H0f gauge
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
As of 2007[update] three variants of the Babelsberg LKM Ns2f, 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:
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.