Ray,
let me know if you ever get a Large scale switcher, and I will have a set printed for you! (I dont print them myself..I send my finished artwork to a guy in Arizona who prints them..)
there isnt an actual SW1 available in large scale, im 'bashing mine from a USA trains NW2:
http://gold.mylargescale.com/Scottychaos/SW1/
USA trains just came out with an Alco S4!!
im hoping someone will make blunt-truck sideframes to convert it to an S2..if so, I will buy one!
the whole 1/29 vs. 1/32 scale thing is interesting..
I will try to give a condensed history..
yes, 1/32 is the correct scale for standard gauge trains on 45mm ("G gauge") track..
1/29 scale models are too large for the gauge, which makes 1/29 scale standard gauge models slightly narrow-gauge.
this was done on purpose, knowing full well it was the incorrect scale for the gauge.
(technically the term "G gauge" or "G scale" isnt correct for ALL Large scale trains..it is only correct for 1/22.5 scale specifically..so I will use "Large Scale"...Large Scale trains are any trains that run on 45mm track..there are many different scales that do.)
Before the 1980's, there were no American prototypes available in "Large scale" they were mostly all European prototypes.
The largest maker, LGB, a German company, made (and still makes) many Large Scale trains of European prototypes.
the scale is 1/22.5, which is the correct scale for METER gauge trains on 45mm track.
then! in the early 80's, LGB came out with its first American prototype, the Colorado Mogul. an American 3-foot locomotive:
http://217.160.206.33/produkt.nsf/WebSu ... 36003D1515
This locomotive pretty much got Large Scale modeling, and Garden Railroading, started in the US, after that, it exploded to what we have today. (if you are interested in seeing what is available in Large Scale, pick up a copy of "Garden Railroading" magazing..new stuff is coming out all the time!! SD70's soon!
)
there is also a good selection here:
http://gold.mylargescale.com/scottychao ... guide.html
So now, with the LGB mogul, we can model American 1880's Narrow Gauge..other companys come out with more in 1/20.3 scale (3-foot gauge for 45mm track) like Bachman and their "Big Hauler"
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/ ... /81096.jpg
well thats all great if you are into late 19th century 3-foot gauge..
but what about Modern Diesels?!
In 1988 Aristocraft comes out with the first Large Scale diesel..the Alco FA:
http://www.aristocraft.com/catalog/loco ... ALCOFA.jpg
this is where 1/29 scale was created..
Aristocraft had a problem..
ALL the large scale trains that already existed (mainly LGB) were of 1/22.5 scale..even the American prototypes..
(which by now included some rolling stock too)
many Americans were already into LGB trains.
If Aristocraft introduced its standard gauge line of diesels and rolling stock in the correct 1/32 scale, the models would be visually smaller than the already existing LGB trains..they couldnt run with LGB and still "look right"...that could really hurt sales...if many people were already invested in LGB trains (which they were) they would want ALL their Large scale trains to run together and look nice together!
(remember..there were (and are) TONS of "Garden Railroaders" who dont know, or care, anything abut prototypes or scale..they just run whatever they like!)
So Aristocraft made the decision to go with 1/29 scale instead of 1/32 scale, because that made the models slightly larger, which then made them the SAME size as the already existing LGB trains!!
today, a 1/29 scale modern, standard gauge boxcar is visually the same overall size as a 1/20.3 or 1/22.5 1880's narrow gauge boxcar..they look fine running together, because they "match" in size..
If Aristocraft had gone with 1/32 scale, the models would be noticably smaller, and a huge chunk of the market wouldnt buy their trains becuase they wopuld be "too small" to run with the LGB trains they already have..
so it was just a business decision..and a good one IMO considering the state of the hobby at the time.
Today, Aristocraft and USA trains make modern trains in 1/29 scale.
MTH has been a rebel and introduced large scale trains in the correct 1/32 scale..but im not a fan of MTH, because they go for the "toy train" style..swinging pilots like Lionel! ugh..
1/29 has basically been accepted as the standard for Large Scale modeling of modern American modern standard gauge...
Today, we have quite a mix of scales running on 45mm track!
1/13.7 scale - (7/8n2) Maine 2-foot gauge on 45mm
1/20.3 scale (F scale) - correct for 3-foot gauge on 45mm.
this is probably the largest segment of the Large Scale hobby in the US.
1/22.5 scale (the true "G scale") - correct for Meter gauge on 45mm.
the majority of European prototypes are in this scale.
1/24 scale - 3-foot models mostly, although the gauge isnt correct.
1/29 scale - incorrect for standard gauge, but the largest segment of standard gauge models are in this scale.
1/32 scale - correct for standard gauge on 45mm.
smaller segment than 1/29, but its trying.
I even invented a scale!
I call it 29n2 scale:
http://gold.mylargescale.com/Scottychaos/29n2/
Scot