G scale was introduced by Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk under the brand name LGB and was intended for indoor and outdoor use. Lehman Patentwerk, founded in 1881, started producing LGB in 1968. The remains of the company were bought by Märklin and production of certain items continues. The G name comes from the German word groß meaning "big". More recently some people have come to interpret it as standing for "garden scale".
G scale versus G gauge
G gauge track has a spacing of 45 mm between the railheads have rails only apart. Although often built with standard-sized doors, a narrow-gauge train is in most other respects smaller than its standard-gauge counterpart: its cars are generally narrower and shorter, allowing them to navigate more sharply curved and lightly built tracks. Model trains are built to represent a real train of standard or narrow gauge. For example HO scale models all use 16.5 mm gauge track to represent standard gauge trains while a narrower-gauge track such as 9 mmN gauge is used to represent real narrow gauge. G model railways depart from this and always use the same gauge with the trains instead built in different sizes depending on whether they are intended to represent standard-gauge or narrow-gauge trains. Because of this it might be more correct to speak of "G gauge" rather than "G scale" since the consistent aspect is the gauge,, but the term "G scale" is used when 1:22.5 is used. The 45 mm gauge originated from 1 gauge or "gauge one" which was first used in Europe and England and used to model standard gauge trains in the scale of 1:32. LGB were first to adopt the term G scale and used the gauge of to model 1,000 mm gauge European trains in 1:22.5 scale. Below are some typical scales with more specific terms that all run on G gauge's 45 mm gauge track:
Gauge one is scaled at 1:32 used to model standard gauge trains of gauge.
A scale. Uncommon term for 1:29 scale first used by AristCraft for modeling standard gauge prototypes on 45 mm track. Incorrect scale/gauge but proportionally a similar size to other popular brands of the time.
G scale is 1:22.5, used to model European trains that run on metre gauge track. This scale-gauge combination is called "scale IIm" according to NEM 010. The G comes from the German word groß meaning "big".
H scale 1/2" to the foot scale. 1:24 used to model gauge or "Cape gauge". Incorrect scale used for 3 ft gauge track.
F scale 15 mm to the foot scale,. Correct scale/gauge typically used to model North American narrow gauge trains on gauge track.
Seven eighths 7/8" to the foot scale. 1:13.7 used to model trains on narrow gauge track.
16 mm scale 16 mm to the foot scale. Originally intended for modelling 2 ft gauge prototype railways on 32 mm track. The models are often re-gauged to also run on 45 mm track. This scale has also been used to model gauge prototype trains.
Global manufacturers and their scale product sizes
Accucraft has five scales – Fn3 is 1:20.3, gauge 1 is 1:32, their ½-inch scale is 1:24. They also build 1:29 scale North American models in live steam and electric under the AML brand, as well as British live steam and electric models in 1:19 scale and Isle of Man live steam and electric models in 1:20.3 scale - the Isle of Man uses three-foot gauge track, the same width as the dominant US Colorado narrow gauge.
PIKO is 1:29 for the American cars, the wood-sided passenger cars 1:22.5
Roberts Lines is 1:32
USA Trains "Ultimate" series is 1:29, "American" series is 1:24
Wrightway Rolling Stock 1:32 and 10 mm scale custom built British North American and European passenger stock.
LGB and numerous other manufacturers produce track made of brass which can remain outside in all weathers – a quick wipe and it is ready for use. Track can also be obtained in less expensive aluminium as well as oxidation-resistant, though more expensive, stainless steel.
