If so, I need your input. I am an HO scaler, and have large layout in the basement. However sometimes (especially during winter) I don’t feel like going down there, whish I had a small N scale layout upstairs.
What can I expect starting in N scale too? How stable are the cars and locomotives? Do cars have body-mounted couplers? How good is the selection?
Anything else HO scaler needs to know about N scale?
Thanks to everyone for their input!
Yup, I started with “N” scale for a Dept56 Christmas village display for my wife, but quickly discovered that “N” scale was wrong for the houses which were much more like “HO” scale. So, I have ONE 1900 passenger steam train in “N” scale, and all the rest of my equipment is “HO” scale. The “N” scale ran Ok, but after 2 years the rubber traction bands wore off, and replacing them is a bear beaing that small.
i do both HO and N. I do the N scale due to the fact that my HO layout risides in a shed and this being michigan even with a heater it still gets really cold out there so i’ve been slowly aquiring N scale stuff. I have a Kato engine, runs just like the HOs. Atlas cars are pretty good. i havn’t had problems with them yet. i have kato caboose which is really nice and athearn boxcar which is also really good. Stay away from the regular Lifelike and bachman. I don’t know much about anything else. Stick with atlas track too.
I have a 3 rail tinplate layout in the basement and a small N scale layout upstairs. Plus I build HO car kits for a club layout. Because I travel alot, N scale projects can be easily packed. You want to buy quality engines and rolling stock such as Kato, Atlas, and Microtrains. Unless you run in circles, the cheap stuff can give you fits. But then, you can find good deals on new old stock Lifelike SW switchers, GP-20’s, and E-8’s with rapido couplers for around $25.00. They are well detailed, decorated, and excellent running engines. They are easy to convert to Micro Trains couplers. LifeLike engines now come with knuckle couplers and are owned by Walthers. Walthers wants Kato money for them but they aren’t worth it. New old stock Life Like starter sets with an SW switcher or GP-20 are an excellent way to start and you can find these sets for around $50.
Hello, i run HO scale and my wife runs N scale, she has an Atlas engine and a Kato, most of her rolling stock is Atlas but she has a Kato passenger car set in Southern she pulls with the Kato Southern E-8 she uses the Kato roadbed track and this thing runs smooth as silk. The Kato track is easy to set up and it looks pretty good it has some black specs mixed in with the gray, makes good looking ballast although the Kato track is a little pricey.
raises hand
I was always curious about N scale, but never got the opportunity to try it as my main modeling effort is in HO. However, last year I was able to pick up some flood-damaged N scale stuff. I bought an LL SW900, an E7, and an Atlas U25B. As if that wasn’t enough, I found a trio of F units (Trix and Bachmann), and about 2 dozen cars. After a clean, the salvaged stuff came up like new. I left the U25B grubby though, as it’s a Penn Central engine, hehe.
One thing I’ve noticed about N scale…is after working on it for awhile, the HO scale stuff looks huge. But, I do know that because of N scale, my modeling skills have improved. It’s much easier to work on the tiny HO parts now 
At one time I had HO, N, and O layouts. I also had the G-scale stuff for around the Christmas trees and outside. I have since been able to eliminate the N and O. What I can say is, don’t do it. Going to multiple scales spreads the budget, time, and space resources that much thinner, while increasing the “want list” geometrically. Dividing resources between scales reduces the satisfaction level with both. Even dividing resources between multiple layouts reduces the satisfaction level for both.
What says you have to go into the basement to work on the trains? I constantly have a “TV tray” of projects in front of me wherever I am in the house. Or if running them is the issue why not just make a small HO track set up upstairs? I’ve got a 2x12 switching set up that can keep me busy for hours.
my home layout is in n scale and i like it because i can get more track and scenery on the layout than if i was in ho. the equipment operates very well and there is a large selection of locos and rolling stock than there was in the past. i also model in ho at my club and i have been buying equipment in ho too, recently i purchased a proto rs27 with dcc and sound that i run there only. i’m also getting into scratchbuilding in both scales and i have an ho module that i am working on to take to shows to run with my clubs show layout.
I have N scale at home but the club I go to is in HO. For N scale engines i have atlas and they are great slow smooth runners.
What I cannot understand is why HOn30 is not more popular ? It combines the best of both worlds.
Peter Smith, Memphis
HOn30??? Most of my HOn3 locomotives required a larger turning radius than a lot of my straight HO (could be because they are brass), which is a whole lot broader than N-scale. I find the rolling stock much harder to deal with than N-scale, because its seems I damage them everytime I have to touch them to re-rail or anything. I really don’t HOn3. I am glad that I got some to play with before I decided to get into it big time.
There may be some confusion with the term HOn30. MR likes to use the term HOn21/2. This is not HOn3. It is modelling in HO scale using N gauge track width ( 9MM). In HO scale, N gauge track width measures 2.5 ft. between the rails ( 30"). This allows one to use N gauge locomotive mechanisms ( or even N gauge track) with modfied HO scale superstructures ( Or use commercial HOn30 locomotives ) Thus you have the best of both worlds. (A small radius for small spaces in HO scale) This scale was made popular in many articles written by Frary and Hayden in MR and other magazines.
Peter Smith, Memphis
I say just build a micro layout, you can get a good oval and a few spurs in as little at 20"x30" in N-scale…pick up a starter set, and some buildings and have a go at it…
Ryan
Ahh the old “MiniTrains” or something like that. I have a few sets of those somewhere (one steam, one plymouth diesel). Both are “mining” trains. I haven’t seen any equipment like that since the AHM of the 1970s.
I have a N scale DCC layout at home that is 4 x 8 with an upper level and about 2 scale miles of mainline.The club I go to is HO/DCC and we just celebrated our 60th anniversary. http://www.cheltenhillsmrr.org/. Most of my N scale engines are Atlas with a mix of Intermountain and LifeLikes and most are great smooth runners as long as you keep them maintained and lubed. Most of the N scale products are of very high quality and its a long far cry from the ole days of N scale. Life like and Bachmann have joined the rest of the model railroad elite and have improved their lines to a very high standard. I have the best of both worlds.[:D]
I have 2 layouts. My N scale is a 4x8 with a 30x70 or 36x84 extension to be built (have not decided yet) My Engines are Atlas Deisels wich i am going to add decoders to. The all run great but 2 of them make a weird grinding noise. I have one LL proto SW8 it is a decent runner. My freight cars are Atlas good affordable stuff[^] I have a few Athearn cars wich are nice but Atlas has a better value. My Ho stuff is pretty old though. Happy Modeling