Finescale

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Several standards for model railways are summarized under the term Finescale , which, compared to the usual NEM standards, represent the prototype more precisely. The word is often used in connection with the wheel-rail system , as changes in this area quickly affect interoperability . However, far-reaching changes are required in all model railroading areas in order to guarantee the technical function and provide a cohesive appearance.

Coarseness compared to the model

In model railroad vehicles, the technical functionality often stands in the way of exemplary quality. This is due to the fact that physical quantities and laws cannot be reduced as well. In addition, the radii of the track systems of a model railway are typically disproportionately smaller than the corresponding prototype radii, which the attempt was made to compensate with coarser wheel sets, in particular larger wheel flanges , which also force correspondingly coarser rail profiles.

Since the model railroad is seen more and more as a model and less as a toy, and the coarse wheels stand in stark contrast to the increasingly finer details of the models, there are efforts to increase the exemplary quality here too. It has been shown that if the models are used appropriately, many of the previously practiced coarsening are unnecessary.

Finescale standards in nominal size H0

In the nominal size H0, there are several finescale standards for wheel sets that have matured to different degrees. The height of the flange is a good starting point, as it is easy to classify with the naked eye. In the NEM 310, it is set at 0.6–1.2 mm, with large-scale manufacturers primarily using the upper range. The other dimensions of the wheels also vary depending on the standard, for example the wheel widths are between 2.8 and 1.49 mm.

The term finescale is commonly applied to anything that is more scaled (read: finer) than the NEM standard. This begins with RP-25 wheels according to the NMRA standard , which with a flange height of 0.64 mm are actually above the NEM minimum dimension.

Only standards like Proto: 87, H0Pur or H0-Finescale come really close to the prototype, all with a flange height of approx. 0.3 mm. A measure of 0.28 mm would be an exact example.

Finescale standards in other gauges

After greater in nominal sizes existed as H0 for quite some time Finescale standards, are available in N scale under the heading fi N escale in 1992 FREMO efforts to refine the track rail system. From this FREMO group, the desire arose to further refine the vehicles, especially the wheelsets, and thus achieve a better role model. The wheel / rail geometry is therefore not compatible with NEM. This applies in particular to the groove width of the control arms and frogs in points. The tracks and many vehicles are self-built or are converted accordingly. Driving is on Code-40 or even finer tracks with digitally controlled vehicles. The clutches are also not NEM-compatible because the vehicles are equipped with the model-like magnetic field clutch (MFK). Only prototypical radii can be driven with this coupling. In the case of modular construction, real models are preferred.

Further consequences

Not only can vehicles with the usual NEM wheelsets not run on tracks designed for vehicles with finescale wheels, but vice versa these require larger curve radii and smaller gaps between the frogs, so that they often cannot run on track material from mass production. This makes it clear that the higher exemplary character does not only extend to the wheels or the flange height, but includes virtually all areas of the model railway. Finer wheels, for example, mean that the vehicles can be further refined, especially with narrow wheelbases or locomotive engines. The tracks and the track environment can be designed more realistically, so that ultimately the model railway as a whole loses its toy character.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ NEM 310-d . Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  2. ↑ NMRA RP-25 Wheel Contour ( Memento of the original from January 21, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved January 22, 2016 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.nmra.org
  3. ↑ Track and wheel standards for fiNe-scale . Retrieved July 3, 2010.