I looked at some n-scale scenary while down at the LHS yesterday. Man, some of that stuff is really small…almost lacks detail. Hmmmmmm I dunno…
Detail in N scale. Have to resort almost exclusivly on Photo Etch. N scale is so small alot of detail dissapears. Just ask the 1/350 scale ship modelers.
James
While this all may be true, you are missing the best part of N. You can fit GRAND scenery into a bedroom. There’s just something about a train moving through huge scenery that has a very “natural” feel to it, especially if your doing mountains.
And part of the fun is in the challenge.
n scale is to small for my shaky hands to work with. Or I would strongly be considering it.
Im doing N because I dont have room for HO or bigger, but N is great for mountain scenery.
My mountain in the back is 18 inches tall, which, when a 3/4 inch tall boxcar rumbles into the portal at the base if it, it makes the mountain look huge!!
I’ve been doin’ N scale for as long as it’s been available. A lack of room is usually the reason for choosing N. My eyes aren’t as good as they once were, so I’ve been doin’ mainly O recently. The biggest problem I’ve had with N is dust. I mean dust is a problem with all scales, but as trains get smaller, the dust gets bigger. And it just never goes away. If someone could figure out how to really get rid of dust - copyright it quickly, and sit back and enjoy your riches! But N scale is beautiful if you have the patience for it. I picked up a lot of those green Kato boxed sets of bullet trains from all over the world. Some of these sets are very nice!! You just can’t get variety like that in HO. Neat stuff!![8)]
See, I told…nawww,…I won’t say it. [:D]
Crazydiamond,
N scale is great for some, not so for others. I’ve always felt that deciding on a scale is an emotional decision rather than totally a rational process. Part of the fun of this is when the locomotive or rolling stock or scenery “speaks to us.” When you go to the hobby shop and the N scale scenery makes you say “Hmmmmm I dunno” your question is answered for you.
Maybe but when I see how little space I got in my house, and then I look at HO scale I als go “Hmmmmmm I dunno” [:D]
Most layouts are built at about waist level or slightly higher, some are a little lower. For a person of average height, the viewing distance from their eyes to the models will determine how much detail can be seen. In larger scales, more detail can be seen. In smaller scales, less detail can be seen. When models are viewed in relation to scenery, sometimes even the larger details are lost in the scenery.
HO and larger scales usually benefit by having more detail, as those details are more easily seen from the average layout viewing distances. N scale doesn’t need the same level of detail for the same average viewing distances.
Change the parameters by raising the layout to shoulder or eyeball height and detail becomes an important factor, even in Z scale!
If you are a dedicated detail modeler, and the smallest details are of utmost importance to you, anything less than HO scale is going to be a real challenge. If you are more interested in seeing nice models running in appropriate scenery, N scale has an excellent scenery -to-model ratio.
If you are passionate about details and can live with a shorter mainline run, go with a larger scale. If you are passionate about long trains on long mainline runs, go for the smaller scales.
Just the opinion of a former O/HO modeler who has been in N scale since 1968 and still loves every minute of it.
Darrell, quiet…for now
I would agree that some of the stuff is small, and the same would be said by a G scale modeler looking at HO scenery. Being a N scale modeler for many years I look at the positive advantages of modeling in this scale. I too love every minute of it.
Cheers
If you like to run longer trains, N is the way to go. Add up the price for an Nscale coal train of 24 cars, an HO scale coal train of 24 cars and an O scale train of 24 coal cars. The Nscale train is far less expensive to buy. If you are modelling Appalachia, as I am, the granduer of the terrain is very important. Of course, I guess that is true of the Rockies or other areas with dramatic scenery. Its hard to capture the spirit or flavor of a railroad like the N&W or C&O without being able to model the mountains, rivers and gorges.
I can recall back years ago when all most people were exposed to was Lionel and other tin plate standard and O stuff. Then we were exposed to HO and man we thought somewhat along the same lines-man that stuff is small. Yes the detail in N may not be as high as HO, but in real life detail fads away the further you get away from an opject. Just consider G scale as getting up close and personable and N as seeing things at a distance and not worry about the really small details After all do you see the same detail on a real train at a mile away as you do first in line at a grade crossing? To me, scale is a personal thing and we have to make compromses in all directions. Ken
The last four posts were very helpful in putting it into perspective…thank you much!! [:)]
Ken you summed it up very concisely. I think you hit the nail on the head!
Hi all
Yes N is small but you can still set up the dog and fire hydrant
the fire alarm stand and mail box out side the post office.
domestic rubbish bins in the yard
You cannot do either of the above in “G” that I am aware of the details to do it are not available or at least I have not been able to find them.
regards John
I see some one posted that you get a lot more for your money with N. (coal train) Is that really true??? The N stuff I see in my LHS is at least as expensive as HO if not more.
I’ve never really “shopped around” for N .More in a smaller space…yes, more for the money…I dunno…[%-)]
Most N-Scale equipment is generaly a little less in cost when comparing apples to apples!
Heyy crazydiamond! hows it going? no i think that n scale has very good detail. i have an n scale layout and i am pleased with that scale. it makes it easier to fit more track on a 4x8 than in HO scale. i dk i have been looking at alot of HO stuff and it looks really good. so who knows but i say N Scale.
[:D] Keith