Scale7 running quality.

Hester

Banned
I've only scanned this thread quickly and apologise if this has been mentioned already, but Slater's are happy to mail your newly purchased wheels directly to whoever you choose to do your re-profiling, thus saving you one lot of postage costs.


Regards

Dan


Dan, Thank you, must right that down.

Note to self, ` Dan is an exponent of excellent money saving tip`.:thumbs:

Done.
Regards Hester
 

Hester

Banned
This is a question I'm struggling with at the moment – not that I doubt whether S7 vehicles run well, but whether to go this route at all.

Although I err on the side of 0F for convenience, I do really like the look of S7 wheels (look at Mick's wagon above). There's also the largely self-induced notion that you have to be a really good modeller to 'do it'. The expectation is that to model to true scale gauge your models have to be exquisite and perfect. I don't necessarily subscribe to that – in fact, I definitely know that I can't achieve that.

Also, in relation to poor P4 performance, mass has a stubborn relationship with scale. I would guess, although I'm no mathematician, that you would have to scale up mass to be proportionate with the difference in scale.



Steve,
I will be the guinea pig here on your behalf in full view of all. If I can do it, then there`s hope for everyone !:)

Watch this space.

Hester
 

pcalkel

Active Member
Hester,

One thing to remember is that Scale 7 driving wheels and the tender and bogie wheels may be manufactured by Slater's but are only available from the Scale 7 Stores, and S7 members get a big discount.

Paul
Scale 7 Stores
 

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
 

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
 

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
Even ready-to-run models can be converted to run on S7 track, relatively easily.
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..

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Running quality of S7

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

I hope this helps..

JB.
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Here's another...

S7 in a weekend at the Ally Pally show two years ago..

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Scale7 is very achievable in a short time..

JB.
 

JimG

Western Thunderer
I must confess I don't understand that comment - can someone please explain?
I modelled in P4 and P:87 for many years before jumping to 0-gauge and never had a problem with running reliability. In fact, with the better defined standards than 7mm f/s in some ways it ran better!

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 ?:confused: ) 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.:D
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 :thumbs:

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.
 

Hester

Banned
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
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Sounds like a new member to me Hester..!

Scratch building in S7 is so much easier than in O/fs

JB.
 

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Sounds like a new member to me Hester..!

Scratch building in S7 is so much easier than in O/fs

JB.

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 :rolleyes: )
 

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 :rolleyes: )

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
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.


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
 
Top