Hello all:
I am just getting back into the hobby after a 10 year hiatus. I am considreing starting with N-scale modeling. I would like to hear what people think of the scale and some of its pros and cons. Thank you in advance.
Pete
I personally model Normal scale. I find that with little space you can build a large layout… heck you can even build them on a door. Granted N doesn’t have the detail or the selection as lets say HO but if you are looking for operation in a small location there is nothing better in my minds eye.
As for Locomotives I would try and stay away from the cheaper models like Bachmann (except the spectrum line) and some of the other cheapies… but remember that this is your RR and it’s up to you what you really want to do.
Control wise I would consider going into DCC it’s a little harder to put decoders into N scale locos but if you plan on running more than one train at a time it is well worth the investment… after all with DCC you can control several trains at the same time as well as still run a DC locomotive as well.
I would suggest taking a trip down to your Local Hobby Shop (LHS) and talk to them about trains… maybe they have some really good suggestions for you there.
Have fun and remember that this is your Railroad so do it how you want.
brclem has good advice. You can get a lot in a small are with N. You might also want to check out the Walthers N & Z catalog to get an idea of the large variety of stuff that is available today.
underworld
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
I have a ton of new in box locos & rolling stock my eyes have gone bad and have to get of of the hobby. got some great prices e mail me for lists of eq at cocharles@aol.com
Normal scale is the way to go today. You get a lot more traiN in the same space as HO. THe trick is to fill up the extra space from thinner right of way with more scenery, structures etc to make a realistic scene.
For locomotives, Atlas, Kato and Lifelike are the leaders. For steamers, Bachmann, MDC, Kato are the leaders. The Atlas Shay and little Mogul are gems. Athearn seems to be rapidly bringing out old MDC models, updated at a better price. Code 55 rail is becoming the standard for modelers that don’t like the bigger C80 rail. Operation gets better & better with improved slow speed motors and MTL couplers.
THe best part about Normal scale is Ntrak, and several good Nscale Forums not to mention 2 good Nscale magazines!
Tons of stuff…not too far behind HO in amount available. I was just at the store today and was amazed at the amount they had in stock.
underworld
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
Pete,
I too am just getting back into n scale. I’ve been interested in 3 rail O for some time and have collected alot of stuff but have no room to run it.
Anyway, I just purchased a MDC Roundhouse 2-6-0 loco and some cars to go with it.
A couple weekends ago I put together a little layout using an old door as the base.
I like N gauge because of the reach factor. You can build a fairly large layout in a small space and everything is “in reach”. With HO and O it seems you are always battling the reach factor unless you have the luxury of a large space where you can build “around the walls” type of layout.
Good luck - check out www.walthers.com for everything available in “N”
Thank you all for the replies. I need to get a chance to take a good look at what my LHS has to offer in N-scale.
Charles5: Thank you for the offer. I’ll certainly consider it.
Pete, I switched to N a few years ago, when I got back into layout building and not just collecting. The reasons are long and sordid, and probably not important. When we moved a year and a half ago, I inherited a huge space (40 x 14) to build the empire and reassessed things then. Since I had already begun to accumulate N-scale rolling stock, I stayed the course. I might well have anyway, since I like around-the-wall layouts and that limits the sections to 2’ width. There are a lot more scenic and operational possibilities in 2’ width of N-scale than 2’ of HO.
In the last couple of years, the variety of items in N has jumped. My advice, do exactly as Brian said. If you are going to get into DCC or want to keep that option open, try to buy locomotives that are DCC-ready, meaning that the conversion is just swapping out the lightboard inside the loco. It will ultimately save you a lot of time and/or money in the conversion process. Kato and some Atlas fit that description.
If you are into steam, there is a lot more available in HO and probably always will be. Still, there are some good steam models available in N, just not the overwhelming variety. Diesels are represented very well in all eras. Mine is the late 50s, but everything from transition era models to ultra-modern are on the market somewhere (again, some out of production and on ebay). Rolling stock is not in short supply.
It does seems to me that N-scale rolling stock is a lot more “batch produced” than HO. You’ll see manufacturers release something and six months to a year or two later it is in very short supply (except on ebay).
The list of web sites you probably should look at include:
www.blwnscale.com
www.4nscale.com
www.nscalesupply.com
www.nscaledivision.com
http://stores.ebay.com/End-of-Track-Hobbies_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
http://stores.ebay.com/KBJ-Models_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
These are all exclus
One other thing, not to knock Model Railroader, but the forum here is heavily geared to HO. I would recommend that you check out the N scale forum at Atlasrr.com, and Nscale.net, a dedicated N scale site.
I will say right up front I’m an HO scaler. There’s nothing wrong with N scale- you can get a lot of railroad into limited space, and there’s a lot more good stuff available than there’s ever been. BUT (there’s ALWAYS a BUT)- as you get older your eyes start to go bad and your fingers are a lot clumsier than they used to be, and the equipment just gets hard to work with. To me that’s really the only downside. If it’s not a problem to you, go for it!
right now, getting into n-scale couldn’t be better! the assortment and variety of n-scale models i think are in their prime, and can only get better. this comes from an HO scale modeler. diode lighting, better detailing, DCC. most of the large companies have opened up more to n-scale in the past few years too. to me, whatever is introduced in HO-scale, isn’t impossible to do in n-scale. if you have small and limited space, and like the detail of HO, but want a little detail, n-scale is the way to go. if you have large space, and still like n-scale the most, you have no limits…enjoy yourself, and welcome back to the hobby!!! let’s hear it for sound equipped n-scale?! --coming fro an HO modeler.
I model in both N scale and HO. Both scales are comparable enough to make the decision on which to go with less of a quality/price issue and more of a personal style issue.
Do you like modern railroading? Go with N scale.
Do you like to run long trains? Go with N scale.
Do you like majestic scenery? Go with N scale.
Do you like steam? Go with HO.
Do you like building kits? Go with HO.
Do you want sound in your engines? Go with HO.
Do you like to do a lot of switching? Go with HO.
Both HO and N scales are about the same price these days, with N scale beating HO slightly in inexpensive track. N and HO engines both run smoothly and reliably, and with the exception of steam angines, each has a large selection of engines and rolling stock.
We have a fairly karge N scale layout, the engines run great (Atlas mainly with some KAto’s and 2 LifeLikes) they run at prototypical speed, we used Atlas Code 55 for all the track and it sure looks to scale.
My girlfriends soon has an HO and to be honest now that I have the N scale running the HO just looks WAY to BIG.
I would agree with others though if you are looking for steam, N is pretty thin on selection. There are a ton of buildings for N and the scratchbuilding is easy in N.
N scale is the only way to go. Way back in high school (60’s) I had a large ho layout. When N scale came out in the late 60’s I was so excited I gave away my ho junk (wasn’t worth anything anyway) and began a life long affair with the Normal scale. Compared to N, ho looks toylike, oversized and clunky. When I became an RV’er, N scale was a live saver cause I can build small layouts, fold em up and take them in my travel trailer, can’t do that with ho, o or s. I’ve got about 50 quality locomotives and I can pack them all in a battery box (automotive 12 volt type) and my wife doesn’t even know they are there! Go Normal, you will never regret it!
Normal scale? Don’t you mean NANO scale?
Do you like modern railroading? Go with N scale. - [8D][8D]
Do you like to run long trains? Go with N scale. - [4:-)]
Do you like majestic scenery? Go with N scale. - [bow]
Do you like steam? Go with HO. - Yup, much better selection in HO.
Do you like building kits? Go with HO. - Yeah
Do you want sound in your engines? Go with HO. - [{(-_-)}]
Do you like to do a lot of switching? Go with HO. - [%-)] This doesn’t make sense. Switching works well in either scale, only you can build bigger yards, pull longer cuts, etc, with N vs. more detail, better sound with HO.
From the MSRP standpoint, N still beats HO. Street price, its a wash, with N’s small advantage in lower retail rolling stock and loco prices being offset by the greater clearance discounting seen in HO and wider availability of kits. On the other hand, you usually buy more rolling stock in N. Structure kits in N are less expensive than HO.
I’ll just take the time to second Dave553’s warning: Your eyes do deteriorate as you get older. I’m 54, and N is too small for me, even though my eyes still are good enough to rebuild HO brass locomotives. Some of my older MR friends even have given up on HO and moved to Sn3, S, or even O – all because of the viewing factor. Since you didn’t say how old you were or how much of an investment you are willing to make, I obviously cannot say N is a bad idea for you, but I will re-second the caution if perchance you are approaching fifty.
This is a truly exciting time to be in N scale. Athern has jumped in with quality rolling stock and structures. Precision Craft Models is putting sound in locos and shows great promise. Resin kits are gaining quality and diversity. DCC is a masterful way to run even small layouts and eliminate the science project of wiring the darn layout, and the logic puzzle of running it with block power. (sorry DC guys, I respect your work though). Working signals are available in DCC. The level of detail in N now exceeds the level of older HO equipment and shows no sign of stopping improving, such as prototype specific details, etched parts, etc. You get twice the railroad in N over HO which leaves running time between towns and industries. This eliminates fouling the town ahead with your engine and the town behind with your hack while switching the town in the middle.
As to steam, more and more N steam is comin out and you could always use stand ins or challenge your modeling skills with a scratch or kitbash a shell on an existing mechanism. I would never cut the size of my layout in half over the lack of a loco. Heck I’m doing the EJ&E in N and need to bash at least half of the locos I need.
Our NorthwestNtrak Module Cluc is great for trading skills and info and comeraderie. It’s a blast, have fun researching and running.
Hello all I am climber23’s Fiance, he is into HO I love N scale have since middle school when I got my first set. I will be picking up mu old set next week. In the mean time i went out and bought myself a new set to work with and my fiance bought me a new life like GP-20 low nose and some rolling stock.
Some questions:
What do people think of the following :
Bachmann rolling stock
Model power rolling stock
what are some rare types of N scale engines and cars available?
On another note: I am also interested in Z scale and the new A-1 scale from Bachmann, please tell me more.
Thanks.
C.