H0f gauge, occasional as H0i gauge designated, is a rail transport modelling scale representing Feldbahn-style 2 ft and 600 mm gauge railways using 1:87 HO scale running on Z gauge 6.5-millimetre (0.26 in) track. The Normen Europäischer Modellbahnen NEM 010 specification defines H0f for modelling gauges 400–650 millimetres (16–26 in), as part of the 1:87-scale family that includes narrow-gauge railway models using H0e gauge and metre-gauge railway models using H0m gauge.

Rolling stock

Comparison of H0f narrow gauge with H0 standard gauge, both 1:87 in scale
Technomodell LKM Ns2f[de] locomotive for H0f gauge (1:87 scale, 6.7-mm gauge; showing chassis with metal construction)

As of 2007[update] three variants of the Babelsberg LKM Ns2f[de], along with tipper and flat wagons, were being manufactured by Technomodell, plus left-and-right-hand points, and flexi-track using 2.1 mm-high (0.083 in) rail. The NS2f models were completely metal in order to improve traction and allow gradients of three-percent to be negotiated with wagens. The NS2F chassis is 30 millimetres (1.2 in) long, and the locomotive body 38 millimetres (1.5 in) long.

In 2008 the company Panier were producing a model of the Lanz-Rail tractor in H0f gauge, and Präzisionsmodellbau were producing the LKM V10c (de) and Ns4f.

For the fiftieth-anniversary of the Saarbrücken Park Railway (de) in 2010, a model of the "Porschelok" (de) and matching carriages were produced in H0f.

Busch Feldbahn

H0f track and locomotives made by the German company Busch include a central magnetic strip hidden between the rails for greater adhesion. The magnet under the Busch H0f locomotives is extremely effective, allowing very steep gradients, climbing vertically, or running upside down.

The first Busch Mine Railway Starter Set (Grubenbahn Start-Set) was released in late-2010 and featured a BBA B360 mining locomotive (de) with three wagons, based on those at the Erzbahn in Schönborn-Dreiwerden, north of Chemnitz. The set came with 145-millimetre (5.7 in) radius Z scale track with 1:220 sleepers, and a separate rectangular metal base plate underlay for magnetic adhesion. The mining system was expanded with four more sets in 2011.

A much larger system of narrow gauge locomotives was introduced at the 2012 Nuremberg International Toy Fair, where Busch demonstrated a complete Feldbahn system with multiple locomotives wagons and specialist track. Models of a Gmeinder 15/18 horsepower locomotive were supplied to journalists and partners.

By the start of 2016 Busch was producing a Deutz OMZ 122f locomotive in three colours. At the 2016 Nuremberg International Toy Fair, an unpowered Lanz traktor model accompanied by a motorised goods van were shown, along with a Decauville Type 3 steam locomotive. One year late in 2017 a model of the Frankfurt Feldbahn Museum's (de) steam locomotive Dimitrias was shown. The separate firm Modellbau Luft started to make alternative locomotive and "ghost wagon" housings for mounting on the Busch Feldbahn chassis.

Track

Commodity Z gauge track is the correct gauge, although the sleeper style and sleeper spacing are the wrong scale for H0f modelling:

Track components available for 6.5 mm gauge
ComponentRadiusAngleStraightManufacturerPart number
Turnout127 mm26°55mmRokuhanR022, R023
Turnout140 mm24°Modell & Funktion Burmester7331, 7332
Turnout175 mm22.5°66.6 mmBusch12341, 12342
Turnout20°PMT Technomodell56613, 56614
Curved turnout195 + 220 mm30°Märklin8568, 8569
Curved turnout195 + 220 mm30°RokuhanR026, R027, R057, R058
Turnout200 mm18°Modell & Funktion Burmester7321, 7322
Double-slip323 mm13°112.8 mmMärklin8559, 8560
Double-slip13°112.8 mmRokuhanR034, R035
Turnout400 mm9°Modell & Funktion Burmester7311, 7312
Turnout490 mm13°110mmMärklin8562, 8563, 8565, 8566
Turnout490 mm13°110mmRokuhanR039, R040, R055, R056
Turnout490 mm13°110mmMicro-Trains990 40-910, -911, -914, -915
Crossing90°25mmRokuhanR025
Crossing90°33.3 mmBusch12340
Crossing13°112.8 mmRokuhanR020

Three-rail flexi-track made for H0/H0e (16.5 mm + 9 mm) can be used because the third gauge is ~6.5 mm, but with full-size 1:87 sleepers.

Related standards

In North American, HOn2 gauge is specified for representing 2 ft and 600 mm gauge railways using 1:87.1 HO scale running on 7.06-millimetre (0.278 in) track. The NMRA S-3.2 specification defines HOn2 as part of the 1:87.1-scale family.

See also

Further reading

  • Knipper, Rolf (February 1999). [Narrow gauge track for the brickworks] (PDF). MIBA Spezial (in German). No. 39. pp. 92–97. Archived from the original on 25 January 2006. Seither hat sich auch in der Baugröße H0f … vor allem Jens-Peter Burmester machte sich mit seiner Firma MFB in diesem Bereich einen guten Namen
  • Knipper, Rolf (February 2000). [A small brickworks] (PDF). MIBA Spezial (in German). No. 43. pp. 96–101. Archived from the original on 8 November 2000.
  • Deserno, Heiko (12 March 2016). [Old stories about small narrow gauge railways]. Feldbahn 22 (in German). Schwabach. Archived from on 11 February 2018.