Is HO an accepted scale for garden railroading?
Not really, because HO track and equipment is not weatherproof or, in the case of Arizona, sunproof. I have had the roofs on HO-scale plastic passenger cars (Rivarossi) warp from the sun shining through a window in the early morning hours, so I can just image what would happen if I left it outside in the mid-day sun.
wrightklw,
Welcome to the forum! I know some outdoor stuff has been done in On30. As for actual HO I would say don’t. The locomotives and rolling stock were never intended to be used outdoors. Check through the topics on this forum or key in a search. I know we covered this in the past and there should be some good info there for you. Hope you enjoy the forum. Have fun! Later eh…Brian.
Hi
It has been done but the gentelman that did it changed to 16mm to the foot runing on 32mm gauge out side. Peco publications do a book on OO scale in the garden.
But you have to be real fussy my own opinion is if it is smaller than “O” scale dont bother they are not built for it and an HO ice train hiting a snail at speed yuk followed bu sob!! that trains wrecked
regards John
I modeled an indoor layout in HO when I was little, that’s why I was wondering about the feasibility of using that scale outdoors. That, plus my yard isn’t really huge, so I’m trying to fit enough in the space I have to make it interesting.
Hi wrightklw
take a look at http://www.johnrogers.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/rails.htm
John (Not me I wish I was that clever) also has a small garden and he is modeling in 16mm scale on 45mm gauge track( in theory at least a little larger than G).
The line is based on, but is not the North Borneo Railway.
That Jungle is in Bristol in the UK.
So all our excuses for not building or not gardening the way we want to I think just went out the door big time[swg][wow][yeah]
Just wish I was that good[:(][
]
regards John
[#welcome] wrightklw
That web site is great! I can only aspire to have mine looking that good. But, it does give me and my small space hope. I’m going to try and run a loop around the perimeter of my back yard, with maybe a pass through my garage/engine house. By the way, I want to thank everyone for welcoming me to the forum
HI wrightklw
Only too pleased to assist where I can.
Just remember small space = small locomotives and rolling stock and I don’t think you can go too far wrong.
Also use the viewing point priciple that is important indoors to make
the line look bigger than it is.
Have fun and don’t forget the forum is here and, that the stupid question is the one you should have asked and didn’t.
Because some one on the forum will be able to assist in some way.
its a bit late but [#welcome]
regards John
I was wondering the same thing
While HO outdoors seems unlikely, didn’t GR print an article on a Lionel 0-guage garden railroad a few years back?
Hi wrightklw,
There have been quite a few garden ‘OO’ (Brit version of ‘HO’) lines in the UK. The one that sticks in my mind was a huge one with all the track laid on a concrete base. Seems to me that the biggest problem would be track maintenance and keeping grit out of the loco mechs, if you can put up with that and the critters/weather in Kentucky don’t conspire against you - put some track down and have a go.
Welcome to the forum and I’ll bet you buy some ‘G’ before long!!
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]
One rather easy way to determine whether or not HO track and equipment will survive outdoors in your climate is to put a piece of HO scale flex track and a piece of rolling stock outdoors and let them sit for a few months. HO might survive during the wintertime in my part of the country, but right now it would no doubt melt or severely warp in the afternoon sun. Sierra Vista is not as hot as Tucson or Phoenix, since we are at 5,400 foot altitude, but I have been told by G-scale modelers that the use of metal wheelsets on their equipment is mandatory because plastic wheels were melting on the hot rail.
Suddenly my hopes are being raised about using HO! As far as the kritters here in KY, I don’t think they would bother it very much. Then again, I didn’t think I would EVER see a cat stomp my wifes flowers just for the heck of it, but I did last week! I think if I’m sensible about it, I can get away with using HO. I’d be more than happy running only in decent weather, and clearing the track before I ran it to avoid derails would be no biggie. (Listen to me, I sound like a kid trying to convince his parents a puppy is a good idea). Thanks for the input, and keep the ideas and insight coming please!
In a word “no” , but it is done; more as a curiosity. I think there are pelople in the world who like to do things differently, if thats you, well have a go.
What do you call not much room ? any dimensions available? Many peole on this forum will give you an informed opinion, wether you want one or not !
Rgs
Ian Kawana Ilsand etc.
I would say my actual garden space is about 20’ by 30’. But, that’s not counting the loop I may make around the perimeter of my back yard.
With that size and HO we should be seeing lash ups of 5/6 loco’s and 40+ wagons. That’s what I used to have in N but one day I couldn’t see 'em. We all get there one day so remember that you can still see G when it’s at the bottom of the garden without using binoculars.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]
Good morning,
My space is 10’ x 60’ with a 12’ x 12’ el under a wood deck. Not a lot of room as far as garden railroads go but with a little determination “G” scale can be built in such a space.
A small HO layout would be an interesting experiment but do keep it small untill you know that it will work in your location.
OLD DAD