Hehehe. After beating my head against a wall for the last 6 months or so, trying to convince myself that a prototypical roster of late steam B&O locos and equipment was possible in N, i decided to give myself a break and work on some NS dash 9s. I had a couple already, but decided making a few with road numbers NOT offered by athearn would be nice (the diesels will probably just live in a display case for now, i dont have room for any layout really, in N or HO, so i want a few detailed models)
Is HO always this easy? In 10 minutes, i was able to order decal sheets from Microscale and a couple undecorated dash 9s, and i am preparing to get new headlights, grilles, grab irons and railings to do some superdetailing…and they are all available?!?
This could be addictive. Deciding what i want to make, and then simply ordering it…i suppose it is made doubly easy by the huge number of C44-9Ws, both in the prototype world and the model world, but wow…just wow. This is a pleasant change of pace, i gotta say! The NS horse is making my steamers nervous…
I have always had my layouts done in HO. I have thought about N scale, but I really enjoy HO scale. I guess its easier to do, as size wise. I just don’t know if I have the patience for N. Yes, HO takes up more room, but I do think it has good detail. But honestly, I think the HO scale gets hard sometimes as well.
I’ve built a grand total of two N Scale layouts as opposed to over twenty HO layouts (not all for myself). Medical problems and a lack of available components forced me to abandon the smaller scales.
For me, the decision was simply a matter of 1) my eyes aren’t what they used to be, and 2) neither are my hands. It’s hard enough to put HO cars/locomotices on the track.
If you enjoy building detailed models for display you should try a variety of scales. Some of the work done in O scale is very very good when it comes to detailing. See this site for pictures http://www.proto48.org/
If you are a craftsman who likes to build/kitbash detailed models of rolling stock, you can assemble an eclectic conglomeration of exquisite pieces in a variety of scales and track gauges, from 1:4 live steam to NNN. If, OTOH, your object is to assemble a roster which will eventually find a home on an operating model railroad, you will need to make a choice of scale and stick with it - and probably with a choice of track gauge and prototype as well.
When detailing rolling stock, the larger the scale, the easier it is to approach perfection. OTOH, ready-to-purchase detail parts get more expensive as they get bigger. Also, various manufacturers seem to have concentrated their main efforts in the ‘popular’ scales - don’t expect to find SR&RL steam fittings in Q scale at your LHS. Unless you want to cast and finish your own, you will find the widest variety in HO scale. Sad, but there it is.
The key point? Don’t envy the HO guys. Join them.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in 1:80 scale)
Ah yes… HO. 85’ passenger cars careening around 18" radius curves, trains maxing out at 10 cars… Factories barely larger than the boxcars calling on them… So much to love.[:D]
Sure there’s more challenge to N scale, but that’s why I prefer it.
It’s not always as easy as you’ve experienced, but it’s good to hear you had a successful hunt. Depending on what you’re looking to model, there will be times when certain details or decals or whatnot will be hard to find. This is becoming more true since the new RTR models being produced are as well detailed out the box as a model that was superdetailed with after market parts (not a complaint, but merely an observation). Good to hear you’re gonna have fun doing some dash 9’s. Don’t forget to post some pics of your projects, good luck.
To a regular reader of Tetsudo Mokei Shumi, it seems to me that the major challenge to the Japanese N-scaler is trying to see how much of downtown Tokyo can be crammed into a space the size of a 2-suit suitcase. If anyone can explain why 85 foot cars on 18" radius in HO is worse/more preposterous than 20 meter cars on 200mm radius in Nj (1:150,) I will listen carefully (and I promise not to laugh…)
My 20 meter cars don’t look wonderful on 610mm radius curves, but they do look prototypical. As for the industries, the answer is simple - pick a prototype that uses smaller box cars.
I have the best of both worlds - a scale big enough to SEE, and freight cars about the same length as N-scale 50-footers. I also have a garage, not a suitcase.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in HOj, 1:80 scale)
I have quite few HO models old and new, I use them as sources to build comparable S scale models, then I flip them for some cash. Now HO looks too small to me. For a true experience try Proto 64, a scratchbuilders/kitbashers delight and only 10% larger then HO but correctly guaged. Truely, I don’t envy other scales, the satisfaction of uniqueness is the best reward…
Glad you had a rewarding experience.
Dave
Modeling the mighty SP in the golden age of steam…
I have nothing to compare it with since I have been an HO guy for over 40 years. I’m guessing that in terms of availablility, we do have it better than guys in other scales although how much easier I do not know. For me, doing fine detail work in HO is tremendously difficult and frustrating so I can’t imagine ever going small. I’ve said before that if more were available in S, I might very well have switched to that for what I believe is my last layout. I think S is the ideal scale for those who have the room to do a good sized layout, which I do. I may someday build a small S-scale switching layout or diorama just for grins.
The real beauty of HO is that a no-talent hack like me with no particularly refined modeling skills can still accumulate vast quantities of items that see little or no layout time but still match the road road you’re modeling, or at least the era. [;)]
N scale, like any scale, is as detailed as you choose to make it. I have several cars with free-standing grab irons in N scale (one I built myself). You can detail an N scale loco to the nines; I know, I’ve done it.
On the other hand, if you don’t care as much about detail, N scale lets you get away with less.
I would suggest, though, that my painted, ballasted, and weathered N scale track is more detailed than, say, your HO EZ track…[swg] <—[/good-natured ribbing]
