WOW, I went to a model RR event in town today and I saw something very impressive. It is a N scale based club called the Eastern Benders, and they use a modular model RR concept. Basically each member builds his/her own block containing his/her own trackage, scenary, layout, etc. They use a few simple standards to ensure that the track meets at the edge of the block. Then when they want to get togher, they very easily ‘snap’ their various blocks together, and presto… a new layout everytime!! It seems they are also doing various sections of the RR in Nova Scotia and a key section is missing, which is the section I was talking about.
What really impressed me was what they are doing with N scale, and one of the guys there told me that anything you can do with HO you can do with N today. He told me some of the things they are doing, and what he has seen of other N scalers, and I was really impressed.
So…a little more researching, but I feel myself leaning N scale already. However I will still appreciate anyone informing me about any real life hard facts or caveats about N scale, and if I went with HO scale how that would not be an issue…thank you in advance.
Personally I think you made the right choice. There is no doubt that equally talented people can add more detail to HO scale cars and locomotives but when you put them on an equally sized layout, N scale just looks better. Whatever depth you use for the layout, from 12 to 30 inch’s, HO looks crowded.
If you are into operations more than scenery, the same economy of scale applies. N gives you more bang for the square foot than HO.
My wife reminds me that everyone’s opinions are valid but I am most fond of my own. Maybe I should put a smiley there.
If you have friends in N scale who have experience, as it seems you would if you joined the club, that would be very helpful. The clubs I’ve been in have always had a few people who were as nice as they could be and were willing to help. Model railroading is always more fun in groups and with friends. If you feel comfortable with this group and they welcome you with open arms, that is fantastic! A hard fact caveat with Nscale is that not all N scale engines, even some new ones, are “DCC ready.” This makes adding a decoder far more difficult. N scale steam is not as abundant as HO scale steam and won’t pull as many cars. I’ve heard its true with all smaller scales: O scale engines will pull more cars than HO scale engines. Steam and decoder installation are more of a headache in N scale. You miss some of the detail of HO scale and O scale equipment. Even if you have it, its darn hard to see. The other side of the coin is that you gain a huge advantage in space and modeling terrain. No scale is better than the other. Its just that one scale may fit you better than the other.
Yes I think you’re right…in fact RL scale engines will pull tremendous number of cars with real serious weight.
RL = real life [:D]
Seriously though I think I may have found my starting place…and I do have limited space in my home so this might be the way to go. This ‘system’ I talked about earlier is called Bend Track: http://home.alltel.net/ah50902/concept2.htm
[:D]
just pulling your leg , N is pretty cool and there is some amazing stuff these days , and if it had been available back in the early 80’s i might have gone for N instead of HO . in the small space i have for HO i could be running 30 car trains behind 2-8-8-2’s in N … hmmm is it too late to switch ?
One really strange argument in favor of N scale is that the smallest details shrink to invisibility. The benefit of this is that there are things that, when absent, on an HO layout’s scenery, make the layout look somehow incomplete, are unnoticed when missing on an N scale layout.
I’m going down to the LHS tommorrow to ask a bunch of questions. I got my sketch to take with me. I am hoping to get some sort of idea as to how much space I will need, and get a gauge of $$$ involved for track and DCC initially.
Than I will add scenary and CTC slowly but surely.
Hey crazy, I’m leaning towards N scale myself. Basicaly,for the reasons of more bang for the square foot and not a large area to model in. However it won’t be DCC, just my prefference and nothing against it.
I got about 120" x 40" of space to work with, but I fear that will be a problem. I say that because I will need the ends looped, and from what I understand my end ‘balloons’ (which I plan to be detachable) will have a radius of about 15"…so that makes the end ballons about 40" long/wide. That leaves me 40" to do my whole junction/yard layout…not sure if that will be enough.
I was hoping my detachable end loops would be no longer than 20" long, thus giving me about 80" of length to build my main section.
Hopefully the LHS will give me some ‘good news’ alternatives.
hello this is a great decision. you will be very happy with the detail and the qualtiy of the engines in n scale. i am on my second n scale layout and it runs so good! they are amazingly detailed and you can pretty much do anything if you are willing too spend the money. I hope you make the right decision and happy modelrailroading
You asked for cautions. My biggest complaint is that there are virtually no small industry kits in N sacle. Plenty of houses, barns, garages, out houses, stations, etc. I guess they assume you are modeling in an HO sized space and so can afford to have larger industries. If you are spoiled by Design Preservation’s Cuttings Scissor Factory etc. in HO, you’ll be disappointed to find that all they offer in N is city buildings and large industries.
