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To stimulate discussion, post photos and exchange ideas, and (being an open public forum) help encourage others to try S scale modelling.

Scratchbuilding in S scale - how to find parts


Will_Ayerst

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I'm considering a foray into S for a home shunting layout and I'm expecting to need to scratchbuild or scratch-aid mostly everything which isn't a problem - but I'm worried about those things which would be all-but impossible to scratchbuild such as expansion domes, wheels and axle-box castings. What should I expect?

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Will,

 

Andy is right, you should be encouraged by what is available to SSMRS members - as you can see on out 'Parts' pages of our website.

 

In my book, scratchbuilding doesn't have to mean you are obliged to make EVERYTHING yourself: conceiving and designing the basic model, then adding suitable available detailed parts (such as wheels, springs, couplings, etc.) is perfectly acceptable. But 'making it yourself' does mean you are freer to choose what you want to model without being swayed by the latest commercial temptations. It is also a very satisfying process, I find!

 

However, apart from access to the Society's modelling goodies, I would say that one of the best reasons to join us is the friendship, practical help and encouragement you will surely get from being part of one of the friendliest modelling societies.

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I'm heading to live in Poland in a few years so I'm not sure how social I could possibly be, but it's good to know there is support- thank you very much, both.

 

You are most welcome. Being an S scale modeller and an inveterate scratchbuilder is very conducive to being a 'lone modeller', as you may find. But be reassured, we have members all over the World and in the most unlikely places. Our Society should be able to offer you all the practical support you'll need - especially if you have access to the internet and keep in touch via the website and email. Who knows, you may even get interested in local railways and become our first Polish prototype modeller! (We already have members actively modelling Belgian trams and Russian Imperial 5ft gauge in S scale.) So... good luck!

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  • 6 months later...
Guest Paulig44

I'm heading to live in Poland in a few years so I'm not sure how social I could possibly be, but it's good to know there is support- thank you very much, both.

Poland?  What....you mean the outer south of London?  I live in Melbourne, Australia and manage S Scale very well indeed, thanks to the superb efforts of the stores and everyone else....there is always email and Skype....Poland...that's commuting distance!!!!!

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I'm considering a foray into S for a home shunting layout and I'm expecting to need to scratchbuild or scratch-aid mostly everything which isn't a problem - but I'm worried about those things which would be all-but impossible to scratchbuild such as expansion domes, wheels and axle-box castings. What should I expect?

 

I'll concede the wheels but I can hear numerous early 4mm finescale pioneers turning in their graves at the suggestion of domes and axleboxes being impossible to scratch-build ;).  That's not to say that the availability of castings is not a good thing which makes it possible to complete good models on a less than geological time scale.

 

Seriously though, as Paulig44 noted, S has a significant following in Australia because on 16.5mm track it gives a near perfect scale-gauge relationship for 3'6" gauge which was/is common here.  As a result there are a few specialist suppliers who might be worth trying for generic detail bits.

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  • 4 years later...

is there available ready to use turnouts and track? i found Shinohara but surely there's others.

 

Not for British S scale. The S scale MRS offers components and gauges to build your own, but there is no ready-to-use turnouts and track. British S scale is primarily a scratchbuilder's scale. http://www.s-scale.org.uk/track.htm

 

However, there are/were several ranges of ready-to-lay track and turnouts to both 'finescale' and 'hi-rail' (coarse) standards in the U.S.A. Have a read through this NASG webpage https://www.nasg.org/Extra/Track.php 

 

Although the scale is the same (1:64th), track and wheel standards differ between British and American S scale so it is not compatible one with the other. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

What prototype are you planning to model? That should help your decision.

I built NSWGR prototype and found useful items from HO and OO.

I used the NASG standards which are the common rp25/110 used for HO with allowances for 22.5mm track gauge if modelling the Stephenson standard.

I'm sure being a member of the S scale society would be very useful if modelling British.

It is a nice scale to work in.

cheers

Bob Comerford

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