Mixing HO and N gauges.

I wonder if anyone has an HO gauge layout with an N gauge running in the backround to simulate a distant train. Maybe it’s stupid, but just a thought for more realism.

Not just HO and N, but I have seen some videos where people have combined G, O, HO, and N all on one layout for forced perspective, not only horizontally but also vertically.

I’ve heard of people modeling N gauge with a little Z guage train running in an amusment park scene, or an HO layout with either an N or Z guage train, or maybe an O or g or S guage layout with an HO or N guage train.

How about that. And I thought my thinking was way off base.

I’m not sure about running an N gauge train in the background, but you certainly can use N scale buildings in the background for forced perspective - Dave Frary explains this well in his books. I’m going to experiment with this on my layout.

Jim

I’m trying to do the same thing. N guage behind On30. Got the train and track, just trying to figure out how to make it work and look right.

Good point, Jim. I intend to do this in one area of the layout where I have a depth of a few feet which is normally unreachable.

To answer raymar’s question, A friend of mine has an HO layout set in Washington state, and in one corner he has a short stretch of N-scale track with a static train appearing to exit one tunnel, and entering another.

I saw this in Modelrailroader. HO forground and N scale for distance. If I cane find it ,I`ll let you know.

Absolutely. You’d want to make sure that you have some scenery that will give the illusion of depth between the HO in the foreground and N in the background.

I think CBQ_Guy’s friend has the right idea of doing it as a static sort of scene (perhaps some hopper cars on a siding by some industry on the backdrop). With a moving train in a smaller scale in back you will need to have it move very slowly across a more open type of scenic backdrop or you are going to blow the illusion of a train off in the far distance.

Good Luck. Sounds like a neat idea.

TrummyandElla

i was the same way i thought it was a far fetched i dea but i was thinking like for an old mine usins them to go ito the tunnels not with a loco just like the gravel cars

I’m considering a Z-scale loop on the mountain that is going to be on my N scale layout.
I have seen this technique with HO and then Z in the background on a canyon scene; the results were amazing!