Scaling
16.5mm gauge at 4mm:1 foot means that the scale gauge represents 4ft 1˝in, seven inches narrower than the prototype 4 ft 8˝ in (1,435 mm). These noticeable differences are aggravated by the over-scale rail section, over-scale wheel width and deep wheel flanges used on many models. These departures from scale require much larger clearances on pointwork and are particularly noticeable when looking along the track. This scale gauge more accurately represents the narrow gauge railways built to 4 ft (1,219 mm) gauge, for example the Padarn Railway and Saundersfoot Railway in Wales and the Glasgow Subway in Scotland.
Though they run on the same track, 00 gauge and H0 gauge models do not sit well together since the British models are larger than their European or American counterparts, when the reverse ought to be the case.
00 is also used to represent the 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Irish gauge, where it is a scale 13˝ inches too narrow.
These differences have led to the development of the finescale standards EM gauge and P4 scale.
00 today
To this day 00 remains the most popular scale for railway modelling in the United Kingdom; this is most likely attributable to a ready availability of ready-to-run stock and starter sets. This particular area in itself is dominated by Hornby Railways, and Bachmann Branchline. Other sources of ready-to-run rolling stock or locomotives include the Dapol, Heljan, Peco, ViTrains. Other scales, with the possible exception of N gauge, lack the variety of ready-to-run products, and it is likely this that deters British modellers and leads to the prevailance of 00.
Good results in 00 can be achieved despite the scale inaccuracies if one uses more modern ready-to-run equipment on ballasted Code 75 trackwork (e.g. Peco Streamline), with realistic track spacing (the "6 foot"), and try to minimise or hide curves where necessary. Most finescale modellers began in 00, developed their skills and advanced to finescale.
4 mm Finescale Standards
Many experienced modellers find the 00 standard produces a "narrow gauge" appearance when the model is viewed from head on. Greater accuracy is possible using either EM gauge or the closer to exact scale P4 gauge track.
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