Out of Scale

Out of Scale is a 1951 American animated short film directed by Jack Hannah and produced by Walt Disney.^[1] In the short, Donald Duck has a ride-on sized train layout in his backyard.^[2] There's a large tree (home to Chip 'n Dale) that's out of scale, so Donald moves it while they are out; they come back to see their tree moving. The chipmunks realise that one of Donald's model houses is perfect for their size.

Plot

The short begins with a shot of a mighty steam locomotive barreling down the track, which is actually a miniature scale model, with Donald Duck conducting it around an intricate setup in his back yard. After a stop in the model town Canyonville, Donald gets off the train to place the miniature trees he is holding. He bumps into a real tree, which offends him due to being out of scale for his model. Donald prepares to remove the tree, which is occupied by Chip 'n' Dale.

In a display of tremendous strength, Donald picks up the full sized tree and carries it to a flatcar on the model train. As Chip n' Dale return to investigate their missing tree, Donald promptly kicks them out of the area, as they are out of scale as well.

Chip and Dale give chase and are able to stop the train in an attempt to get their tree back, but the tree proves too heavy for them to move. Donald again aggressively chases the chipmunks away using an oil can. While running from him, they take refuge in one of the miniature houses elsewhere in the model. Finding the model comfortable, Chip and Dale make themselves at home.

Donald discovers the chipmunks by noticing smoke coming from the model houses' chimney. His initial anger towards them quickly gives way to enthusiasm when he sees that the chipmunks are, in fact, the perfect scale for the model house. Enjoying the new occupants, Donald goes as far to serve as a milk delivery service for them, and tuck them in at bedtime.

Donald's affection is short lived, as he then decides to have fun at the chipmunks expense by subjecting them to extreme environmental conditions. Realizing Donald has turned on them, the chipmunks set out to finally reclaim their tree. They commandeer the model train that is still holding the tree, and drive off with it. When the tree can't fit through a tunnel, it flips over and lands re-planted along the railroad track. The impact of the train hitting the tree then cuts a small tunnel through the trunk.

Donald is once again angered, but the chipmunks quickly place a "Giant Redwood" sign on the tree, and claim it is a scale model of California Giant Redwood with a tunnel. Satisfied with the explanation, Donald bids Chip and Dale a farewell, and rides his train through the tunnel as the chipmunks celebrate their victory.^[3]

Voice cast

• Clarence Nash as Donald Duck
• James MacDonald and Dessie Flynn as Chip and Dale

Television

• Disneyland, episode #2.25: "Where Do the Stories Come From?"
• Good Morning, Mickey, episode #3
• The Ink and Paint Club, episode #1.5: "Chip 'N Dale"
• Have a Laugh!, episode #55
• Treasures from the Disney Vault (March 16, 2017)

Home media

The short was released on November 11, 2008 on Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume Four: 1951-1961.^[4]

Additional releases include:

• Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Chip 'n' Dale (with Donald Duck) (VHS)
• Everybody Loves Donald (VHS)
• Chip 'n' Dale Volume 1: Here Comes Trouble (DVD)
• Everybody Loves Donald (DVD)
• So Dear to My Heart (DVD Disney movie club exclusive)

Notes

• The short's title was later used for an episode of Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers.^[5]
• The short was inspired by Walt Disney's backyard trainset, the Carolwood Pacific Railroad.^[6]
• The cartoon's storyline was the basis for the Golden Book "Donald Duck's Toy Train".^[7]
• The main musical theme is an adaptation of "I've Been Working on the Railroad".
• Donald Duck's train is actually Casey Jones' train which consists of Engine No. 2 (A 4-4-0 American type steam locomotive (Based on Central Pacific #173)), a mail car & a caboose with a #53 from The Brave Engineer.

References

External links

• Out of Scale at IMDb
• Out of Scale at The Internet Animation Database
• BCDB^{[dead link]}