HO Scale Plasticville Fire Trucks - Model Railroader Magazine
skippygp123
I'm beginning to think that HO Scale is merely a close approximation, not anything really to scale...
You are correct - HO scale is really 1:87.1, not 1:87
OK, in terms of scenery, structures and details*, being out of scale much truer in the 1950s thru early 1970s than today - particularly lines like Bachmann, LifeLike, AHM, Tyco and other "Train-Set" level of the era. IIRC starting in the 1970s manufactueres seemed to keep more to scale, although a few thngs still snuck by over the decades. Note "Train-Set" level is the key, there were plenty of smaller scale manufacturers producting excellent scaled detail pieces, often cast-metal details.and fine vehicle kits (e.g. Jordon), but these were not meant for the $39.99 "Brute Hauler" oval + 3 freight cars -- includes "power pack!" -- train-sets found in Woolworths and Montgromery Wards
Nowadays, Presier figures are kind of a gold standard - I have lots from the unpainted figure bulk-packs, and they scale out at roughly normal human dimensions - whereas older Bachmann figures (even after removing the ugly base) are up to 10% bigger (in addition to having poorly molded faces - hence they tend to be relegated to statutes, manniquins, and half-hidden interiors where their oversize dimensions are not important or noticible).
Once in a while the old-school model designers got it right (the 1967 Camaro & 1968? AMX vehicle bodies Tyco sold in the 1970s are actualy pretty close to prototype dimensions, and look good if you fill & sand the under-bumper fender spaces, and this has been commented upon in the 1/87 vehicle groups since it is rather rare. Even now, the LifeLike Scenemaster stuff like the School Bus, Dump Trucks, Milk trucks look very toylike to me - even stripping paint and repainting wouldn't seem to help - so what are you gonna do? Well, like me, just don't buy them...
* I will leave it to others to discuss the various 'generic' rolling stock issues by the likes of Tyco, Model Power, Athearn and even Roundhouse (e..g those 50ft General use tank-cars - from the 1980s yet!)
