Scale7 running quality.
- Thread starter Heather Kay
- Start date
john lewsey
Western Thunderer
Hi I model in scale severn and I don't have a lathe ,milling machine or pillar drill I have a soldering iron and a few files it wouldn't make any difference weather I modelled in finescale or S7the models would be the same I have two threads going Hartley hill the other side of the fence and john lNWR workbench .im not sure if what I've said is relevant to what your thinking but I hope it helps
Regards
John
Regards
John
Seahaven
Member
I have been working in S7 for a number of years, I would claim only to be an average ability modeller. My work bench, if you can say that about a 2ft sq board, it is not equipped with any expensive power tools, only a standard range of small hand tools. S7 only requires you to work to a thoughtful standard, plan what you are going to do next, take care to do the best you can, follow that and you can achieve good quality models running to S7 standards.
Even ready-to-run models can be converted to run on S7 track, relatively easily. Track building requires no specialist skills, if you can build track in OF then S7 is easier as the range of track gauges available for S7 stores is greater than OF modellers have access to.
Have faith in your own skills and ability.
Seahaven
Even ready-to-run models can be converted to run on S7 track, relatively easily. Track building requires no specialist skills, if you can build track in OF then S7 is easier as the range of track gauges available for S7 stores is greater than OF modellers have access to.
Have faith in your own skills and ability.
Seahaven
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
If there is any downside to adopting S7 then the expectation that the majority of steam loco kits are going to be an easy conversion may be a tad economical with the truth. Where an intention to build an o-FS "designed" kit to S7 comes unstuck is with parts which relate to both side of the frames at same time, for example:-
* frame stretchers / cylinders which go between frame plates;
* splasher cutouts in cabs;
* brake cross-shafts.
There maybe other examples... the key point here is that moving to S7 can entail modifying parts from a kit to achieve a S7 result. Wheels are a necessary consideration, just not the only consideration.
regards, Graham
Scale7JB
Western Thunderer
Hi Hester,
I attend quite a few of the southern shows for the S7 Group, demonstrating and giving advice on the stand, and obviously this question does come up quite often...
There are a lot of people out there that say they wont model in Scale7 because it's more difficult and more expensive, and that life isn't long enough, to which my answer is generally along the lines that two of those points are true..
Yes, it does cost that little bit more for wheel profiling, wider frame spacer material from the stores, or home cut versions which I make from sheet brass etc, but it's not a huge amount, and well worth the improvement in running and appearance.
Yes, it does take a little more skill, as you will more than likely need to spring your chassis' and when it comes to outside cylinder and valve gear engines, there is a little jiggery pokery involved to get the distance you need between slidebars and coupling rods etc....
Yes, it takes a little longer to build to Scale7 standards, rather than pulling some etches out of a box and soldering them together..
Is life long enough for Scale7? Deffinitely.. I Started building in Scale7 with very little experience in around 2008, built a scale7 J68 in a week, and I now have 5 finished engines, 3 with inside valve gear ( 1 of which won the Telford competition in 2011 - shameless plug!) and numerous wagons and coaches. I have another 4 engines which are nearing completion too.
When I'm speaking to people on the stand, I ask one question.. If they are a member of a modelling society, and that society only has current or future leanings towards o/FS then I might suggest it's probably best not to model in Scale7. If you want to be involved in the pinnacle of 7mm railway modelling sign up...
Videos...
J68 in 7 days..
Running quality of S7
I hope this helps..
JB.
I attend quite a few of the southern shows for the S7 Group, demonstrating and giving advice on the stand, and obviously this question does come up quite often...
There are a lot of people out there that say they wont model in Scale7 because it's more difficult and more expensive, and that life isn't long enough, to which my answer is generally along the lines that two of those points are true..
Yes, it does cost that little bit more for wheel profiling, wider frame spacer material from the stores, or home cut versions which I make from sheet brass etc, but it's not a huge amount, and well worth the improvement in running and appearance.
Yes, it does take a little more skill, as you will more than likely need to spring your chassis' and when it comes to outside cylinder and valve gear engines, there is a little jiggery pokery involved to get the distance you need between slidebars and coupling rods etc....
Yes, it takes a little longer to build to Scale7 standards, rather than pulling some etches out of a box and soldering them together..
Is life long enough for Scale7? Deffinitely.. I Started building in Scale7 with very little experience in around 2008, built a scale7 J68 in a week, and I now have 5 finished engines, 3 with inside valve gear ( 1 of which won the Telford competition in 2011 - shameless plug!) and numerous wagons and coaches. I have another 4 engines which are nearing completion too.
When I'm speaking to people on the stand, I ask one question.. If they are a member of a modelling society, and that society only has current or future leanings towards o/FS then I might suggest it's probably best not to model in Scale7. If you want to be involved in the pinnacle of 7mm railway modelling sign up...
Videos...
J68 in 7 days..
Running quality of S7
I hope this helps..
JB.
JimG
Western Thunderer
I was going to pick up on that as well. Modelling to S scale in the UK doesn't give you much option other than modelling to exact scale track and wheel standards and we don't have many problems, and we're just under 20% larger than 4mm scale.
Compensation or springing, and reasonably good tracklaying seem to get results.Jim.
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Modelling to S7 standards is no different than modelling in O gauge F/S ( why is it called fine scale ?
) S7 is just an accurate standard to work to, modelling techniques are the same, you don't have to be a "very skilled Modeller".
Slater's are not the only source of wheels for steam loco's, Walsall Model Industries sell a range of cast wheels, they will supply ready turned for you or you can get them profiled by another source.
Track building is easier than you would think, if you have not already built some, much the same as P4. The S7 Group can supply jigs for crossing vee's etc.
As previously mentioned some loco kits will need modifying to cater for a dimensionaly accurate chassis as most kits are fudged to fit the narrow F/S track. But not all have that problem, and it 'aint that big a problem anyway.
Stock needs to be sprung as the wheel flanges are more or less dead scale but the ride quality is so much better than F/S and if stock and track is built properly there should be no de-railments
And mention of radii on track......I have built in the past an 0-8-0 chassis that will go round a check railed 6'-6" radius curve but that's another story
ATB, Col.
) S7 is just an accurate standard to work to, modelling techniques are the same, you don't have to be a "very skilled Modeller".Slater's are not the only source of wheels for steam loco's, Walsall Model Industries sell a range of cast wheels, they will supply ready turned for you or you can get them profiled by another source.
Track building is easier than you would think, if you have not already built some, much the same as P4. The S7 Group can supply jigs for crossing vee's etc.
As previously mentioned some loco kits will need modifying to cater for a dimensionaly accurate chassis as most kits are fudged to fit the narrow F/S track. But not all have that problem, and it 'aint that big a problem anyway.
Stock needs to be sprung as the wheel flanges are more or less dead scale but the ride quality is so much better than F/S and if stock and track is built properly there should be no de-railments
And mention of radii on track......I have built in the past an 0-8-0 chassis that will go round a check railed 6'-6" radius curve but that's another story
ATB, Col.
Osgood
Western Thunderer
Well - last time I walked the four foot at West Mersea, there did seem to be an awful lot of broken chairs.......
Scale7JB
Western Thunderer
Well - last time I walked the four foot at West Mersea, there did seem to be an awful lot of broken chairs.......
Are you sure it wasn't Peters J69 that caused that?!
JB.
Thank you to everyone who has offered their advice here, much appreciated. I think without doubt I have been converted into the idea. If I could just explain, I am not at all daunted by the extra work involved in fact, the opposite as I can see this as a new beginning, a re-birth, also I don`t particularly like kits so scratchbuilds would be the norm. Not having any loco`s or stock to worry about means I have free reign !
Hester
Hester
Steph Dale
Western Thunderer
Well somebody had to ask, unsurprisingly it's me; so why do you perceive that scratchbuilding in S7 easier than f/s?
Steph
(Being curious, rather than argumentative
)
Scale7JB
Western Thunderer
Well somebody had to ask, unsurprisingly it's me; so why do you perceive that scratchbuilding in S7 easier than f/s?
Steph
(Being curious, rather than argumentative
Purely because you can work directly from works drawings without having to think about cutouts in boilers for splashers, and correct width cylinders etc... No adaptation needed for narrower wheel sets and frames...
Once you've modified a few kits to work in S7 you realise just how many fudges there are to make a kit suitable for O/fs..
JB.
Steph Dale
Western Thunderer
JB,
Okay, I wondered if that was where you were going. I can't say I disagree with you, but many f/s modellers might chose to do so because in S7 there's a need for springing or compensation, the desirability for things like downforce/side control on bogies and pony trucks etc...
To anyone who scratchbuilds, but produces rigid chassis in f/s (or even course scale) your thoughts may seem a little misplaced!
Just a thought and as someone who builds in f/s including all the light/bells/whistles in the chassis, the argument you express for S7 is entirely reasonable.
Steph
adrian
Flying Squad
Been there got the t-shirt! My first Scale7 build was my Y10 Sentinel and is a rigid chassis, albeit a very short wheelbase!
Heather Kay
Western Thunderer
All our original S7 builds are rigid. John Lewsey now owns our LNWR G2, which apparently runs well through the Hartley Hill track work, even with its unsprung and fine scale profile tyres.
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
And through the A6 turnouts of Scrufts Junction.