I’ve recently decided to move from N scale mainline ATSF railroading into HOn3 D&RGW. There were a few lessons I’ve learnt from this decision, and the thoughts leading up to it:
Don’t count on model railroading circumstances staying consistent. When I started in N scale, I was living with 3 housemates, with a spare room in our rental house used for the railroad - there was nothing else we could use it for. This meant that I could get home from work, get changed and dive into the model railroading. Moving in with my girlfriend changed that - reduced it to one day a week. Thus, the layout that seemed completable in a reasonable amount of time when living with my housemates was now going to take a lot longer, and would eat into the time I was hoping to use for other things.
A too-narrow focus may lead to boredom/repeditiveness. My N scale layout was simply a yard with staging. While it was initially fun to switch, the same ‘pull these cars, put those ones there’ just got boring after a while - especially in 3 hour blocks. I’m hoping to broaden my focus slightly with my new layout.
Be aware of the size of your operating crew. I was trying to run mainline yard operations with just one person - it ended up being just too ‘busy’ for that. As narrow-gauge operations are a bit more laid-back, these would be more suitable for a single-person layout.
Keep it challenging enough to maintain interest - Modelling in N scale, with the availability of ready-to-run equipment - and most locos & freight cars are available as only this - now seems ‘too easy’ to me. I wasn’t getting the feeling of satisfaction/accomplishment I was expecting. Whereas taking a brass model, remotoring it into a smooth runner and installing sound, gives me that feeling. I suppose this is more subjective, but it’s a part of the hobby for me, and more of a factor in choosing my new scale rather than leaving the
I think the key element missing from my previous layout was research. It was my first attempt at modelling a prototype location, and all I really did was find a satellite photo of the location in question, then cut off the bits that didn’t fit on my table. This time, I’m going to make sure I know what I’m doing.
I think the other thing I’ll be considering in this one is scale of operations (vs. scale of trains). A yard seemed like a good idea at the time, but one man doing all those roles was just too much. Narrow gauge is more relaxed, so this should be more doable for a one-man crew.
In one of my earlier layouts, I also did the N scale mainline junction yard. Basically staging for the mainline trains with interchange at the yard with a branchline junction to staging. While the concept was fascinating, like you I found it was too much for one person. I spent more of my time on the branch and pretty much used the mainline as a backdrop. For my current layout I moved to HO and am focusing on branchline ops. The mainline & junction is represented totally by staging (I don’t have a mainline). The role lets me focus more on the role of the crew on the ground and on the building aspects. I also get as much or more fun out of scratch building than from running. If I could double the size of the room, I would stay pretty much with the same concept, just spread things out more.
I fully intend to keep this forum posted with progress - and I’ll have some questions, too. I’m sure I’ll be willing to share how I’ve solved some of the trickier issues that I know I’ll be facing.
jmbjmb,
I’m glad to hear that a similar move has worked for a fellow ex-N-scaler. What strikes me is that although we both went for a larger scale, our ‘scale of operations’ decreased - I think this is the main factor I overlooked in my previous layout.
-stuff is always bigger than you thought or planned, especially structures.
-just because a website lists it doesnt mean you;ll be bale to buy it when the time comes… that goes for engines, cars etc…
-think of the other stuff that may or may not be available. In my case, its finding appropriate vehicule in the correct scale (i.e: a lot of 1/43 die cast jobs but little actual 1/48… let alone stuff that would be correct for my era)
-Switching scale/gauge is not the answer to all that ails you. Sometime its better to restart anew in the scale/gauge you’re at instead of changing everything. As such, dont sell too much of your “other” stuff. I learned that the hard way but i kept all my HO stuff, when i move out within the next year or two, ill be able to use it on the layout im planning next…
I wonder how many of us actually have changed scale or at least thought about it.
As a kid, I had S-Scale American Flyer trains, but as an adult, I have always been into HO scale. I have often thought about converting to S-Scale, but the time, energy and cost always turn me off. For starters, what do you do with all of the equpiment accumulated as part of your current scale operations? Nothing wrong with changing scale if that is your thing, but it is not for me.
Another side of the coin…After switching my primary scale from HO to N I find its a tad harder to find common vehicles we enjoy and shall I say take for granted in HO?
Seems to be a trade off when scales are changed…While I was researching On30 for a possible change I realized there wasn’t very much offered as far as industries.
Some times it seems the grass isn’t as green in another scale as it first appears.
I’ve occasionally toyed (no pun intended) with the idea of changing from HO to N scale, since that would allow me to fit much more into my limited space. But like others have already mentioned, the expense of all new trains was enough to quickly kill that idea. When I mentioned the cost issue to a local N-scaler friend of mine, he said, “No problem - just sell off all of your HO stuff!” Sounds great in theory, but I seriously doubt I could ever sell my used trains [esp. the locos] for anything near what I paid for them. Any money I did get would probably only cover ~20-25% if I was lucky.
As the result of the global financial crisis and the subsequent loss of my job, I had to sell my MRR stuff. Your estimation of 20 to 25 % is very realistic. In my case, some of those “collector´s items” I had even sold for less than that benchmark.