It’s certainly NICE to see and read all the pictures and information on this Forum and, I must admit, that I have learned a great deal BUT the emphasis seems to be on “HO” and “N”. I, myself, was a dedicated “HO” modeler for many years. When I switched to “O”, I implemented many of the things I had learned from working with the smaller trains.
Here’s my question: Has anyone modeled in “O” scale? If so, have you run into any specific “O” scale layout issues? As always, thanks for your comments.
PS This is a “modelers” question. Please don’t send me to the ‘Classic Toy’ forum. Thanks.
John Page (way back Model Railroader editor,) George Humann (South Shasta Lines,) almost everybody who was active pre-WWII. I can’t offer any present-day names, but I’m sure they’re out there.
On30 is O scale (1:48) and plenty of people model it.
From my admittedly biased point of view, anyone who wants to can model in any scale. And more than a few have modeled real railroad operations with ‘toy trains’ rolling stock. Frank Ellison wasn’t the first, and I’m sure he wasn’t the last.
If a person has the space, the money, the time and the inclination, the N-scale LA&SL layout in the January MR can be expanded around the walls of a basement in O scale (except that I’d substitute Las Vegas for Caliente. More action - and not just in the casinos.)
If I were to change scales (about as likely as Jupiter changing orbits!) I’d keep my present 16.5mm track gauge. My steamers would acquire new 1:48 scale superstructures appropriate to the 2’6" gauge system that once ran on the East Coast - of Taiwan.
(You might get the man out of the Orient, but you can’t get the Orient out of the man.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in 1:80 scale, aka HOj)
There is a large amount of O Scale + HO Scale Traction but not that much N Scale Traction (Ex: http://www.eastpenn.org/). Without knowing how you feel I do have a pretty good idea how you feel (PA-Dutch verbage).
There is one O Scale blessing that could also be a curse – O Scale has the size to do detailing right. If scenic, engine, structure, rolling stock detailing is not done right – It will stick out like a sore thumb (to = toylike).
I agree with your statement about sticking out like a sore thumb. I recently went to the annual train show here in town, and they didn’t even bother to put a skimcoat of drywall mud down to smooth out the substrate. They were using OSB, with just a coat of green paint on it to represent “grass”…
Looked VERY amateur, and I KNOW this club is capable of much better. I know this is my first post here, but I’ve had some experience with modeling, back when I was a kid. (not TOO long ago)
TomikawaTT; tgindy; Last Chance…Thanks for your posts. (I’m well “into” the larger stuff now after fifty years operating in the “HO” world. I have encountered and overcome a few obstacles along the way and have adapted many of the techniques acquired in my smaller stuff days. I was mainly interested in issues that might have arisen, similar to mine, experienced by others.)
Have you asked at Classic Toy Trains if anyone models in O scale? It seems to me that would be the place to start as folks interested in O, whether scale or tinplate tend to go. I am sure there are nice layouts, sceniced in both “toy” and scale. Hopefully you can find some willing to share with you.
I say it’s time for Kalmbach to build a On30 subsection for us in the middle LOL.
Having said that, the only challenge in O scale is it;s too expensive and just too big. So On30 was my way of getting settled into a larger scale. I can always learn how to dual gauge O scale and make a interchange connection between O and On30 someday.
Sure I can build a O gauge layout but it will be small and suffer from space limitations. On30 solved it for me.
I had a very small O-scale layout from 1982 until 2003. I originally built it for exhibition at the first Great American Train show.
Issues:
Took up way more space than I had room for. Trying to keep it, I actually moved it outside for a while. Even getting my new space 90’x60’ I don’t see how I could go with O and be satisfied with the trains per square foot issue.
1a. I like full length passenger equipment. In HO this means 44" minimum radius. In O-scale I might be able to get by with 60" (due to larger tolerances in the larger equipment).
There were no longer any cheap O-scale manufacturers. In the late 1970s and early 1980s I lived on AHM and Atlas equipment. All my track was AHM. Then they were gone and there was … nothing but 3-rail stuff.
Price of everything. I can afford several brass locomotives in other scales for the price of one O-scale. At one time I thought about joining an O-scale club. Just buy one train and use that layout, right? Well after shopping around, I decided I couldn’t afford it. 1 box car kit less trucks and couplers for $40. A fully assembled one for $100. Need a train of at least 20 cars too look OK
I was in O scale for about 15 years. What finally did me in was the lack of products, and the prices. Either they didn’t make what I wanted, or I had to spend $40 for something that cost $5 in HO or N.
Anyway, I’d suggest going over to the Atlas Forums, they have them divided in O-HO-N scales so you can talk to just O scalers if you want.