In a 10 x 12 foot room, which scale should I set up N or HO scale Trains? I currently have several HO Engines and was thinking about switching to N Scale. Is there any benefit is switching to N scale or should I just stay with HO?
Thanks,
Greg
N
Do the N Scale Engines run as good as HO in DCC and with sound? This is important too. I need these questions answered from the pros.
Thanks,
Greg
Hi, Greg. If DCC and sound are what’s most important to you, you should stay with HO. From what I’ve read here and there, N-scale is still way behind HO in those areas, mostly because of the small size of the rolling stock. It’s much harder to fit decoders and speakers into the locos.
However… In a 10 x 12 room, I would definitely go with N-scale, because you could fit twice as much track and scenery into your layout than you could with HO. And, I wouldn’t be surprised if N made advances in sound and DCC in the near future.
Not so fast guys. While it is true that you can cram a lot more track into the same space in N, quantity should not be the deciding factor. There area lot of good HO plans for that size space.
This seems like a job for our friend here to take paper and pencil, and make a list of pro’s and con’s for each scale, based on his taste and needs. Look at things like product availability, level of detail desired, type of operation, and so on.
More is not always better.
Thanks Donald,
That helps me out a lot. I would still like to heard from others with there opinions.
Thanks ahead of time,
Greg
HO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO .
Well, everyone seems to like HO and my HO layout is built, but need to find a way to reach across the layout and add scenery to the layout.
Any suggestions?
Greg, just because you have a layout partially built, doesn’t mean you can’t change. Do you like the layout the way it is? It sounds like your currrent design includes some hard to reach areas. Those things are always trouble regardless of scale. Since you haven’t really goten going on your scenery yet, now is the best time to make changes, if you want to. Best results come when using a 3’ maximum reach as a guideline, and almost never more than 4’.
Getting back to the scale part of the question, seeking input form others is fine, but ultimately the decision is yours, because it is your layout and your hobby. Have you looked serously at N. Go to your local hobby store and really check it out. See what they stock, and ask the people who work there.
Personally, I’ve tried both, and currently do neither. I made my choice 20 years ago, to go with 3 rail O. You could even have a decent layout with that. Of course it would be very different. I’m not trying to confuse you, just trying to get you to weigh the options and be happy with your decision.
Do you like to see more prototypically long trains running through scenic vistas or do you prefer shorter trains running through more compact scenes? For the former, N scale should be your choice. For the latter, chose HO.
As Brett said, it depends on how long a train do you want?
My HO scale layout that I’m currently building is 9X12.
The trains won’t be long but the operating should still be fun.
How wide is your layout Greg?
I don’t have to reach farther than 2 & a half feet over the benchwork to work on the scenery.
Gordon
For HO you could go with a round the wall layout…
All I had for room was 8X9 feet. The layout started as a 4X9 . Then I ended up adding an addition for a yard. Then I added another addition that connected the yard to the other end of the layout. I kinda change my mind alot. I model in HO and tried going to N. I myself found that modeling HO in this small space was easier then N scale. I’m not too sure why except that I’ve always modeled HO and was used too it. If you want to see what I did here is a link to my album. You can kinda see the transformation process. I’m no expert by any means but if I could do it then anyone can. Hope this helps you out some. This of course is my experience.
my album http://www.railimages.com/gallery/jeremywallace
Jeremy
Have you considered On30?
I would recomend HO, but do what you belive is best.
Big_Boy_4005 makes good points in both his posts.
If wanted the appearance of long trains with long straight aways and broad curbs"realistic" looking curves, I would design an HO layout for the space, then adjust track spacing and build it in N scale. This could result in a spectacular looking layout.
If I wanted a lot of switching and shorter trains on tighter curves are OK, I lean toward HO because its larger size and weight generally make it less finicky for switching.
There is better variety and more availability of equipment in HO, but N is appears to be catching up. A t the present time, DCC is good in either scale. HO is far better for sound.
Cost may also be an issue. Historically, HO has usually cost less than N for many similar items probably because of ihe larger market. The difference is less than it used to be. However, since N scale is smaller, one may have a tendency to buy more to fill up the space.
What really matters is that you can get what you want in your scale.
For the best of both worlds, I like N. I am biased, however, since I have been in N scale for 36 years.
A fine layout can be built in your space in either scale.
I have an HO layout in a room just slightly smaller than yours. It works great for me. As DSchmitt mentions the weight of HO is an advantage on a switching layout, which mine is. It does feature around the walls construction, with 3 modest but effective staging tracks. My minimum radius that is visable is about 26",
Ian Rice, John Pryke and others in Model Railroader have shown that small layouts in HO and even On3 can be very effective.
Like the preceeding replies mention, you get to choose. but my experience in HO shows me that a decent layout in HO is achievable in that space. I like the ability to detail everything.
Whatever you choose, decide what roadname, era, types of industries you will model, and THEN select your equipment to suit. This can save you lots of money. I thought I was doing this and still wound up with over 100 cars, about half of which fit comfortably on the layout. They rotate in and out, sure, but I coulda saved some bucks with better planning and dicipline. Dan
On this small of a layout, the 40 footer cars and smaller in HO, with a few 50’s for variety gives the best result.
Thanks for your support, and thanks for filling in some of the details. These are exactly some of the things Greg (or anyone else) needs to consider when making such a decision.[:)]
Always N scale! You can do soo much in a small space!!!
I will never go back to HO, I have been in N scale for my past 3 layouts.
A 4X8 layout takes up ALL of a 10X12 room since one needs space to walk around it. A 4X8 board is better suited to N gauge since you can get more railroading on it…IF you cut the 4X8 into quarters and connect them, you can get much more railroading into the room, and up to 44" curves as well for HO.
SOUND cannot be very good with N gauge because of ‘peep-hole’ size of speakers. - As with HO sound is limited by the size of speakers. SOUNDTRAXX will eventually have their SurroundTraxx under-table moving sound system out - but for BIG bucks. It needs to have a ‘component’ Stereo System with good speakers, and speakers (with deep bass) are expensive. A ‘Boom Box’ wont do it.
(Edit) ’ Tsunami’ correctied to “SurroundTraxx” - (Thank you Dave).