all right i’ve only been a model railroader since well april[:D], but have an HO scale SANTA FE diesel,a hooker tank car,main central gondola,and a santa fe caboose. but i was thinking of starting N scale so is it any good and can you post a picture of how big they are thanx.[:)].
trainmaster, first a question: what do you hope to gain by switching scales?
Asking if N scale is any good is like asking if stocks are any good…it sort of depends on what you are intending to buy. Just like HO, some are outstanding and there is some junk and about level in between.
As far as how big they are, a picture is probably not going to help much. Even a side-by-side picture of an HO and an N scale GP9 is probably not going to help. N scale is slightly more than half the size of HO. Your best bet is to pay a visit to the LHS or train show and actually compare them.
I model in N scale and would like to add to the good advice given. Before you make an investment try to read up something about N scale modelling and visit your LHS. Make comparisons, are you comfortable with the size etc.
Before making the plunge, decide how much space you have available for the hobby as this an important factor when deciding on a scale.
Cheers,
Cliff
http://cliffordconceicao3310.fotopic.net/c328807.html
Most of us N scalers would actually probably rather be HOers, but we just don’t have the room - at least that’s my reason for going with N scale.
I also want to point out that if you have poor eye sight like I do, you might want to stick with HO…
Just trying to help.
Tracklayer
Nonsense. I switched from HO to N 38 years ago and have never regretted it[:D]
Sorry, DSchmitt but Tracklayer pulled my chain! I"ve been in N-Scale almost as long as you have and I have to admit I am a “closet” ***. I went to N-Scale because all I had ever had space for in HO was oval layouts although one of those had been two 4X8s butted together to give a 16’ length. I would have “druther” stayed in HO but an oval is an oval and when I retired from the Air Force in 1978 and evaluated the space available for model railroading I realized that the only way I was going to escape from the oval “trap” was to go to N-Scale. I’ve never really resented that decision; it was sound for the time it was made. But I am now just past my 66th birthday and my old bod don’t work the way it used to. I am here to refute the argument that one grows shorter as one grows older; I have grown taller as I have gotten older and I realize that fact because the floor is much farther away everytime I have to reach over to pick something up off of it.
I couldn’t go back to HO now even if it were practical - I have entirely too much N-Scale “stuff” accumulated and it would be an economic hardship to swap scales at this time. But N-Scale got me out of the world of ovals and I have enjoyed it; I’ve not had a prodigous amount of space (nor money, either, for that matter) but I’ve sure enjoyed running 30+ car trains; do you know how much space it takes to run a 30+ car train in HO??
I model N because I dont have the space for HO, if I did I would model HO in preference, having said that N scale is great.
I model both N and HO. HO for my club and N for my home layout. I’m in my middle sixties and have no trouble with N. I do not run DCC, but may convert some HO over as our club does run DCC and DC. I’m just more comfortable with DC is all and have nothing against it. I started but never completed an N scale layout back in the late sixties due to military moves (Navy). I’m back in it now because of lack of space for type of railroading I like. The thing I really like about N scale is that I can very effectively model and not worry about a lot of nit-pikin detail that I do with HO. As far as costs go, I really don’t see that much difference between the two. Granted there is a little more variaty of motive power and rolling stock in HO, but for the railroad I model (Erie), there’s not much in either scale. But (there’s always a but) haveing said all this, it’s best to visit a hobby shop and compare the two. Some of use drive hot-rod sports cars and some drive pick-up trucks. Me, I drive an 18 wheeler. Ken
To answer trainmaster’s question, N scale engines and cars are approximately half the size of HO.
To the N scale haters, N scale is a good scale to model in even if one has the room for HO because it allows one to run long trains with multi diesel lash ups along with modeling large industries and vast scenery.
Because of its size, N scale is a futzy scale to work with compared to HO. The quality has improved in recent years. Kato and Atlas make smooth running reliable diesels. Kato is practically trouble free,
How much detail do you want?
Do you like sound? If you say no now in the future you will try it.
Do you like lighting effects?
Are you intending to run long trains or are you more focussed on operation?
N-scale locos run great for the most part but ditch light are a bit challenging and sound is best left up to yht pros. You can run longer trains, but how long is long enouph?
I modelled HO from the age of 8-18 and when I left home the stuff ( mostly toy-like) was lost or stolen. I got into N-scale as I wanted a train with 7-12 cars at least. I like to operate with managable train lenth, that is the sidings must be long enough to take a full train.
I will eventually go to HO as at the age of 38 my sight is already questionable and I have committed to finishing my n-scale layout before I venture into HO. I like the size better, it leaves a better impression on people. Think about it, have you ever gone to a train show to see some layouts? For me and mine, they ( the wife and kids ) seem to come away talking about the HO layouts.
I just started with N Gauge. I am loving it !! I feel N scale models are more cuter than HO … just my taste
I converted to N scale back in April after attending the local model rail expo. With about a dozen HO layouts, and a couple of O scale, the layout that had everyone talking, and won most popular exhibit was the only N scale layout, run by the local N scale group. I have very limited space available and N scale opens up new possibilities for me.
It’s not just what looks good out of the box, but what you do with it, as others have pointed out. Do you want to run long trains? Complex switching operations? Ovals? Combinations?
Through some astute ebaying and a couple of good online dealers I’ve been able to set up with a couple of Kato AC4400CW locos, about twenty coal hoppers and a similar number of box cars and can’t wait til the next exhibition to roll them out.
My wife even approves and says she prefers the N scale to my HO stuff.
Trev
Canberra, Australia