The Revised Manual
The Gauge O Guild Standards And Guidance Manual
Introduction
The revised Gauge O Guild ‘Standards And Guidance Manual’ is intended to be a reference guide to modelling in ‘O’ gauge to the scale of 7mm to the foot. It replaces the original ‘Guild Standards and Manual’, and will include additional sections covering developments, topics, techniques and skills not covered, or not practical in the original manual. The full original Guild Standards and Manual is retained on the Guild website for reference only. The revised Wheel and Track Standards (Part 1) replaces the existing standards
click https://www.gaugeoguild.com/manual/01_1_Standards.pdf
It has been updated, and some historical, and most obsolete information, has been deleted from the update, and the additional track standards for ‘O-MF’ and ‘O-SF’ have been added, as these are now recognised variations on the Finescale standard. There are also slight adjustments to some of the dimensions and figures in the charts, but fundamentally the Finescale and Coarsescale Guild standards, and ScaleSeven standards remain the same. The original standards are retained for reference as historical information.
The Guidance Manual replaces the original Guild Manual, which was full of relevant, useful and practical information, and much useful historical, and prototype data which will be referenced as appropriate. Many of the modelling processes described in detail are still as relevant today as they were when originally written, and have very much stood the test of time, again these will be referenced, and developed in the Guidance Manual, along with new topics and processes, etc.
The fundamental principle of the revised Guidance Manual is very different from the original Manual, in that the new Guidance Manual is maintained only on the Guild website, as an electronic document. It is divided into sections and sub sections, retaining the original manual section numbers, and each section and sub section has a basic description with relevant information, to provide the reader with basic knowledge and understanding of the specific topic and the relevant processes and practices involved. For further guidance, advice and more advanced help, a list of further recommended media (books, DVDs, Gazette articles, original Guild Manual, etc.) is provided. We very much thank all the original authors of the Guild Standards and Manual for the hard work involved in creating and maintaining it, and hope no offence is caused where we have re-edited original text.
Modelling In 7mm Scale
There are many reasons why people make models of railways and railway equipment and there is a large range of differing scales and gauges in use. Almost since the beginning of the hobby 'O' gauge has been a popular gauge to work in.
Historically in the UK, 'O' gauge referred to a track gauge of 1.25” or 32mm but is now almost universally taken to mean models built to a scale of 7mm to the foot or 1:43.54, usually rounded off to 1:43.5. The prototype can be of standard, broad, or any of the narrow gauges and all are catered for by the Gauge O Guild, the object of which is to advance railway modelling in the scales and gauges associated with the designation ‘O’.
This introduction seeks to outline the main variants of track and wheelset standards used by 7mm scale modellers currently, and to help the newcomer to choose the most appropriate Standard for him or her to work in. A scale of 1:43.5 makes models that are a good size and easily handled while it is relatively easy to apply and appreciate fine details. Locomotives can be powered by electricity, either from the rails using a 2 rail system, a third rail, overhead catenary or stud contact, or from rechargeable batteries, or by other power sources such as clockwork, steam or even miniature internal combustion engines. They can be controlled through the track through conventional DC power, DCC (Digital Command Control), or by radio/infrared. Wagons and carriages have a satisfying weight which makes them behave in a very prototypical fashion. 7mm modelling is also very practical outdoors in all the various gauges.
Standard Gauge Prototypes
There now follows a brief description of each Standard with an outline of its advantages and disadvantages.
. Outdoor line with trackwork to Finescale with 2-rail pick-ups
ScaleSeven trackwork forming a station approach, with 2-rail pick-up
Example of a complex Coarsescale outdoor line, built to the Guild Coarsescale standards, and power supplied by stud contact
Comparison of wheel standards
A series of bogies showing the wheel profile development over the years.
- Pre BRMSB
- Coarsescale
- Universal Standard (see note below)
- Finescale
- ScaleSeven
Note ‘Universal Standard’ (sample 3) was introduced in the original Guild Standards as an attempt to create a standard that was compatible with both the Guild Coarsescale and Finescale standards, it has never been produced commercially but is included here for completeness, further information can be found in the original Guild Standards.
Modelling Other Track Gauges Using 7mm Scale
As well as prototype standard gauge, 7mm scale is also used when modelling railways with other prototype track gauges. There are distinct advantages of using the scale due to the wide availability of components and parts that can be used. The increased bulk of models in 7mm scale allows models to be built and motorised which would be beyond the skills of most modellers in smaller scales. This applies in particular to diminutive prototypes; older prototypes often with tiny boilers and spindly wheels can make exquisite subjects.
Broad Gauge
Modelling any of the broad gauge systems can use components intended for the track standards outlined above (Finescale/O-MF/O-SF, Coarsescale and ScaleSeven). All wheel and track dimensions remain the same except those based on the track gauge, which must be increased to suit the chosen prototype. There is a small number of parts and kits available specifically for the broad gauges.
Narrow Gauge
Modellers who follow the narrow gauges can be split into two broad categories. Those who build their models onto existing commercially available track systems (00, EM, TT, N or Z Gauge which approximate to 2'3“, 2'6”, 1'6“, 1'3” and 10.5“ gauge) in 7mm scale, and those who choose to model the exact track gauge and build their own trackwork. Both options permit the use of all the general components aimed at 7mm scale such as buildings, figures, scenic details, etc. but there are other considerations, listed below.
Using commercial track
Advantages
• Ready to run locomotive and rolling stock chassis are available from the trade in the other scales, with a wide range of body kits to fit them.
• Ready-made track systems are available.
Disadvantages
• Vehicle wheel standards must be compatible with the track standard and so will not necessarily conform with the prototype. Track systems available use out of scale track geometry, sleeper length, spacing etc.
Using true scale track
Advantages
• Trackwork can conform to prototype design.
• Locos and rolling stock can be built to accurate dimensions.
Disadvantages
• Track has to be hand built.
• Locomotive and rolling stock wheels are not readily available.
Using O gauge track but a different scale
There are a significant number of modellers who use a Gauge O track and wheelset standards in conjunction with a different scale. Scales of 16mm to the foot is common, which running on 32mm gauge track gives exact 2ft gauge. The size of models built to this scale makes them more akin to model engineering.
Further Information
There has been a number of books written, covering specifically starting in O gauge, currently available and highly recommended is the Peco Modellers Library publication ‘Your Guide to O Gauge Modelling’, (ISBN978-0-900586-57-6). (click https://peco-uk.com/collections/modellers-library/products/your-guide-to-o-gauge-railway-modelling ). There is also a vast amount of information on the Guild website, particularly in the Gazette Archive area ( click https://www.gaugeoguild.com/gazette_archive/gaz_index_menu.aspx ) and the Forum area (See Forum ‘Hints and Tips area’ for search guidance).