My family and I will be moving in a couple of months, which has put any further construction on my HO scale layout to a hault. There isn’t much done at the moment anyway, so far I’ve constructed four “domino” style 2x4 modules.
With the new house I’ll have much more space to use than the current 11x8 corner I have allocated now, the complete dimensions aren’t finalized yet but it is definately a much bigger space.
Even though the additional space would allow for a bigger HO trackplan, after seeing a lot of photos lately of great N scale layouts, I think I’m making the switch, with as much as I can do in HO, I can do almost twice as much in N.
So now here are my questions for all the N scaler’s out there…
My theme will be a B&M branch set in around 1950, which will allow me to run some steam, what are the best “affordable” N scale steamers out there that can be DCC equiped if they don’t already come as such.
All my HO work has been with flex track but for N I’m actually considering Kato unitrack, thoughts on this?
Ignoring the motive power, because I’m really not that well versed on steam in N-scale… I’ll go to track work.
Some people have great success with Uni-track, or any of the other sectional type tracks. I would suggest to keep with flex track, if not only because of the cost, but because of the increased flexibility allowing you to modify your track plan at will without being confined to the limits of a piece of pre-fab track.
Walthers has some good steam, Kato has a 2-8-2, but I don’t know if they still make it. A lot you can find secondhand.
Unitrack is good if you want track that you can lay real fast. If you want higher detail, use Atlas Code 55 flex and snap track. I don’t like Unitrack because it’s too unrealistic for me. but you shouldn’t follow my opinion on that.
My experience with Unitrack is good, and there is a wide variety of track available, including some pieces that are expandable. The joints are reliable and align accurately. It is, however, more expensive than other track. It also reduces the amount of ballast required to make it more realistic in appearance.
Do it! That was the clincher for me…a lot more railroad in the same space. In N, i can atually hope to run prototype length trains (One 2-8-8-0, 50-55 hoppers, and 2 more 2-8-8-0 pushers) and not have the train be in 3 different towns. On an HO layout, well…i dont know anyone that can do that (Dinky little 34’ hoppers definately help here, even in N scale[:)]
N scale steam is limited compared to HO, especially if you consider the brass imports available in HO, but its there. Kato’s light 2-8-2 is a gem, and still widely available in the market, i wouldnt be at all surprised to see them make a second run of it.
Spectrum makes a dandy little 2-8-0 (that, for us B&O fans, actually appears to be patterned after the E-27 class!) and also make some nice 4-8-2 types. Pacifics and 2-10-2s are also available in N. However, i think 1950 is a bit late on the clock for steam on the B&M, i know B&O aquired their T-4 class 4-8-2s from B&M in 1947 (47 or 48, but before 1950) and those were excellent engines. Im not sure what year B&M dieselized completely, but i think it was relatively early.
Plenty of choices abound for freight cars for the steam era (hey, for us B&O guys, 1950 is still steam era) and while a bit more limited than HO, the prices are decent and the detail is surprisingly good. The PRR guys have received some love as of late in N, and as N continues to gain in popularity i think we will see more and more steam in our scale. Diesels, likewise…not AS extensive as HO, but definately enough to keep most of us satisfied.
If they dont make what you want, join us in the insanity that is scratchbuilding. Im not a rivet counter, but i want things pseudo-prototypical (knocking the rear truck off a Y-3 and calling it an EL-1 isnt quite enough for me) and i plan to build most of my locos and structures from scratch, or at least bash existing stuff into other stuff that i think looks a bit more right! I cant wait ti
I did the exact same thing last August. I sold my 5 x 10 foot HO layout and switched to N scale. I used
the ‘RailModeller’ software to design a layout using Kato Unitrack in an L-shaped space (basically along
2 walls of our guest room) and then used the Woodland Scenics Mod-u-Rail system to build it. You can see
the track plan and some early photos of the layout at http://www.astro.ufl.edu/~ata/MR2.
I like the Kato track because there is a HUGE variety of it in N scale. Alot of different curve angles, and
straight pieces as well as the expansion track piece which allows you to change the length of the track
piece to make it fit in odd areas. Check out their web site.
There’s an N scale website that focuses on northeast railroads (www.N-Scaler.com) where there are a lot of guys who model the B&M, MEC, Conrail, etc. You might want to check it out. It’s not a forum, so I don’t think my referral breaks any rules here. It’s a great resource for prototype information, there are lots of galleries of modelers’ work.
As for track, if you’ve never worked in N before, Unitrak is a good place to start. However, if you used HO scale flex track, there’s really no surprises using it in N scale. To my eye Unitrack doesn’t cut the mustard, looking a bit too toy-like. The tie spacing and the rails are way too clunky, and the plastic roadbed requires a lot of work to make look halfway prototypical. If these things don’t bother you, then go for it. The Unitrak system offers a wide variety of components, and by most reports is bulletproof.
Personally, I’m an Atlas Code 55 guy, myself. Whichever track system you choose, realize that there are certain compromises you have to make no matter what, then roll with it.
There are a lot of possibilities with N scale, just be careful not to make the same design mistakes that tend to handicap HO layouts… i.e. curves too tight, too much track jammed in, steep grades, bad scenery transitions… Think more in terms of building a railroad, instead of building a layout. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how rewarding N scale can be when you look at it from the proper perspective.
Well, Model Power makes an N scale 2-6-0 that’s not too far off a B&M B-15 and it’s available lettered for B&M ( http://store.modelpower.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1397 ). While Bachmann Spectrum’s N scale 2-8-0 isn’t really close to a B&M K-8, it’s a nice running engine. Those would be the two most appropriate steam locos for your period.
As for diesels, that should be no problem since you can get just about any diesel the B&M ever had. ALCO S-2’s, RS-2’s, EMD SW-7’s, GP-7’s, etc. would all be appropriate.
N scale can provide a good running railroad with great detail. The current offering of ‘steam’ is rather limited at this time. The Spectrum 2-8-0 is a very nice engine(not DCC Ready), but putting a decoder in it is an all night project. I have done 3 of them. The first run of the Kato USRA Heavy 2-8-2 was not DCC Ready, and it is a real ‘puzzle’ to get apart and back together(I have done 3 of these, as well). My understanding is that the 2nd run is DCC Ready.
I really got into N scale in 1987, and went back to HO in 2002. Let me explain the reasons why:
Lack of freight car detail parts
Poor selection of 50’s era decals
My 50 year old eyes were getting tired…
I really wanted to ‘build’ some freight cars again.
That last item was the real killer. I can get ‘ends’/frames/doors and detail parts to assist scratch building correct HO cars. One other reason was that there were mainly HO modelers in my rural ‘out state’ area. Adding DCC/Sound is a lot easier with HO.
One other thing to think about is that you will buy at least twice as many freight cars(the trains ‘need’ to look longer). If you are thinking ‘cost’, N scale is not cheaper. N scale Code 55 trackage costs as much as the HO Code 83. You will have more structures/trees on your N scale layout.
N scale is really great if you are doing ‘modern’ stuff. The really great N scale layouts of the 50’s era(like the Cumberland Valley) have a lot of extreme kit-bashing, and custom painting of equipment. The current trend of ‘RTR’ favors the modern era, and that is were the ‘pre-decorated’ equipment is being manufactured.
I’m an old N scaler from way back… I’ve come real close more than once in the last couple of years to selling off all of my N scale stuff and going with HO because of my eyesight, but finally invested in a really good magnifying glass instead. Besides, I don’t have the room for HO with my present situation when it comes down to it. Like others have said, there’s down sides to N scale and there’s bright sides, but of all the scales there are it’s my personal favorite.
Model Power also makes a B&M 4-4-0. You could also get one of their 4-6-2’s and modify it into a P2 like locomotive. I think if you are modeling a branch like the hillsborough, you could survive solely on B15’s. Ian Rice had an article on the hillbilly in Model Railroad planning 2006 or some other year (CN locos on the cover). Roundhouse passenger cars are fairly close to B&M’s commuter cars, and I recall someone doing B&M buggy’s in N.
I think N scale is great in that the ratio of scenery to the trains is great. You can model some vast expanses of scenery and have broad curves in a small space. The main reason I shied away from N is that steam locos and older equipment (I like small steam and equipment used on branch lines around the early 1900s) is very limited. N scale is more oriented toward modeling contemporary railroads. Although some modelers do some good work scratchbuilding in N scale, it is too small for me. Heck, after building a couple of models in Large Scale, even On30 is too small for me.
Just an FYI… The newer releases of the Bachmann Spectrum Consolidation is indeed DCC ready. There’s a small plate on top of the boiler weight that unscrews to make room for the chip, and a couple of wires to solder. About 20 minutes, not all night…
Ah yes, the modeling is always greener in the other scale. While N scales has advantages, photographs are a poor basis for decision. Model photography ususally doesn’t show the true size very well. I would suggest you visit some layouts - conventions (NMRA and others) are good for this. Train shows usually have some layouts set up.
I suggest you start out with a small layout or module before making a major commitment or sell off your HO.
Whenever I think about changing scales, I get out a couple of HO models, a couple of O, a couple of N, a couple of G and compare them to S. (Notice I have been down this road more than once [(-D]) This reminds me of why I am in S.
I have thought about changing over to N scale. I think the biggest problem I am worried about is TO SCALE. Like what if I make the mountains to big, or some rock to big. Makes me alittle mad when I see the $$$$$ I would save with n scale (cars, scenery, etc). Just think of the layout you could have with the space that was once HO.
Cannoli, I model Modern Day, so I can’t say too much about steamers, but Atlas is awsome for diesels. My advice on track: Use Atloas flextrack. I’ve never used Unitrack, but it could be limiting and might cost a little more. For discount sites, try www.wholesaletrains.com, www.blueridgehobbies.com, and www.fiferhobbie.com. They have great deals.
