I like the way you think.
I’m in the same boat. I was an N scaler for years but switched to HO about 5 years ago. I really enjoy painting and detailing diesels and it’s so much more satisfying in HO (or larger!). And the sound bug has bitten me.
But I only have an 11x11.5 spare room to start a layout in. I have looked at hundreds of published track plans, sketched dozens of my own plans. And there’s always a compromise of one sort. Then I think “Now if I went back to N I could really go to town!”
But I’m trying to boil it down to what I enjoy most. Is it really being able to run long trains through towering scenery, or is it getting down to eye level and switching a few industries with a nicely detailed, sound equipped Geep?
I’ve had a switching layout for a while now. I really enjoy switching but desire some kind of loop for the times when I just want to sit back with a drink and watch a train roll by mindlessly.
I’ve made given and druthers lists. I’ve soul searched as much as I can. But I just can’t commit one way or the other.
I just ordered an N scale sound decoder to install and see if that sways we one way or the other.
To add insult to injury, I’m employed by an N scale only manufacturer!
I wish you lots of luck in your decision making, please keep us posted!
Errr…OK I’m confused, where in the topic (or on the forum) does the OP state how much space they are actually working with??? [%-)]
Before offering an opinion I want to know what his constraints are and why he’s snapping about N…
There is enough available in N these days to keep you interested. I switched and while I occasionally miss HO, I enjoy my modeling in N, I even do things a lot more realistically.
He didn’t offer specifics, he’s obviously not able to get everything he wants in his alloted space in HO. I wouldn’t take it as “snapping”, like me he would rather stick with HO but is struggling with the required compromises…
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I’ve found that N was no more expensive than HO…it’s all in what you want to spend.
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Availability in N-Scale is the best it’s ever been of late and if you can’t find it, you can always build it.
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I’ve been wearing bi-focals for almost 25 years and still manage to get 'em on the track or paint straight.
Number four I have no comment for. That’s your preference and I wouldn’t want to change scales after a sizable investment in another scale. The only advice I could give is to challenge your imagination to come up with a solution…possibly a coffee table could be a support for a lightweight layout; who knows.
I’m working with a space that’s 6 X 6 and it’s not something that HO would work in, but it’s big enough for N.
Look at O gauge we start at 27" to make a circle and go up from there.
Okay 1 Yes O gauge is more expensive won’t try to win that one lol
2 we have about 7 differnt compinies normaly producing same car differnt numbers.
3 not hard to see at all some may give you a back acke thou due to weight[:-^]
4 not sure what clubs you have in your area but there are O gauge clubs alll over the U.S. of A.
The room is 11X12 but can be shelf only and has a 36" window that is 70" from one wall and 36" from the other. Thw window span will need a removeable bridge so the window is not blocked during non-train time.
Also with other issues like the wall opposite the window has a closet and the door to the room I am further restrained to three sides of the room.
When it’s all said and done I have ten feet, then a right turn to five feet, then the window, then another three feet with a right turn to about eight more feet. So 29 feet including the removeable three foot span for the window. If the shelves are two feet deep that’s 44 square feet not including the window span. See why I’m frustrated?
If your budget allows, buy a little N scale. Get the good stuff (Atlas, Kato, etc.). Check it out. Mess with it. Maybe pick up a little Atlas N scale code 55. See how well it fits (or doesn’t fit) the space.
If it doesn’t work out for you, you can always sell it off, or display it at the office. But it’s probably more effective to check it out firsthand than to listen to everyone else’s opinion on the matter.
Whenever the “HO vs N” debate is reincarnated, oft times the most vocal opinions are from those who have only ever tried one of the two scales. But opinions are ubiquitous. Informed, reliable opinions are harder to come by.
Dear WW, If you are not too far in to your HO hobby, I would say go for the N scale. I am too far in now (just converted my 86th loco)…and now that I feel my space is too small, I have to buy a new house. Just imagine the cost…seriously, I have my real estate agent scouting for me now. (My daughter also wants a bigger back yard).
Well it sounds like you could do both (switching layout and continous run). I’ve seen layout plans where there are several sceniced scenes connected by short sections of unscenicked track. You could use temporary connections between sections when you want to run a train around and around, but have it set up so without the connection you could still do some switching.
Plus you don’t need 2’ wide shelfs, 12"-16" provides plenty of room for HO. Check out John Sterling shelf components at a Home Depot or online. You could even use one of their shelf pieces as a connection, like a scenicked module you pop in place when running trains.
Go with On30.
HO track with curves as tight as 12". Steep grades and tight turnouts. Since it’s 1:48 scale, you can see everything really EZ and super detail all of it. Lots of products out there for kit bashing some really cool equipment. ME makes great looking On30 track.
I think it’s the perfect compromise for a small room.
Is this a dedicated train room?
Build the layout into the closet, that gets you back to 4 sides, a workbenck can be integrated into the closet area under the layout , build a canyon at the window or like you said use lift out bridges.
Maybe something like this?
I HIGHLY suggest you check out the layout design contest we did a few months ago for a 10x12 room, its on Spacemouse’s website, you can access it here also
http://www.chipengelmann.com/Trains/10x12Contest.html
There were several very good layouts in a similar area, some that were also HO.
Unfortunately, it’s not a dedicated train room. The layout will be about four feet from the floor with home office furniture underneath. I have considered a removeable penninsula that goes where the window bridge would be placed. Basically, instead of going straight across the window, it would turn out into a penninsula… maybe 6 feet long.
Oh well… I don’t really have any money so I don’t even know why I care.
That’s the wrong answer in any scale. Please tell me I’m misunderstanding how you mean that.
I’m almost in the same boat as the OP. Its the age-old dilemma of fitting an N-scale plan in a HO space. I’ve got about 8x7 to play, which I know is a right “country pile” in N.
The size of the models is a bit of a concern to me. I have a couple of models that I’ve made that I’ve been able to paint the best I can and they were fiddly enough in HO.
'Course I realise that if I do switch to N I can have both freight and passenger. (And maybe a Japanese Shikansen just for kicks).
I’ve invested a bit so far, but I’ve not gone overboard (2 locos, 8 box cars, station, freight house and 4 other buildings). But maybe I can use those in a diorama??
It is a very diffcult situation to find oneself in and its not an easy decsion to make.
Wow. Sure am glad I took the time to answer your post.
Sure glad I didn’t spend any time helping him. Maybe he models in phantom scale.
Bob
I would maybe check Don Spiro’s series of articles in RMC (I think it was Sept-Dec of 2006?). He was in a similar situation, and built a shelf layout above his office furniture in a room about the size you describe.
Don’t be surprised if in the future you ask for help and no one responds. Wasting peoples time is rude.
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