1/2'' scale drawings

[Thumphinger]

I got inspired by some videos I found on 1/2'' scale models, built by Victor Shattock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMoE6UQPFfE
Is there a source of drawings for 1/2'' scale?
Has there ever been any castings to buy?

[LVRR2095]

Harry Fisher Hudson

In the past there were many castings available. H.J. Coventry probably offered the most. Harry Fisher of Belleville, NJ sold castings and drawings for a New York Central Hudson. L.R. Miller sold castings for a freelance Hudson. Little Engines sold castings for a 1/2” scale Pacific and a Hudson. Frank Birch sold castings for a Pacific. Even Brotherhood of Live Steamers founder Carl Purinton designed a 1/2” scale locomotive. None of these are currently available anymore.
There are 2 - 1/2” gauge locomotives commercially available of British prototypes.
Keith

[jscarmozza]

I have a copy of the Little Engines instruction book for their 1/2" scale engine, if you are interested send me a PM.
John

[steamingon]

British prototype drawings can be found here "National 2 1/2 Gauge Association" http://www.n25ga.org/

drawings http://www.n25ga.org/Designs/Designs%20Index.htm

[Pontiacguy1]

John K. with Friends Models/Yankee shop (www.friendsmodels.com) has some of the 1/2" scale designs I believe, but none of them have castings out for sale that I know of, at least not right now.

2 1/2 inch gauge, ½” to the foot, was the most popular live steam scale/gauge in England before World War II, and was also extremely popular among live steamers in the US. There were lots of construction articles that appeared in magazines such as Model Engineer, Popular Mechanics and English Mechanic by legends such as Curly Lawrence (aka: LBSC), Martin Lewis, Henry Greenly, and H.P. Jackson. Many commercial models, both steam, Clockwork, and even electric were available from places such as Bassett-Lowke, Bing, and H.J. Coventry. Some of these were casting 'kits', and some were ready-to-run models. This scale was the largest of the ‘scenic’ scales, where realism of the surroundings and structures is very important , and the trains are not ridden on. It is also the smallest scale that can actually be ridden and ‘driven’ by the engineer using an elevated track. Many of the models were coal fired and could pull several adults around a fairly level track. The parts were also small enough to be built entirely using a hobby shop sized lathe, a small milling attachment, and a drill press. The 'golden age' of 1/2" scale modeling was in the 1920s through the end of WW2.

The economic boom that came after the end of World War II pretty much wiped out ½” scale as a popular modeling and operating scale. With the growing affluence in Britain and the United States, along with less expensive electric train models and rolling stock, people of more modest means could get into model railroading. Because of space limitations, most of the model railroaders were utilizing smaller scales and moving their trains indoors. O scale, and even smaller scales such as S and HO were now the choice for the scenic modelers.

The live steam guys were also experiencing the joys that come from a more affluent society. The size of both the hobby and the equipment began to grow larger and larger as the years progressed. After WWII, the most popular scale quickly became ¾” to the foot running on 3 ½” gauge track. In later years 1” scale became popular. By the late 50's/early 1960’s the emerging scale and gauge was 1 ½” scale and 7+ gauge. This left ½” scale almost completely out of the picture. By the 1970s the scale was almost extinct, except for a few suppliers still offering castings. For the most part, this scale was not being built or modeled in, and tracks to run on were scarce.

That's pretty much how it stands today. I dabble a bit in 1/2" scale 2 1/2" gauge, and although I love the size of it, it's not very popular. Might be a dozen to maybe 2 dozen people at the most who are active in that scale/gauge on the entire North American Continent. Only a few clubs out there have a high-line track that has a 2 1/2" gauge rail on it. I say this not to discourage you, because I think that this is a great scale/gauge to work in, but just know that you're going to be kind-of a lone wolf out there in the Live Steam world.

With that being said: If you want to find stuff to build in 1/2" scale, look around out there. Partially finished casting sets and parts for 1/2" scale sometimes comes up on this board, on Discover Live Steam, and on Ebay. Most of them are Little Engines castings, but every once in a while you will find stuff from Coventry or something even more rare. I've seen some people try to pass off L.E. castings as being Coventry or some other, but having some of the LE castings, they're pretty easy to spot. Also be aware that in the late 70's early 1980's, LE started pouring all of their small scale castings (at least the 1/2" stuff) out of aluminum to save money, even the drive wheels! Have a set of those myself. I'm going to use them, but will tire them up. I think the cylinder blocks remained iron, and maybe the axle boxes were still out of bronze, but everything else became aluminum.

Sorry to be so long-winded.

[jessebanning]

We are bringing back all the small scale line. I actually started with the 2.5" gauge locomotives. They are actually scaled to .53125" to the foot. We have the cylinders and drivers being cast as we speak. They are true piston valve 1 piece block.

[dorin]

An excellent source of information on this scale is the British National 2 1/2" gauge society.
http://www.n25ga.org/
They have many resources available.
I have bought many of their construction booklets.
They are very fun to read even if one does not have time to build!

[FKreider]

Excellent pattern work Jesse! Are the steam passages cored as well?

[Sandiapaul]

Also there is Dave Queener's site that has a bunch of info too:

https://www.cumberlandmodelengineering. ... eries.html

[Pontiacguy1]

We are bringing back all the small scale line.

That is awesome! So I'm taking it that you purchased the small scale stuff back from Russell Stewart?

I am definitely interested in getting some 1/2" scale couplers, if and when you have any cast and available.

Good to hear that this stuff won't just disappear forever. I had truly feared the worst, thinking that none of this stuff would be available again.

[dnevil]

Here is a list of known 1/2 inch scale design, but this is not complete.

http://ibls.org/mediawiki/index.php?tit ... inch_scale

[jessebanning]

Excellent pattern work Jesse! Are the steam passages cored as well?

Yes the passages are cored.