To be honest I think HO is more unforgiving of details, since you can see every little rivet etc, you can get fanatical about it. With N you focus is more on the overall scene, the smaller details are generally filled in by imagination unless you force-focus on them.
Think about what gets your interest piqued long trains or smaller switching layouts and pick the scale which suits your desires. Both have a good range of equipment (HO better for steam though) and the quality of the equipment is good compared to say 15 years ago.
HO. no, N. no, HO. no, N. Ah heck! Just build one of each! [:D][:D]
Seriously, tho. Since space is not an issue, I think the biggest factor would be your tolerance for handling small detail parts such as couplers, trucks, body shells of rolling stock, etc. I modeled in N scale off and on for a total of several years (spread across many). I am currently helping a friend build an N scale layout (he had limited space and wanted long trains). But I decided to do MY modeling in HO because I my small parts tolerance level has become rather low. Trying to handle tiny N scale parts with my fat fingers (at least they look fat through the magnifiing glass next to the parts!) was taking too much enjoyment out of the hobby. And that is what scale choice REALLY boils down to: know which aspects of the hobby give you the most enjoyment and which scale is best suited to those aspects while making the ones you don’t like easier to deal with.
I would suggest making a list of things that appeal to you most (assembling kits, laying track, operating trains (long/short/continous run/switching), etc) as well as the things that you find you really don’t want to deal with. Then evaluate the pros and cons of both scales against this list to determine which one would provide the most enjoyment.
Another approach is to build a small layout (or better yet: a module) in each scale to find out which you like better. Don’t get fancy with it to keep cost down. This is just to get a taste of what each scale offers. To recoup some of the cost of the stuff you eventually don’t want, you can sell or trade it.
Great posts, folks. Heck, if I used the whole basement, I could go with G scale !! heheee I know I could see that stuff to work on it… seriously, I’ve got a perfect room for HO and another room that N scale would go good in… I’m sure I could fill up either room with a project.
I will start reading more and try to pick out a layout or scheme that fits what I want to do.
The first question you need to answer is, “What are my goals with this layout?” and “How much space do I have?”
If you wio run passenger trains, commuter or modern freight but your space limitations leave you with curves no larger than 22 inches then N scale is the way to go. However, if you wio model a short line, branch line, waterfront or industrial switching then HO is better. The quality between the two scales is comparable if you are running diesel. However, in steam HO will give you better detail and quality. Obviously, N will give you more in a smaller area. However, if you are planning a shelf layout in a bedroom you will be surprised at what you can accomplish with HO.
If I go to the bigger room, I will have a wall about 20’ x 12’ x 8’ of usuable space. One long wall, then a medium wall and a short wall that has a closet where things must stop. I can also use the space in-between. I’m thinking if I go this route, I will do a layout with a walkunder (bend over and stoup) with an operating position in the middle and the layout running in a sort of triangular shape. (if this makes sense).
If I go with the small room (Nscale), it will be a wall about 10’ with about 8’ on one side and about 5’ on the other. I won’t be able to do a center op position with this one. Just a big “U” with a short and long side.
My easiest route will be the small room with the Nscale. I already have a built in table that can be raised to appox. 50" high and build off of this. BTW, is 50" the best height for a layout. It seems I read this somewhere???
Also, in N scale, Code 55 or Code 80? Like I said, I’m starting from scratch… but might end up with some old stuff for the layout also.
One other question, what’s a good source to find info on designing a prototypical layout? I guess what I’m asking is, what’s a good source to find a map or layout of a real railroad? In the past, I always just picked a layout and built it, basically a fictional layout… I guess everything is pretty well “fictional” but would be neat to try to build the tracks that come through here in Tupelo, MS.[:D]
I would go with the Code 55 in N scale. Maybe even Code 40 for sidings. The smaller rail looks fantastic in photos and I’m sure it looks even better in person (Yes, I have not used either personally). But the smaller the rail, the more attention you have to give wheel flange size.
Thanks for the input… all the posts have been very helpful. Now, it’s just deciding on what room to use, small room or big room… that will determine the gauge… or should I say, the wife will determine the guage. heheheee
If space is not an issue, you could try both - do a 2X4 module in both scales and see how you like working with them. To limit expenses, see if you can borrow a loco in each scale from somebody and just buy a couple cars of each.
I am voluntarily limiting myself to a small around the walls shelf layout - an L-shape of about 2x6 and 2x8 - and since I already have N and HO rolling stock from previous layouts, it’s a toss-up on scale. My decision will most likely be based on which scale gives me the best operable layout - HO switching like Dave Barrow’s mini Cat Mountain from MR Planning a few years back or an N-scale yard a hidden loop for continuous running.
Layout building by poll? Hey, go for it. Everytime you get ready to do something run a poll. LOL How did that old saying go, the one about building by committee? Should be fun LOL. Fred
Heheheeee… Fred, your right… I’m basically down to deciding which room to use in the basement. If I use the small room, it’s Nscale, if the big one, it’s HO. I guess the decision is really in the wife’s hands.
nucat, great idea. Building one of each… then I could expand to both basement rooms! heheheee
Well it matters what you are modeling. If you are doing a Class I,II, or III RR. If you hav e a lot of space, id go HO scale. But like i said, if you go for a Mainline like UP, or NS, CSX… etc… Personally, i like N, but i am younger that most model railroaders and i have great eyesite. I like the challenge of the small prototype, but its all up to you. Have fun with it… dont let size be a factor
When I moved to Oregon in 1977 I had a garage full of HO equipment (4 boxes). Do to space limitations I started an N scale layout (3 boxes and 3’ x 12’ of track layed) but I never finished it because I wanted an operating layout, switching and short moves, and I could never get the operations or see the detail in N scale. Is this a 1977 equipment problem??? I am now trying to build an HO layout in a room addition I took half of. It is HO because I kept buying HO equipment over the years and I can still see the detail. I did set up a test track in N scale and think it would be fine to run long trains but I still want operations. I get detail and operations with HO, does the new N scale provide the same???
Detail will generally be a little less with N scale just because of the size of mass-produced free-standing details, but good-quality N scale runs really, really well today … much better than even HO did in 1977! There are some very fine operations-oriented layouts being built in N.
If one’s opinions about N scale are based on nearly 30-year old data, might be time for an update. Or are you still trying to decide between a Pacer and a Vega for your next car purchase?
First: do you want to run a lot of steam and/or is prototypical accuracy a very high priority? If so, go with HO. If “operating a railroad” is more your gig, N scale is the direction.
I’ll add my vote to the “build a couple of modules” chorus. Unfortunately, the nearest NTrak club appears to be in Nashville. However, Memphis does have a NMRA club, and they’re hosting the 2006 NMRA Southeast Regional Convention http://www.msmr.name/serconvention/index.htm. I’d get in touch with them, do some hands-on and also check out some of the layouts. They’ll be having 13 layouts on their layout tour, so you should see something that tickles your fancy.
I’ve returned to the hobby as well, but the choice for me is N Scale, mostly due to space restrictions. However, I’ve worked with both and each has its pros and cons.
The largest pro for HO is cost. Overall, you’ll spend much less on HO than you will N because HO is more widely available. In addition, HO scale tends to be more fun to work with because it’s more forgiving when it comes to those occassional “oops” mistakes.
N Scale doesn’t afford this luxury. If you make a critical mistake in N Scale, you’ll definitely pay for it. However, if you’re extremely patient in working with a smaller model, my suggestion is for this scale.
To me, N Scale looks more realistic because it’s smaller. No matter how well you design an HO layout, it just has this “fake” look to it (although I’ve seen some fantastic layouts which come pretty darn close to perfection!) But that’s just my opinion.
What I would recommend is to build yourself a small scenery “stage” in both scales. Shouldn’t cost you more than $40 per scale. Then, build with it. Place some track down and add scenery. You’ll get a quick idea of how well one looks over the other, but more importantly, how much it’ll take to enclose your new layout in scenery.
Let us know what you decide! As for me, I’m going to start with a UniTrack system.
[:)]
Hey bikerdad,
Thanks for this info, guess I was looking in the wrong places… but I hadn’t seen that Memphis was the host city for NMRA SE. I went to the NMRA SE when it was in Huntsville, Al several years ago and had a ball. Really saw some nice Garden Railways over there. Awesome stuff. I will give them a buzz.
Hi Texan, Larry, cuyama and twinrova,
I am leaning toward HO, just for size more than anything. Also, I have modeled Nscale before (previous life) and might like to try something different… still undecided. Nscale makes a lot of sense because of the need for less space… but I like the idea of bigger trains. Heck, I would love to go Sscale or larger… but that is out of the question.
I drove up to Memphis today and dropped into a couple of hobby stores. One store was totally trains only, it was fun to wander around. They had G, HO, N and O layouts setup. Several running. Still having trouble making up my mind on what I want to build on my new layout… thought today would help, probably only clouded my thoughts even more. This train hobby store was on Sycamore View Road. I also went to a Hobbytown at WolfChase in Memphis, I was pleasantly surprised that they had a fairly nice selection of train stuff… not a lot, but more than most of the Hobbytowns I have been to.
Hey Bikerdad,
I also got an email from the SER SE chairman and he filled me in on the details. Looks like I will definitely be there. Heck, the host hotel is actually in NW MS, so it will be like having this in Tupelo… almost.
