i too say to start with HO. it is easy at the most part to handle and looks great in a small layout. it really is up to you.
michael
I have tried a little N scale, I have tried HO, and I have tried O scale. I got sick and tired of having different O scale brands not work together, ie: Locomotive and transformers, poor Lionel products, NYC passenger set where all the wiring ripped off the connections while taking curves, ($250), A ZW transformer that burned up the connections on MTH switches ($450 Lost), An MTH engine with a burned up control board ($430) purchased new, Atlas O gauge switches are very brittle in comparision to other brands. Trouble finding what I wanted or needed all the time. It became an expense that I feel I shouldn’t have to incur.
I had some experience with HO, and bought Bachmann EZ track using Atlas cars, I was very dissapointed with the #5 switches, I had more than the average derailments, left HO played a little with N, too small. Went back to HO, handlaid my own track, and have been much better satisfied. I think my new major layout will be HO. I would like to have tried s scale, but I know of no support in about a 75 mile radius of my home.
Look in your wallet, and buy the best quality item for the scale you can afford, and you should get your best results.
There is no best scale. Every scale has its pros and cons. Your best bet is to visit some MR clubs and see them in action first hand. Also brouse your hobby shops, MR magazine and retailers to find out what’s available. Start small and have fun.
It really depends on how involved you want to get too.
If you want to really superdetail anything, IMO the larger scale you go, the more you can do and the easier to do it.
I chose N scale for the size of my trains and I am not really interested in so much superdetail, but I do have detail parts on my stuff.
N scale is cheaper than H.O for Cars and engines. But H.O. scale has a huge selection campared to N scale.
If you plan on going DCC, there is more room for decoders the larger the scale.
I think the best advice is to look at different gauge layouts in action, at a train or hobby show. Selecting a size can be very personal, and frankly, I don’t think “how much room do you have” has a whole lot to do with it.
I have 2 very small layouts, a 5x8 “O”, and a 2x4 “N”. Love them both for different reasons. Lucky for me, I’m not “into” operations, but am “into” scenics.
I’m 62, so part of O’s appeal to me is childhood memories. I also love annimations, and O has many you can buy “off the shelf”, although I do make some of my own. I am a VERY big 1950’s car buff, and the selection and quality available for a O layout is awsome.
I think my N layout is just plain “neat”. A simple loop of Kato Unitrack, a bunch of late issue “Liberty Falls” houses, and I was up and running in a week. I’ve also made a ocean beach scene in one corner, and will add a “town square”, etc. But forget the automotive detail, and “easy” annimations.
What others have said about HO are also valid. A number of times at a train show I’ve thought, “wish I were also doing HO”…but, I’ve had to draw the line somewhere.
This is what I have established in my own mind from reading the comments on numerous related threads over the past nine months:
If you are young, and have average eyesight, and can spend up to $1000 for a modest layout, a couple of locos, and some kits and rolling stock, you might as well get into the hobby via N scale. You may not have the variety of HO, but you can do more with the same space. Chiefly, though, N scale track has to be better placed that does HO, allthings being equal, to get everything to work well. In other words, you’ll get your baptism in spades in N scale. All your patience and skills earned there will pay off as you find yourself drifting to the larger scales over your lifetime…something that seems to be a near universal progression as eyesight and tactile senses deteriorate.
That is my offering.
I would go to a hobby shop and pick/feel/look at several different scales.
I started in HO, dabbled in N, O and G. N is too small for me to see/handle. I like O and G, but don’t have the space. So, HO is a great middle ground and I’m very happy with it… HO has by far the widest range of products, followed by N, and then O and G.
Nick
I would suggest starting with a scale that is popular and has lots of RTR (ready to run) items available. Although there are a lot of scales that offer RTR items, HO is still king. I switched from HO to On30, which is O scale narrow gauge, and I love it. It’s a great compromise for me, because I have freedom of expression in my layout I might not have had staying with standard gauge equipment. Do your homework before you make your decision. That’s the best advice.
I started model railing with HO back in 1957 when I could barely con my parents in to it. Stayed with it until I was in High School then sold everything for a Go Kart.
Started back up in model railroading in 1973, this time the choice was N Scale; I have stayed with it through the bad and good of the equipment as improvements were made by the various manufactures.
I try to keep the time frame of my layout with in the steam to diesel transition era with emphasis on the steam.
The scale still has its limitations but I have no desire to switch, yes eyesight is not what it was and one has to have a lot of patience when working within the parameters of this scale.
Not many good steam locos ( they are what I mainly collect and run on my layout) out there and if using DCC, decoder installations in them is tricky at best (you will need lots of patience) as for the diesel locos that is were I think N scale shines, there are a lot to chose from and new being brought out almost every month some mfgr’s offer with and with out decoders plus if you choose to install your own decoder it is quite easy in most.
I have seen a lot of changes in N scale equipment through the years and most all has been for the good oh the hobby.
I do not think that one scale is better than the other and only personnel preference.
While I’ve never modeled N scale, I understand it’s come a long way, and is a good scale as far as a greater scenery-to-trains ratio, and allows you have much longer trains in the same space.
But if I had to make a recommendation to a beginner, I’d say HO just for the fact that there is so much more stuff available, from rolling stock to detail parts to structures to decals, etc.
Don’t know how old you are, but as you age, and your eyes and fingers get more feeble, you’ll probably appreciate the fact that HO is twice as large as N, but doesn’t take up as much space as O [:D]
Larger IS Better
Having done N, HO, O and HOn30 before going large…In all respects, larger IS Better…easier to work on, easier to detail, better looking, better running!
If you have the room G is great, but you better have ALOT of room! This scale will eat an average size garage for breakfast!
If your a bit more tight on space but love narrow gauge then On30 is the way to go, all the advantages of O scale scenery and detailing with all the advantages of HO running gear and track, and it looks terrific!
If unfortunatly, you love standard guage mainline trains and are a bit tight on space then you will likely end up in those lesser smaller scales HO or N, personally I would avoid N simply because there is no real opportunity for detailing or modifying the stuff since its so small to start with. Also you will find yourself needing magnifying glasses just to put the little beggers onto the tracks. HO at the very least gives you the ability to modify existing cars and engines, add details, weathering, etc. and have a lot more fun than just cracking the box, and putting the train on the tracks like in N.
BTW DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER “Z” SCALE.
Aside from the mega-$$$ cost factor…NEVER use a scale train that you can accidentally swallow if you inhale too fast![;)]
This is kind of like asking what brand of car is best. Is there one right answer? Probably not.
As you can see by the answers here, passions run deep. Everybody has there own answer to this question, and they’re all right.
Many here have alluded to the following, but this is what I feel is important in making a choice of scale. There are many conciderations to be taken into account.
How big is your area to build in?
How’s your eyesight and dextarity?
How deep are your pockets?
Do you want to run DCC? If so, Z scale is pretty much out!
What are you wanting to model?
What’s your trains to scenery ratio that you want?
What type of equipment do you want to run? If what you want is not available commercially, would you be willing to kitbash or scratchbuild?
You see? Each one of these questions needs to be answered, and then that will point you in a general direction as to what scales might work for you.
One thing that might be good is to go to a well stocked hobby shop and look at what they have there. You will most likely see HO and N, and maybe something bigger. You might even find some Z scale. Anyways, get your hands on the stuff. Feel it. See what speaks to you.
Thats the best advice I have. [8D]
P.S. - vsmith,
Not all of us take our N scale stuff out of the box and just put it on the tracks. I scratch build N scale, with a passion for highly detailed small steam loco’s (and the occasional oddity loco). And I don’t own a magnifying glass! I am 40 years old with excellent eyesight.
Now as I get older I may not be able to do this, and I may switch to HO or something. But my point is that just because you or I couldn’t, or wouldn’t want to do something, doesn’t mean that someone else can’t take great plesure from doing that very thing.
I keep seeing threads about how HO is cheaper than N. I think this depends on the quality of the trains you buy, There may be too many elcheapo Nscale around from the bad old days of Mehano from Yugoslavia. I’m talking about cheap LifeLike, Bachmann or Model Power stuff. The bargains on *bay that look too good to be true may be looking for newbie suckers. The model may be New in Box, but be from 30 yrs ago, still “new” to you.
Stick to quality brands like Atlas or Kato. LifeLike’s Proto 2000 or 1000 are much better than their Standard line. Bachmann’s Spectrum line is better than their standard line, but you must try before you buy.
The part about Nbeing too small to see depends on when you have to convert to MTL couplers, or have a small part go flying. You do have to take care not to have anything drop to the floor.
Another question to consider is if there are any clubs or modular groups in your area. They can be so helpful in getting started. At least you will meet a lot of experts to learn from.
[:0]Ah…I did say I’ve done N in the past and I did qualify the post as a personal opinion and say “Personally…” it was my opinion based on my past experiences in that scale [;)]
And stay away from Z unless you have a Trust Fund and are wearing a breathing mask![:p][8)][:o)]