.geocities.com/pieter_roos/pieter_1.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
