CREATION : The First Thing is to NAME Them

Just so we can all begin to agree on what constitutes the Mega Scales, we need to identify them and name them, so we know what we're referring to --- OK, if we're going to be persnickety about grammar --- so we know to what we're referring .

My proposal ( for all to use without fear of copyright violation ) :

1 inch to the foot --- RJ Scale, for Rod Johnston, who actually produced a commercial line of one inch scale models , before retreating from the model railroad world to his dental practice in Northern Ontario . That works out to one-twelfth full size . This was also made famous as a secondary product line by Little Engines, whose advertisements in popular (non-hobby) publications claiming "Just bolt 'em together"  probably lured as many people into the live steam hobby under (let's be honest) false pretenses as any other print material . The best claim to fame for one inch scale currently is that it is utilized extensively in the dollhouse hobby --- both a good point (lots of material for lineside scenery) AND a bad point for its identification with artsy-craftsy miniatures .

1.5 inches to the foot --- LS  Scale , for Live Steam, whose one-eighth full size railroad models are --- arguably --- the most popular and widely utilized Mega - Scale  . Here's an example of one-eighth scale traction by Bruce Moffatt : 

2 inches to the foot --- PS Scale,   one-sixth scale,  because Mattel , manufacturers of Barbie (Aaaaagh ! ), has established a huge marketing line of toys and dolls in that scale and has undoubtedly copyrighted the name PlayScale, OR DisPlayScale as a takeoff on Mattel's name and on the fact that it makes a spectacular display, if one takes advantage of the benefits conferred by Forced Perspective, O scale background flats, and the wide variety of trackside accessories .


Mr. Parry of the U.K., inventor of Parry's People Movers (PPM), a local transportation medium intended for rural areas and almost-forgotten passenger stops, sitting next to his one-sixth model of a PPM at an industrial exhibition .


and finally ,

3 inches to the foot --- GH Scale , one-fourth scale , named for Gordon Hatch, whose extraordinary models in that size model trolleys (trams)  are now located in a museum in Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada :

Why "Mega-Scale" ?  Because everywhere I go in print or on line, so-called G scale (more properly G Gauge) is referred to as "Large Scale" . A pox on what our Scottish cousins might call "wee sma' toys " ! 

The other restriction that I would like to strongly recommend --- even though it may seem like an imposition on our Live Steam friends who enjoy riding around their giant railway layouts ... and around, and around, and around , is that we stop riding on top of our models in the mega-scales, as it diminishes (in every way) their appeal to most non-hobbyists .

Think amusement park rides .

Think restricted tunnel and bridge heights and clearances .

Think reducing the viewscape of the audience so much as to eliminate any chance of  reality ;

Think eliminating the possibility of placing scale rooftop details on any (true) trolley, tram,  or   heavy-service box cab equipment . Can you spell "CRUNCH" ?   and finally,

Eliminate the possibility of utilizing the currently underutilized art (literally) of Forced Perspective  which might become a truly saving grace of realism in model railways .