I have lately been tempted to return to HO scale after finding undecorated passenger cars that somewhat looks like the Metra Electric cars that I used to ride almost every weekend. Well when HO didnt have the cars, I found on Walthers Wheels of Time had some undecorated causing me to transfer to N scale.
Now, I found some undecorated passenger cars that I want buy and create my own little Metra Electric branch line. My question(s) are have any of you fellow modelers switch scale and/or went back to the original scale? Also, what are your advice on this situation?
Plenty of fans for both gauges. But I don’t have watchmaker skills, so I go with HO. I also think HO is better visually, because it is larger than N gauge, but not as toylike as O gauge.
I for one have seen some very realistic and detailed two-rail O layouts. Done correctly it’s far more than just a Christmas tree ornament.
For me though O is just too space hungry and too expensive. I prefer HO. I find it the best mix of realism to modeling ability for my medium sized space.
But to go back to the original question, only you can answer the question of which is best for you LMD.
Sounds like you haven’t made up your mind as to what scale. Could just do both, that way if a specific must have comes out in either it won’t be a problem. Some switch to or back to HO for the wider range of availability or just due to the ease of working on a larger size. Those old eyes of mine are evn getting tired in HO detailing, couldn’t imagine doing it in N.
You may get to a point and settle on one eventually.
I would love to do both but that would probably take up space for some cities I want to have in my layout. If I choose one or the other, I will still use the same blueprints for the layout.
I am 56 years old and my bespectacled eyes are giving in, yet I have chosen N scale and I am quite happy with it. I have to admit that I was skeptical about it, but I do not regret my choice.
N scale will give you the same (if not more) railroad feeling, if you bring up your layout up to eye level as close as possible and take care of good lighting.
Hi Mr.LMD, I like all of the replies, so far. As bogp40 suggests.“Why don’t you use HO and N scale on your layout. The following photo shows what I have done. The HO scale is directly in front of the N scale dogbone runs along the rear wall and is raised up on a 2"x2”, with distant low hills as a background. It provides good forced perspective. You could use Nscale structures, cut down to Background structures,or use the N scale photo backdrops, (that just showed up on a “Pop-up”). Click on the photo to enlarge it. Then, click on “Previous” or “Next”, to view other parts of my 24’x24’ around the room HO layout. Bob Hahn
There’s nothing wrong with modeling in more than one scale so long as you can afford it and have the space for more than one layout.
I was in HO in 1974-1975 and from 1982 to 1989 (had mostly junk back then), I switched to N in 1989 and ran it up until 1997, I switched back to HO in 1997 and stuck with it ever since, and from 2004 to 2011 I built up a fleet of N scale locos and cars to run on the model railroad club layout.
The way I dealt with being in both scales was to model different eras for each scale. In HO scale I model the year 1974 (mostly CN and CP) and in N scale I chose the year 1956 (mostly CN and Great Northern). I’m no longer in the model railroad club, but I want to build a small portable N scale layout to run my equipment on.
A small Metra branch line in HO is fine if you have the room to build it. Going with different themes or eras is a great way of justifying modeling in more than one scale.
Model both scales on the same layout. In spite of the scale differences, it can be done.
2, Return to HO scale and sell your N scale stuff on eBay. I have been selling surplus HO stuff on ebay for approximately 70% of purchase price, mostly locos, cars, and turnouts. I assume you could experience the same results with your N scale stuff.
I wrote this a month or so ago, and could figure out how to just put in a link. Go figure.
I still like the overview that N gives you and am considering a coffee table layout ( under glass ) Ya can’t have enough trains! Anyway, read my thoughts written previously.
I switched from N to HO about 2 years ago. I thought that N would work for me as I didn’t have a very big room for a layout, and with N you can put in almost twice the stuff. Well, getting old forced me to go back to HO as I had problems with putting/keeping stuff on the track - those wheels are tiny. Building stuff wasn’t an issue as I use a headset to see. Anyway, I decided to eBay the N stuff. I have been an eBay’r since it’s inception and think that I have a good handle on how to sell stuff that brings in the most cash. These are in order of priority!
Sharp clear well lit pictures of the item - 6 sides ( top, bottom, end, end2, side, side2 ). Make those pix thumbnails which bring up a larger pix if clicked. One thing that amazes me is that you see beautiful train stuff ( engines, cars, buildings …etc … ) just sitting on a formica counter top and that is where the pix is shot. Put your item in its environment - Engine on ballasted track; cars to. Building in ground cover - you get the idea. Learn to use your macro lens and watch your depth of field. If it is to small, your item is partially out of focus. Sometimes you can’t help it, so minimize it as much as possible.
Very clear description in a small paragraph of what you are selling and in your case …why. If it is an unique item, tell folks about each of the pix. If you have a ( for instance ) Hormell box, then the pix pretty much tells the story. List the manufacture and tell about how good ( or bad ) the shape of it is.
Here’s some questions that you need to answer honestly.
1.How much to you have invested in N and can you afford the lost?
2.Will those passenger cars fit the curve size of your proposed HO layout?
3.Are you sure you’re not caught up in the moment over these cars-the “wow factor”?
I would look long and hard before jumping and I would be sure those cars could go around my largest curves.In other words if those cars require 24" curves and the largest you have on your HO layout is 18" or 21" then your new cars will become shelf queens and the “wow factor” wins again.
I wrote this a month or so ago, and could figure out how to just put in a link. Go figure.
I still like the overview that N gives you and am considering a coffee table layout ( under glass ) Ya can’t have enough trains! Anyway, read my thoughts written previously.
I switched from N to HO about 2 years ago. I thought that N would work for me as I didn’t have a very big room for a layout, and with N you can put in almost twice the stuff. Well, getting old forced me to go back to HO as I had problems with putting/keeping stuff on the track - those wheels are tiny. Building stuff wasn’t an issue as I use a headset to see. Anyway, I decided to eBay the N stuff. I have been an eBay’r since it’s inception and think that I have a good handle on how to sell stuff that brings in the most cash. These are in order of priority!
Sharp clear well lit pictures of the item - 6 sides ( top, bottom, end, end2, side, side2 ). Make those pix thumbnails which bring up a larger pix if clicked. One thing that amazes me is that you see beautiful train stuff ( engines, cars, buildings …etc … ) just sitting on a formica counter top and that is where the pix is shot. Put your item in its environment - Engine on ballasted track; cars to. Building in ground cover - you get the idea. Learn to use your macro lens and watch your depth of field. If it is to small, your item is partially out of focus. Sometimes you can’t help it, so minimize it as much as possible.
Very clear description in a small paragraph of what you are selling and in your case …why. If it is an unique item, tell folks about each of the pix. If you have a ( for instance ) Hormell box, then the pix pretty much tells the story. List the manufacture and tell about how good ( or bad ) the shape of it is.
Tell about your shipping - USPS, UPS FedX …etc and what
I have invested close to $500.00 in N scale (which I love), but I still have my HO scale locomotives and cars. I want to have both a passenger system and a freight line for my layout, however, it might cost a lot to have both running since I might need 3-4 transformers to operate my layout. I post my layout blueprints below and if I go to one scale or the other, like I said before, I will still use the blueprints.
The reason I love HO is because I can buy a lot of locomotives Undecorated, just like I can buy a lot of Undecorated rolling stock.
I love N scale because I can have more with less space.
I’d just say go with what you are more comfortable with.
I actually still meddle in HO scale as well as N scale…I make up HO scale dioramas that I use to practice photography with as well as use them for making compressed scenes from…and I am getting better at it as I go along…[swg]
Since you have so much N scale already, the logical answer is straightforward: build a smaller N scale “practice” layout, lay some track, run some trains, get some experience, and then decide. Shift from talking to doing and you’ll have more knowledge upon which to base your ultimate decision.
And if you stay with N, pre-painted cars and engines may be stripped and repainted.
You apparently have a giant dream, although it’s very difficult to follow. Much more of it would fit within a given space in N scale than in HO – simple math (HO is about twice the length and 4 times the area of N). Since you are a young person, you will likely move many times over the next few years (most people do). A smaller layout is more movable.
You also seem to let simple issues, like the availability of one model, sway your decisions day-to-day. Put a stake in the ground, do some actual model railroading with what you already own, and see where that takes you.
HO can build into a fine layout. N can build into a fine layout. Posting on Internet forums builds no layout. [:)]
