[s-4]

Hi all,
I am well aware of the scale difference between MTH and Aristo, but considering the smaller size and height of the Aristo cars I was wondering if they might look okay together. Does anyone havebphotos of this combo? I like tbe USA PAs, but i'm afraid theyre a touch too large for my layout liks the sd-40-2 . My heavyweights are equipped with ball bearings, so they work nicely.

 

[Scottychaos]

There is no "smaller size and height" for the Aristo heavyweights..
they are correct scale models for 1/29 scale, correct height, width and length.

Im inclined to believe that the MTH PA's and the Aristo heavyweights wont be a good match..
the PA's will be too small in relation to the cars..
but I have never seen any photos, so I could be wrong..

Scot

 

[Greg Elmassian]

I've seen Aristo HW's with some of the MTH steamers and it did not look great. Since MTH is almost always very true to 1:32 scale, I think Scot is right, the PA's will look too small... with diesels, the height of the loco and the passenger cars need to be closer than on a steamer from my experience.

Greg

 

[Enginear]

I believe the new MTH catalog is due soon. I'm hoping for more 1/32 passenger cars as I don't have any. If I keep getting deals on 1/29, it may not matter.

 

[s-4]

Thanks guys! That's pretty much what I figured.

I was under the impression that the Aristo cars are not "standard" heavyweights, but rather ones which sit a bit lower in order to account for overhead wiring in NJ. I was curious if this reduction in height would offset the scale difference somewhat. I'm now concerned that the width may also help rule out this possible match.

 

[llynrice]

When I first bought my Accucraft GS5, I tried pulling some Aristocraft heavyweight coaches. Despite the fact that the prototype GS5 was gigantic, the Aristocraft coaches still looked too big. And yes, they are very noticeably wider than the tender. With a bit a searching I finally found some MTH streamline passenger cars in stock and bought them. They look just right behind the GS5.

 

[s-4]

Hi Llyn,
Thanks for the example! Perhaps if I could go back 15 years to start over I'd consider 1/32 scale! Although the trains are smaller, I would hope they might look better on most garden railways which have 8 and 10ft diameter curves due to geographical constrictions.

 

[llynrice]

One reason I don't like 1:29 is that there is pitiful little in the way of accessories such as model cars or buildings. My standard gauge steam is 1:32 and I've decided to model in 1:32. There actually are model cars, trucks and machinery available in 1:32 and Plastruct windows, doors and the like. I'll not throw away my 1:29 sparky trains. I'll just run them on my 1:32 layout and not mix equipment from the two scales in one train.