New to this forum, logged in under ATR ( Atwood, Tremont Railway ) - looking for input about HO track and turnouts. Have had a 15’ x 17’ N scale switching layout for 5 years runs and function will, but time for a change back to Ho. First started in HO ’ way back when ’ changed to N in late 60’s. With work and family all train stuff was put in storage for many years. Got back in hobby in late 90’s when I retired and picked backup with N scale. I now want to get back in to Ho. With all the changes in track and turnouts along with all the new manufactures during my time away I would like to get your suggestion and views on Ho track code size, manufacture, available and where to purchase Ho track for a new ATR Ho layout.
Nooooo! Don’t go back! Look! There in the basement… A BODY SNATCHER POD!
Oh my gosh… he’s been assimilated!
As soon as you realize how much space HO consumes to get an even modest track plan built, you’ll realize your tragic lapse of judgement… You should take a moment to investigate the quality and variety of track that’s now available in N, not to mention the greatly improved equipment.
[#welcome] I prefer Atlas code 83 for my HO layout. Atlas a vast variety of sectional track pieces, flextrack and turnouts. This is an excellent forum and you should be getting more opinions on track preference. There are numerous places to buy the track, like Model Railway Post Office,Model Railroad Stuff,Walthers and Caboose Hobbies. Good Luck![:)]
First off, I’ll second what Lee said. I’m a recent convert from HO to N, precisely for the reason he mentioned. But, to each his own. So …
I’ll also second Willy’s plug for Atlas Code 83 track. Nice, dependable, affordably priced product. I also found their Custom Line turnouts to be the same. I’m sure you’ll get plenty advice pointing you toward other, more expensive products, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just a question of how much money you want to sink into track and turnouts.
But, since you’re getting out of N scale and I’m getting in, please shoot me a private message if you’re looking to sell off your old engines and rolling stock.
REmember that HO will be about twce the size of your N scale layout.
Atlas Code 83 is good track to work with, comes in section and felxible and a variety of switch lengths.
I started with Code 100, as I thought I would run MOH {My Other Half’s} european HO trains on it {older HO like N had deeper flanges} until I realized the european stuff is powered differently.
If you like switching layouts, I can;t help you except to say googling track plans or buying trackpaln switching books will help.
If you want a roundy-rounder, I can tell you don’t let anyone fool you…I have a HO scale layout that is 3.5 FOOT x 5.1 FOOT that has two interconnected loops of track, a 4 spur yard, a 2 spur engine service facitly to it all connected with just two wires to a DCC controller {with a few feeder wires thrown in for good measure}. SO you CAN have an HO layout in a small space- you don’t need N in a small space!
ANd I would drool over your 15foot x 17 foot space…a good size for a good sized HO layout!
LOL, some of you N scalers are “out there” with your foam at the mouth loyalty to what comes down to a mathematical fraction. (pssss It’s kinda weird dude. [D)])
Accept the fact that people change their minds and scales, and it’s no reflection on anyone.
Galaxy, I’d love to see how you accomplished all that in less than 20 square feet. I don’t doubt you, I’m just interested in seeing how it was done. I’m a fan of creative trackplanning.
And I agree with you that 15x17 is plenty of room for a very functional HO layout … for most folks, especially those who are making do with less. But for me, my dream layout will take about 20x20 in N scale. That’s why I switched to the smaller scale, because it’s probably the only way I’ll ever be able to build the kind of railroad I want. I can’t imagine I’ll ever again have the 40x40 space required to build the same layout in HO.
There’s absolutely nothng wrong with HO. It’s the most popular scale for a lot of good reasons. On the other hand, I’m greatly enjoying my new experience with N. It’s great to have choices!
I have equipment in both N and HO. I have enough track, structure kits, locomotives to start a small N layout. Not much in rolling stock, yet. Was planning on using the N to get more operation in the space I have. However, in Dec 2005, I had a minor stroke. Thanks to good treatment at the local hospital, good attitude, and hard work with both therapists and with a wide variety of model building, I’ve recovered to the point that most people I meet can’t tell it, even once fooling a member of the hospital medical staff. I was even able to return to my job, which included building surface mount electronics soldering some of the newest and finest pitched components to PC boards, and running 30 gage wire jumpers from chip to chip.
Part of the recovery included some kitbashing a number of HO locomotives, which were fairly easy to do, even though one project involved cutting two Athearn F-7 shells into about 20 pieces and splicing them into one body. I also built two ship-in-bottles that was definitely more challenging. I then, after this, tried working with the N stuff. The easiest building N kits I assembled were at least as challenging as the SIBs. Assembling the track into runs was harder, but the hardest of all was converting the Rapido style couplers on the locos to Kadee magnetics. I may still try to build a small N layout, but as I approach 70, I’m afraid I’ll have to stay with HO. N is getting too hard to handle.
EM-1, congratulations on your recovery! I imagine your modeling activities were tremendous therapy. And not just physical, but emotional as well. It’s inspiring (and a bit comforting, to be honest) to hear your story.
Advancing age is probably a concern for a lot of folks on the forum. Personally, it was the only thing that gave me pause when I was considering switching from HO to N, and I’m “only” 48. But if I reach my late 60s and have to start over in HO, I’ll consider myself a lucky man.
It’s simple really, the inner oval is 15"R and snap switches connect it at the curves to the outer 18"R loop. There are effectively two 9" sections of straight track and one 6 inch on teh straight part of the inner oval, so two switches {snap switches are 9"in length} converge off two of the straights on one side into two tracks that converge off to two swtiches of two more spurs, giving me a 4 spur mini yard. On the other side is two straight pieces {one 9 " and one 6" and one switch which diverges into another switch giving me the two spurs for the two stalled engine house with engine servicing equipment along the spurs.
I do get a tad defensive… I recognize that everyone gravitates to whichever scale they’ll get the most out of. If I was more focused on locomotive details and the minutiae of prototype rolling stock, I’m sure I’d prefer one of the larger scales.
But I do like the long trains and high scenery ratio that N offers, so I stick with that. I also like to make sure that anyone who’s pondering using N scale has all the information they need to make a good choice.
Changing out couplers has just about become obsolete. All of the major manufacturers, including Bachmann, now ship their equipment with knuckle couplers that are compatible with Micro Trains. So fussing with those little springs and bits is only necessary if you’re resurrecting old equipment from the dark ages.
For realistic looking track work, you have a lot of options in N scale. Atlas has a fairly complete line of Code 55 track, which features realistic tie spacing and color. Micro Engineering also offers a line of Code 55, as well as Code 40 flex. If snap track is your game, the new Atlas True Track system features code 65 rail (compatible with all but the most ancient hi-rail wheels) along with realistic ties and molded in ballast. For supreme reliability, there’s always Kato Unitrak.
DCC and Sound are available in N scale. Both MRC and Digitrax offer drop in sound boards that work with many Atlas diesels, and Athearn offers several steam and diesel models with sound and DCC installed. Bachmann makes a GE 44-ton switcher that is about 2" long that has DCC on board, as well as a beautifully detailed Peter Witt trolley.
Anyway, while the size (and number) of your thumbs, and the quality of your eyesight are always a consideration, it’s really not as difficult to work in N scale as you may have been led to believe.