I am so confused. I like my HO layout I am building and it is comming along quite nicely, but I also like and have N scale equipment. Just think, protypical length trains and wide radius curves. On the other hand Hi Rail O is pretty cool too. My dad probably would have let me extend into the living room if it was O and I have equipment for this too. This is where I know too much for my own good. I like all scales and I cannot decide which I would really like to have a nice layout built in. I went with HO because that was where I had the most locos and rolling stock, but a couple months ago I couldn’t resist getting an new N scale WM F7 to replace the old worn out N&W GP9. And dont even get me started on my love for Hi rail. But then again Ho is pretty cool too. See now I am back to square one. Has anyone else been through this? this is difficult![B)] [B)] [B)]
Yep, have been there! I currently have G, HO and N scale models. I find I like different prototypes in different scales - my G scale is European narrow gauge (mostly German and Austrian though I plan to add more Swiss metre gauge to the collection as soon as funds allow). My HO is mostly US outline though with a few German models (mostly older Fleischmann picked up cheaply at LHS or on ebay) while my N is mostly German - N is great for modelling the big expresses as you can get a long train into a small space.
Adam,
The easy way is to finish one (probably the HO you’ve already started) enough to keep you happy. Then look at what you have and figure out if you still have to do N or O and if so start that, but at least finish one enough to run on. No harm in liking all those scale (you left out G and Z) models, but if you start them all at once you’ll never get anything sorted out. J.R.
I’m settled in N for now, but i like the availability of HO. But then, thats half the challenge isn’t it? Guess thats why I’ve been scratch building steam in N. I;m just a glutton for punishment!
Seriously though, I had the same issues to work through, but in the end most of us can only do one thing really well and so there comes a time to decide what that is going to be and then put everything you’ve got into that. And by the way, I’ve found out that the answer to that question is NOT everything!
I can run trains on the HO and plan on having it for a while but still refer to my original post. My mom and I are building a garden RR in G scale and Z is very expensive! and too small for me, although I could fit it in a brief case, hmm… Now I have to add another one to the list. sigh
I had 027, N and HO. I picked HO because of size, price, availability and high level of detail.Just my[2c] I’d still like to have a bigger gauge for around the X-Mas tree.
I go through this everytime something cool comes out in a scale other than what I model in!!
As a kid I played with O-Scale Lionel and sharpie curves.
I made the HO move and never looked back…
but that was years ago.
N scale is small, good for those who want a lot in a small space, I have but a few tiny scattered bits of N scale.
I have too much investment in HO, it seems to be the right decision.
If I want to play with real prototype sized trains, theres MS Train Simulator or Trainz or other softwares.
That pretty much removes my N scale needs.
The layout I am planning won’t require supersized trains, perhaps 20 cars tops
depending how I can work in more length, but my put/take switching operations with coal unit trains will keep it around 20 cars.
That will be enough for the multi-railroad plan I have.
Adam, just build one of each![:p] You can fit them into the house some how…[:D]
But honestly, I’ve been contemplating between HO and N, now that space has become available to me. So, just way the pros and cons, prices and all that, availability, so on, and you’ll come to a decision sooner or later.
But, I think you should finish what you have started right now.
Can you think about combining th HO and N ? I haven’t done it, but have read in MR that it can be done. Just something to think about, then you have twice the fun!
Why not fini***he HO layout, then build an around the wall track to run your O and N scale on?
Adam, I’m the same way you are. I started out with 027 then went to HO. I didn’t really have the space for them, so they are back in the box for now. I’m building a 4’x8’ layout for my N scale, here in the house. I’m not giving up any of my trains, when my garage is finished, I will be building layout’s for my 027 and HO in there. I know it’s hard to decide, but it’s your decision.
Good Luck !!
Stan.
Yes, I think almost everyone has. Spreading $$$ and time between many scales can lead to not being satisfied with any of them. Any one layout can demand all of ones attention let alone 5. I finally sold off all my S-scale (even the rare pre-WWII three rail), sold off all the O-27 except for one loco on “mantel display” duty, I dismantled my O-scale and N-scale layouts about two years ago (still a few boxes of residual equipment to get rid of). So now I am down to HO, HOn2, HOn3, and G-gauge at 1:20.5 scale.
My advice is the same as GMTRacing’s. The sooner you chose one and have the intestinal fortitude to stick with it, the better off you will be. You will save money, have better models in the one you choose, and, I believe, be happier with what you do have.
Ok i am stickin with HO, for now anyways. I really like my new layout It runs really well. Maybe in the future like when I move out on my own and actually have a decent house I can build in another scale. I read people are coming back to the hobby after 30 long years and they dropped it in college. I hope this is not me! I love trains and Model railroading I hope college and a CFO do not interfear with my hobbies.
If I had endless space I would go with ‘O’ scale. That is what first attracted me to MR when I was a kid, and I still love the large equipment. You just gotta love equipment that is so large and heavy that if it derails you have a better chance of wrecking the floor than wrecking your equipment! [:P]
Since I don’t have room for ‘O’, I am very happy with ‘N’ scale. Although HO has a much greater selection of equipment and buildings, there is something about seeing such precision in a very small size that really appeals to me.
[:)]
It’s such a struggle, seriously.
Like Roadtrp said, I’m also super attracted to O - it’s the first scale I saw much of as a kid - and 2 rail at that! In fact, because I saw this O scale layout every year, I thought my Dad and I were weirdos for having this HO layout - I thought HO was rare (and this was in the 80’s!)
But yes, there is also something super cool about seeing a very nice N scale layout. Very cool. Too many scales to choose from!
IMHO, HO is the ultimate scale !
It has the detail (some models have better detail than even some O scale models!), but you can still have room for a decent layout.
And room inside the loco for DCC and Sound.
Plus, as others have said, there are TONS of locomotive and rolling stock choices - more than any other scale !!
You have the best - forget the rest !!!
there are people who run both ho and n scales on the same layout at the same time. the ho scale is in the foreground of the layout and the n scale is run at the rear of the layout and provides a forced prospective of quite a distance between the front and rear and will make your layout seem to be bigger. use n scale structures there too.
I have the same problem, on a regular basis! While I mostly model in HO, I’m also an N scaler, and I love the mass of two rail scale O. And On30 stuff keeps calling my name!
Frankly, the best solution I came up with was to become a prototype modeler. With a chosen road, date and location, and STICKING to those choices, I’m able to regluate my spending and not buy anything that doesn’t fit in.
HOW did I choose what to model? That was the trick part. I knew that whatever I chose to model had to be steam-related; that was the easy part! And although I have a soft spot for eastern narrow gauge, I mostly like superpower steam. That brought me to post-1925, pre-1959 or so. My favorite prototype is the NKP, which limited my primary engine buying. But…I also like the IC, NYC, GM&O and C&IM. So I looked for an area to model that would include all of these roads, at least in a close area. The ONLY place where these five roads all ran was Peoria, and the last date that yoou could see steam from all five of the roads together was 1950. Factoring in a few other tidbits of detail information gave me a modelling era of 1947-1950.
So…the key (I think) to being a happy modeler is to either make enough money to buy everything you like, or focusing on one thing that you like the best and sticking with it. It might take a few years to figure out exactly what your preferances are, but that’s part of the fun!
I started in HO moved to O then to S. Each scale has it’s advantages. For me S scale represents the best compromise between large enough to work with and small enough to have a layout. I love the bigger sizes, but where do you stop? If you go with O, pretty soon your looking at 3/8, then G, then…
Enjoy
Paul