Modelling Portuguese Railways Any approach will probably involve some degree of compromise. This may be in terms of the track gauge or ease of modelling. In HO the five foot six of Portuguese broad gauge works out at 19.25mm. Many have opted for ease by continuing with HO Standard Gauge standards and ignoring the missing 9½ inches - after all it's not much more than the amount 00 is under gauge! EM or P4 standards might offer something closer to scale in HO without the need to devise a full set of workable figures. However, it is likely to prove difficult to find enough space within HO bogie frames to fit 19.25mm gauge wheelsets . The approach often used with unusual gauges is to take an existing track standard and supply of mechanisms, and adjust the scale to suit. Thus the HO track gauge of 16.5mm could be used to represent 5'6" at 3mm scale (around 1:100). This has the advantage that the N scale track gauge of 9mm can also represent a very close approximation to metre gauge. In fact, PRG member Steve Wise models at 1:106 which is the compromise between the scales of broad gauge on 16.5mm and metre gauge on 9mm track. Modelling at this scale also offers scope to use some of the 3mm Society's components, kits and resources. You might be able to find a suitable mechanism, but you'll be scratchbuilding. The HO Bachmann 44-tonner is a suitable mechanism for a 1:106 scale 1400 class , for example. HO modellers can be helped by PRG member Ian Thomson's range of Esoteric Railway Bits and Pieces, please email for more details to comboio@bigfoot.com

Portuguese Diesels in HO 1101 Class Use the Bachmann GE 44-tonner and cut down the cab. Add modified handrails, buffers and vacuum pipes 1201 Class A 'Euro' loco, available as the SNCF BB63000 class from Roco. Add headlight, US-style number boards, and vacuum pipes 1501 Class Alco RSC2s and RSC3s are available for a variety of US roads from Atlas, and more recently, Kato. A very reasonably priced Alco RS2 (the B-B version) is available from Model Power. Add buffers, vacuum pipes and minor details. Correct bogie sideframes are available in the range of Ian's Esoteric Railway Bits and Pieces . These also have the advantage of padding out the bogies to give the appearence of broad gauge, and if used on a RS2, give a reasonable disguise to the lack of centre axle! 1801 Class Start with a Lima BR Class 50 , use just the cabs and bogies on a shortened underframe! Come up with the rest from scratch. 1901 Class Start with a Jouef model of the SNCF CC72700, heavily modified including shortening by 32mm 1961 Class Hooray! available off the shelf from Lima, if a poor model. Perhaps they couldn't face representing the hideous looks of the real thing! A close run second to a highnose GP30? 2601 Class Available off the shelf from Lima 5601 Class Available off the helf from Lima