I was a novice with some skills and built a 4X6 HO Layout but was never happy with it. I’ve learned a lot by watching videos, reading posts and attending train shows. I fell in love with N scale displays and the ability to do more in a smaller space so I bit the bullet and took down the HO layout. I bought a Scale Train loco, Kato Unitrack and Woodland Scenic Riser at the Amherst Train show in January. I also picked up an MRC Prodigy 2 DCC controller on EBay. I never heard of Scale Trains but the people at the Spring Creek booth went into detail why they were comparable to more expensive name brands with a decoder already inside .I was very happy with the sounds and performance of the loco. My layout plan is to have dual tracks on the exterior perimeter and a single track elevated higher than the dual on the inside. All tracks will go through a mountain with a waterfall running down into a river. I’ll have a campground along the edge of the mountain. It will have smaller hills running along the length of the back of the table. There will be a small town 50’s/60’s industrial area to the left and a small village same 50’s/60’s theme to the right. So I have started the process which will be slow as I need to replenish my train funds after my 1st spending spree.
Good luck with your conversion. Which scale to use is strictly a matter of personal preference. There is no right or wrong answer.
I’m sticking with HO because I’ve invested almost 50 years of time and money in it. No way I would change now. If I were 50 years younger and starting over, I would give S scale consideration. Even with HO, I find fine detail difficult to work with. I can’t imagine working in anything smaller.
I always get a chuckle when I hear people refer to HO as large scale. I got a second-hand HO 4x8 layout when I was a kid in the early 1960s. Prior to that I had experience with Lionel and American Flyer. To me, HO was small scale. I think N scale was just starting up around that time but I didn’t hear about it until at least 10 years later.
I started with 0, (027 to be exact) and have now started an N layout because of space. HO can actually take up more space than 0 because of more prototypical curves, 44" for HO, 27 to 36 for 0.
But wow, its so hard for my brain to adjust to the much smaller details, I’m struggling to say the least, but I’m having fun, and that’s what matters!
Love the new project you have brewing ! There was some amazing N scale club layouts at the Great Train Show last month. I really love what Kato offers in N …quality and price. N scale also offers way more action in a smaller space. It probably does take some extra work for detailing smaller terrain. Good luck !!!
Be sure to have space for some on-line industries and their spur tracks or sidings. Engine servicing areas (engine house, roundhouse) can be fun too.