Railway Scales

Understanding the Differences

🚂 N Scale (Continental & US) — 1:160

• The Difference: Standardized across America and Europe, 1:160 N scale runs on standard 9mm track. Because the scaling ratio is slightly smaller than the British equivalent, it is favored by modelers who want perfectly proportioned Continental rolling stock and massive, sprawling industrial scenes.

🚂 N Scale (British) — 1:148

• The Difference: Because real-world British trains are physically smaller than American and European ones, British manufacturers historically scaled N scale models slightly larger (1:148) so that complex internal mechanisms could fit inside the bodies, while still running on standard 9mm track. This is our founding specialty at N Gauge Models, and we continue to offer class-leading detail for this incredibly popular UK layout size.

🎛️ TT Scale / TT120 — 1:120

• The Difference: "TT" stands for Table Top. Long popular in Eastern Europe and seeing a massive resurgence in the UK, TT120 (1:120 scale running on 12mm track) sits perfectly between N and OO. It offers the space-saving benefits of N scale while boasting the handling size and visual weight of a larger scale. Our 0.02mm micro-precision machinery brings out breathtaking details on these mid-sized models.

🌍 HO Scale — 1:87

• The Difference: HO stands for Half-O. It is the most popular model railway scale in the world. It uses 16.5mm track to represent standard standard-gauge railways. It offers a fantastic balance of size, weight, and presence, making it the global benchmark for standard model layouts.

🇬🇧 OO Scale — 1:76

• The Difference: OO scale is the absolute king of the British model railway market. Unique to the UK, OO scale models are built to 1:76 scale but run on standard 16.5mm (HO) track. This means the track is slightly narrower than it should be in real life, but the larger body shells allow for incredible structural detail, heavy detailing parts, and easy handling.