O scale
The nominal size 0 (pronounced zero), common in England and North America also referred to as 7 mm scale, one is in the standards of European Model Railroads (NEM), the norms of British Railway Modelling Standards Bureau ( BRMSB ) and the standards of the National Model Railroad Association ( NMRA ) fixed size for model trains. The standard gauge model with a track gauge of 1435 mm case has a model track width of 32 mm and is colloquially referred to as track 0. The scale is different for historical reasons in the different regions: In Continental Europe it is usually 1:45, in England and France in North America 1:43,5 and 1:48.
- 2.1 Continental Europe
- 2.2 United Kingdom
- 2.3 North America
History
Development of the market position
The nominal size 0 for model railways was introduced at the beginning of the 20th century. It replaced the nominal size I from as most used size because the space requirement is lower and the models ( also thanks to the rise of industrial mass production ) were cheaper. The nominal size 0 was the second dominant nominal size of the model train history. In the 1950s and 1960s it was even displaced from the nominal size H0 from this role.
Market position today
In Europe, models of nominal size 0 are now mainly found in model railroad crews and exhibitions, such as vehicle models in museums, as dioramas, module or club installations. More recently, the scale even with the followers of historical models, which consist primarily of tinplate ( Tinplate ) are made, again found a certain distribution. Models and accessories are still being made , whether as replicas ( replicas ) or as new designs.
In the U.S. and Canada, the nominal size is 0 widespread.
Gauges
Continental Europe
The following model gauges are set for the scale of 1:45 and 1:43,5 in the standards of European Model Railroads (NEM):
Great Britain
The following model gauges are specified for the scale 1:43,5 in the British Railway Modelling Standards Bureau ( BRMSB ):
North America
The following gauges 1:48 scale were determined by the National Model Railroad Association ( NMRA ):
Track systems track 0
→ Main article: Railway Systems of H0
Similar to H0 today exist for 0 gauge three electric track systems: the two-wire, three -wire and the center conductor - track system. Again, the two wire track system and the center conductor system are now primarily used with AC or DC current, increasingly, in digital mode. When operating with clockwork motors and steam electrically separate tracks or those made of plastic can be used.
In North America, Lionel has a certain market position. There, to this day, the center conductor is formed by a third continuous rail.
In order to operate models of different electrical construction on a plant, sometimes also a switchable three-wire track system is used.
Scale deviations
History is due to the scale in individual European countries also 1:43,5 (eg France and England; small series in Germany ). In North America, a scale of 1:48 is common.
In Europe, produced at a scale of 1:43,5 models in direct comparison with the models produced at a scale of 1:45 are a bit heavier. While even North American models of great models in 1:48 scale again already seem almost dainty in comparison.
Not to be sneezed today at the nominal size 0 and the value of the model as an accessory in the widespread scale of 1:43. Here, however, the small scale difference is hardly noticeable.
Manufacturer
Models and Accessories Track 0 was produced in Germany before the Second World War, mainly by the companies Marklin, Bing, Kraus Fandor and Karl Bub, 1946 simple models were also offered by Conrad Dressler. 1949 was added and the Fleischmann Company, which renounced A major new feature on the center conductor and unlike Märklin offered much less locomotives with clockwork. In Switzerland Buco and HAG -known manufacturers were in the 0 gauge models and equipment of track 0 produced in the GDR, the companies metallwarenfabrik Stadtilm and Zeuke & Wegwerth.
Due to ever increasing detail and quality of the vehicles of the nominal size of the H0 and thus considerably lower space requirement the track 0 1955 by Märklin and finally in 1959 by Fleischmann was abandoned.
From 1970 to 1972 Märklin sales under the name Märklin Minex a 750 mm narrow gauge railway track 0e on H0 tracks.
The Company Lima, Rivarossi and Pola offered quite an extensive line of products to vehicle records, including models of all three types of traction and of several cars. The appropriate forms were in use at different companies and are partly still used today. The detailing corresponded rather H0 level, which were in contrast to small-series models positively reflected in the price.
For years, Fleischmann and Peco manufacture in mass-produced car models and accessories for the track 0e. The company Lenz Elektronik occurs under the brand name Lenz new as major manufacturer with vehicle models and accessories on this after this company has for years set accents with products for the digitization of model trains.
Today in Europe offer numerous small manufacturers of models and components of the track 0. While Fleischmann 0e abandoned the production of vehicle models and accessories on the track again in the meantime, is firmly situated in the "Americans" of the major manufacturer Bachmann a larger distribution of products for the trail 0n30 (the same gauge as 0e, as well as the gauge of H0) found. New also occurs on Brawa as major manufacturer with appropriate products for the 0 gauge on the market.
Designations
In North America, partly in England, the letter O is used instead of the number 0 for the designation of the nominal size or the track often. Also common is the expression of 7 mm gauge, since in scale 1:43,5 seven millimeters in the model correspond to a foot model length.
For the narrow-gauge railways in England the term is inconsistent. In this article, the notation is applied uniformly as follows: 0 for the nominal size minus sign for the separation of model - gauge, comma -delimited the decimal point in the number of model gauge. Example: 0 to 16.5.