proto-87 vs NEM standards ...

[tezza]

Hi everyone,

Curious to know more about the debate going on in finescale modelling circles regarding proto-87 and similar finescale standards versus the European NEM standards? In the US the NMRA is trying to promote it's own standards as a best-mix of commercial viability versus true-to-scale representation but that's a fairly poor approach.

Tezza.

[allan]

NMRA recommended practices seem to offer the best of realistic worlds. NEM "norms" are pretty awful, but P87 is quite beyond the average modeller, let alone the beginner.

I believe that Roco offers RP25 wheelsets on some of its locos, now. The sooner all of the European manufacturers do the same the better for all.

[craigd]

NMRA recommended practices seem to offer the best of realistic worlds. NEM "norms" are pretty awful, but P87 is quite beyond the average modeller, let alone the beginner.

I believe that Roco offers RP25 wheelsets on some of its locos, now. The sooner all of the European manufacturers do the same the better for all.

My experience is that NEM wheels, etc. are just gross - the old Lima Australian-prototype models like the passenger cars, 44 class locos, etc. are a good example of that. I don't know what NEM-standard track is like but I don't think we want to go there.

I agree that the NMRA standards are a really good benchmark - even discounting that RP-110 has been the standard adopted for most of the past 20+ years in US prototype circles. But moving to RP-88 is easy and it still maintains, for the most part, good compatibility with track and wheels made to RP-110 configuration. P-87 is where I think modelling should head if we're going to graduate towards more accurate to-scale modelling but that's not for everyone and for beginners it can be hard to understand why it's fine tolerances have to be critically maintained.

I personally like the RP-88 NMRA configuration as that gives the broadest cross-section of compatibility between scratchbuilding, kitbashing and full-blown RTR equipment.

Just about everything out of the US at least in HO scale is made to RP-110 at present but I see a few makers delving into RP-88 configuration with their products and that's good to see.

Terry you're welcome to say P-87 is the target and I agree in principle but true finescale is very expensive get started in. And that alone would turn off a lot of people.

Craig.