I have a 4x8 piece of ply wood and i need help deciding what scale train i should get. What does anyone think will be a good size train scale for a 4x8 layout where i can make a good layout with a decent amount of track and accessories and other stuff?
The last layout I had before my current “HO” room sized one was “N” scale on a 5’ x 10’ sheet of plywood. It was a good size and offered lots of space to do things. However age catches up to all of us and I made the jump to “HO”. The switch to the larger scale was just because the smaller scale was harder to deal with as I closed in on fifty. If you’re young with good eyes, a smaller scale goes further on a 4 x 8. Just my [2c].
Brent
Assuming you want to do the somewhat stereotypical loop of track with sidings on a rectangular table that a lot of people seem to want, I would suggest that you ditch the 4x8, get a hollow core door (about 30-32" wide by about 6 2/3rd foot long) instead, and use N scale.
Will allow you to do the loop on table type of layout, but will do so while giving you far more space for scenery, longer trains, curves that allow bigger engines and cars, and gives you a table that can be placed with one long side up against a wall and still be reached across from the other long side, so it needs far less floor space.
But your question is akin to the question “I have a parking spot - what kind of car should I buy”. Too little information to offer very specific advice.
Smile,
Stein
You get the most railroad in a given space with the smallest scales - Z and N. N has a bigger selection and tends to be cheaper than Z, so I would go with N over Z.
You can fit any scale from Z to O, though with S and O I would do a high rail layout. For G you’ll need to add about a foot to make it 5x8.
Enjoy
Paul
Difficult to give some advice to you without knowing which way you would like to head.
You can put a lot of model railroading onto a 4 by 8 layout in HO scale, and a little more in N scale. While HO scale offers a lot of rolling stock, equipment and accessories, N scale has come a long way since its introduction in the 1960´s.
I have right now started to build an N scale layout - due to lack of space. It is going to be a “desktop” layout, consisting of mini-modules, which I can assemble into a layout on my desk. I do not have the space nor the resources for a permanent layout.
MR has just started a series of features on 4 by 8 layouts, including track plan ideas in both HO and N scale. Why don´t you get the Feb. and March issue to give some ideas? I also recommend a visit to your local hobby shop - just to get a feel for the size of the different scales.
It depends on what you want to model. If you want a shortline with short trains and 4 axle engines (or smaller steamers), then HO would be considered.
If you want long trains, the N scale would be the way to go.
If you want alot of detailing then HO is the way to go.
The prices for an HO engine and an N Scale engine can run the same.
It all depends on what kind of layout you want to build.
That’s like saying “I have an empty room, what should I put in it?” Are you going to put that 4x8 layout in the empty room? You’s need a room at least 10x14 fora 4x8 sheet of plywood to comfortably fit in.
What do YOU want? First off decide what sort of layout you want. A 'decent amount of track" is a vague statement. Don’t try to cram as much track as you can in. Sometimes the old adage ‘less is more’ is very apt when it comes to trackage. often newbies get overly enamoured with having as much track as possible.
Figure out what you want out of a layout and work towards that end. Does your layout just have to be 4x8 or can you cut up that 4x8 sheet in different ways to achieve your goal? Are you into operations, switching, or just watching trains go round and round? Is having a train roll through grand scenery important or do you want cities and towns? You can do both with a 4x8 if you really want to.
Do some research. I believe Kalmbach offers some books on 4x8 layouts and their variations. Have a look at those and see if any of those strike your fancy. God knows MR has done hundreds of 4x8’s over the years you can use for your research.
Don’t run off and buy HO or N just because someone on the forums tells you to. Decide what YOU like. See if it fits your 4x8 plans and perhaps what your longer range goals of the hobby may be. heck, you may even decide you want to do On30 or HOn3. You can do both on a 4x8 if you really want. But you haven’t given us enough information yet to really offer any help.
-G-