I recently have been thinking weather or not i should go to HO or not. What scale is going to be better and cosr effective?
On cost, HO gives you the most bang for your buck. On track space, N gives you a lot more but the prices are quite a bit higher.
You’re going to get lots of the obvious: N scale you can have longer trains, wider scenic options. Car for car, not much difference in cost, but longer trains means buying more cars, more track. More choices available in HO. Fact is, with todays products, both run great, both will provde a fine layout.
But, to me, the real answer to this is an emotional, personal one, not a practical one. I went N scale because I have limited space and wanted longer trains. No brainer, right? But every time I went to the hobby shop, those HO locos and cars just called out to me… they just LOOK so much COOLER (to me). Finally I couldn’t stand it any more. Sold all my N on eBay and went HO. Shorter trains, yes. But I enjoy the hobby SO much more. HO just speaks to me. My wife says she liked the N better… “It was so much cuter.”
Go to the hobby shop. Look at the cars, locos, buildings. Feel. Listen. Which one speaks to you?
Reference: an Armstrong square is the minimum track radius plus 1.5 times the curved track spacing.
When measured in Armstrong squares, both HO and N are about equal in cost (N actually has a slight advantage in benchwork cost) per square. The joker is that 4 HO squares equal about 10 N squares - so for a given layout, with equal rolling stock rosters and the same number of squares, N has a (very) slight cost advantage. For a given layout area in square feet, HO will be something less than half as expensive as N to achieve the same level of modeling completeness, but the N-scaler will have rather more than twice the layout.
John Armstrong once designed O scale, HO scale and N scale layouts to the ever-popular 4 x 8 size. In O scale, he managed to cram in a very compact steam-era engine terminal. In HO he had the usual loop with sidings. N scale could go twice around with grades and handle longer trains on a mainline that was, effectively, 3+ times the scale length of that on the HO plan, with longer cars and bigger locomotives.
I have often wondered what kind of empire he would have designed for Z scale. And let’s not even think about HN(1:320)!
Chuck [modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in Twice-N scale (1:80, aka HOj)]
That used to be true, but now, piece for piece, locos and rolling stock are pretty comparable, pricewise. Or course, N will cost more, becuase you’ll have room to run longer trains, and will have to buy the locos and cars to provide such.
There is more variety available in HO, though the gap is not as wide as it used to be. If there as specific models you need, you will generally have a beter chance in HO. HO also allows for a higher level of detailing, if that’s where your interests lie. At this point HO, is much better in terms of what is available for sound locos, that will probably be true for some time. There just isn’t room for much of a speaker in N scale. Though there is more N scale sound available all the time. I have yet to hear it, so I can’t speak to the effect.
In the same space N gives the possibility of running longer trains, through more ‘open’ space. It is generally easier to get a feeling of more expansive scenery in N scale. And of course, N scale is possible in places where HO just isn’t practical.
HO.
Easier to install sound and better quality sound.
When your vision falters, and it will, you will still be able to see and work with most of the detail.
The larger scales in my opinion make a bigger impression on people.
More available.
There are many questions to ask yourself and so many different answers and opinions. I must agree that it is all personal choice. There is no correct answer.
Im hearing impaired, I cannot hear N scale equiptment anyhow and Ive hands that are very… destructive to such tiny models. So it’s HO for me. Eventually O scale in about 15 years or so due to vision.
Many challenges. But those trains roll.
Most have hit on all the big stuff, but I’ll throw my two cents in anyways if you don’t mind.
I’m in N scale myself, though I’ve done HO in the past.
There is a diminished level of detail in N vs. HO, but that can have it’s advantages. I can portray what looks to be a very detailed scene without sweating every single nuance of a scene (can you read the print on the newspaper thats in the gutter on Vine St.?). Also, I can model a vast scene that realistically dwarfs the train, such as a 2’ tall mountain that actually looks right with a tunnel in it, or a 18" wide shelf that realistically portrays the rolling pastures of western Pennsylvania. Add to that the fact that a 20"r curve is considered most generous in N scale and a good size building only takes up 6" or so and you can see that there are benefits to N.
On the down side, N scale can be tough to get DCC decoders into sometimes, and sound is only now becomming a reality. Also, due to N scales size, weight is limited and therefore so is pulling power. Good small steam is also a hurdle for N scale, though it has been done. And we’ve touched on another issue…price. N scale certainly can be expensive, but so can HO. Thing is, item per item N scale can be just as cost effective as HO. The real difference is in the fact that in N scale you can have more cars and loco’s in a given space, so thats where it can be more expensive. In other words, in HO you could fill a yard with 25 $8 cars and you’re done. In N scale in the same space you can not only fit more yard tracks, but each car is smaller, so you may fit 70 $8 cars in the same area. Thats where the price will go up, not so much in the item-to-item pricing (it doesn’t have to anyways). For example, I buy brand new, top quality N scale steam on the internet all day long for $50-$60. Thats very comarable to HO.
Good trackwork is a must for any scale, but N scale tends to be less tolerant of slop
Great big fat sausage fingers and poor eyesight, better go to HO.
I’d love to visit some clubs but i don’t know if there are any clubs near Grand Island, Nebraska.
I have modeled in O,S,HO,and N in the past 55 years or so. I have been kicking this idea of what scale to build my next home layout in for months now. I have limited space so N scale is my main choice here. I’m not interested in DCC nor really long trains. I do however like the idea of longer runs in the small amount of space N scale offers. However, I also like the Lionel 3-rail also,mainly for childhood memories. As far as costs go, it’s been my experience that you can spend as much or as little as you like. Depends on what you want out of your trains and your building skills. I see no scale as being better then another except for personal preferences. Some people are tickled pink driveing a Chevy while others ain’t happy unless they have a Cadilac. Ken
I modeled in HO during my younger years and have been in N-Scale since 1972.
My only complaint is that are no local hobby shops in O"Neill Nebraska and most of the ones in Omaha carry mostly HO so I turn to the net for a lot of items.
One can not beat N-Scale for the amount of action that one can have in a small space.
I disagree, especially on locomotives, which are usually the most expensive of any items purchased for a model railroad layout. N scale and HO scale locomotives are pretty much evenly matched in terms of price.
How good is your eye sight, your dexterity and your patients? Cost wise they are about the same. You can put a lot more layout in a smaller space with N. HO gives you better detail and a bit more variety and availability.