I thought about modeling in ho scale because i havnt had a real layout only a train set that wasnt even on a table.but now im planning on building a real layout in a 10x11ft room and all my plans dont fit…shoulld i switch to n scale?
has anyone made the switch to n scale from HO?
What are the pros and cons?
thx in advance!
I haven’t made a “switch,” though I have considered N Scale, as a secondary layout. N scale, of course, is way smaller than HO, so it’s harder to keep up with. With your 10x11 room plan, you’d probably do better switching to N, as you could fit more into that space.
For layout planning, I suggest buying software, or downloading Atlas’s “Right Track Software,” at http://www.atlasrr.com/righttrack.htm. It takes a minute to understand it, but it works.
Matt
i have the atlas right track freeware
I dabbled in N scale for a time, but I switched back to HO. Since my eyesight isn’t what it used to be, working on or painting or decaling an N scale engine was just too painful.
Regards,
Burlington John
The most important consideration is what size you are comfortable at handling and manipulating. There is no quicker way to turn a delightful hobby into a frustrating quagmire than picking a scale you are not comfortable working with.
Everything else is secondary.
I switched from HO to N so that I could run longer trains in a smaller amount of space. The quote above from LIT is spot on - The only problem that I have had so far is when it comes to super detailing stuff. I had a heck of a time putting the downspouts on some of my structures. One other thing to consider is availability of product for your protoypes. Most current/fallen flags are covered by HO scale but not as much in N. So, if you can find what you need in N and are confortable with the size, go ahead and give it a shot.
You could always build a really small N layout with just a train set to see if you are okay with it.
It really depends on what satisfies you desire for the hobby.
If you are interested in super detail, HO is a better way to go. You can see much more of the detail and there are more parts available. Also the variety of available models is better by far in HO Scale.
If you are interested in running closer to scale train lengths and want to spread out your scenery, N Scale gets the nod.
N Scale is what I opted for. I have 13 small buildings on a 40" x 40" section with a viaduct running through it and a modern diesel facility going in on one corner. I still have quite a bit of open space to deal with there. I have an open helix to climb up to the peak of the viaduct (4" rise" that measures 40" x 70") that will have an open plateau of about 2’ x 4’ center to populate. That leaves 94" x 40" in the middle that I have to figure out what to do with. My layout is 11’ x 3’ 4" x 40" ell.
You can do multiple scales. Build an around the room N scale at a high level so you can run long trains at a good viewing angle. Then build a switching line in a larger scale underneath so you can have fun building, detailing, switching cars - this could be anything from HO to G.
Enjoy
Paul
Someone once summed it up this way (I can’t remember who):
“If you want to model trains, go with HO. If you want to model railroads, go with N.”
You should try the above suggestions and model in both HO and N scales. HO is great for details, availability of supplies, steam-era modeling, and reliable running while N scale is good for modern-era long trains and spectacular scenic effects. I currently model in Large Scale, both in 45mm and 16.5 mm gauge (aka. Gn15 - G scale on HO track), because I like logging and the unusual and unique narrow gauge equipment, the ease of scratchbuilding with wood, the heft of the equipment, and I enjoy superdetailing individual scenes, structures, and rolling stock. I also model in On30 because of the excellent selection of equipment, quality of supplies (steam, of course), great details, and my desire for scenic effects and structures such as trestles, mountains, canyons, etc that would require a gymnasium to model in Large Scale. No one particular scale can provide everything I enjoy about model railroading so I model in multiple scales (and gauges) and have the best of both worlds.
The idea of having both can work out. Ilike the idea of having a switching layout under the N scale (some people have a loop of HO running around a room on a shelf above the doors and windows) I started out in HO because it was big enough but not too big, the equipment ran better (at the time) and there was more stuff available. After some years, I now have both. With HO, I have more projects to do because it is big enough to see the detail flaws that can be fixed (the biggest problem is working hard to fabricate a detail part and two weeks after you finish it some company comes out with the part. That leads to procrastination.) so most sits, not ready to run, in boxes in storage. I have more N scale running because the quality of the equipment has improved tremendously and I found that if I spend the time & effort on N scale trackwork I used to spend on super detailing HO, N scale is quite reliable.
I agree with the Rooster. I’m building an N-scale L-shaped switching layout which might become part of an around the walls layout. I am also seriously considering building a 1ft X 8ft HO switching layout as well like the papermill complex in the last issue of “MR Planning”.
Both will be on 2 inch foam, so I can use cheap wall brackets instead of benchwork.
January or June 2001 MR had an around the walls plan called the Wildcat Central. It fit in a pretty small space and was quite nice - doubletrack mainline, switching and hidden staging.
MR had a series of articles on a room-sized BN layout. I think it was 10’ x 11’, but I don’t remember for sure, I do know that it was N scale, and it looked pretty nice. I thought about building it in HO, but I didn’t have the space required.
On 3 Jun instant Trainmaster12345 addressed this issue with a topic (calling all N Scale Modelers); the same issue was addressed on 18 June instant by Unclebuck (Here comes the transition [HO to N]).
Obviously there computerwiz77, you are not the first person in the world to face this issue. What gauge??? I faced that issue 25+ years ago and it was not easy and when I finally put my HO Scale equipment up for sale at a swap meet it tugged at the cockles of my heart. But I haven’t really regretted the decision. It was something that I had to do>
I had recently retired from the Air Force - was using my GI Bill benefits to go to college - was working - and my model railroading consisted of assembling a couple of Hobbytown of Boston E7A kits (and a Cary USRA light boiler on a Mantua/Tyco drive if I remember correctly). When time finally allowed me an opportunity to evaluate the space available to me for a model railroad I realized that, considering my room had to do double duty with other functions, I was going to have to settle for an oval type layout. That’s all I had done for eighteen years although my last one had been on a whopping 16’ long board. I began to cast a serious eye on N-Scale - I already had some - for the previous 10 years I had vacillated back and forth between the two - and one day I did some calculataions and discovered that I could construct a fairly decent folded dogbone if I went to N-Scale - I could escape that “oval” trap. And I did. I went to my LHS and made a considerable purchase of N-Scale equipment - and that was that.
Once the decision is made you have to be firm about it. I’ll own up that I’m still a closet *** but, except for the purchase of a couple of Athearn SD40-2 body shells and associated Proto-Power drives, I’ve never really looked back. I will go along with BurlingtonJohn - I’m 66 and my eyesight, like his, ain’t what it used to be - my hands are a little stiff - not painfully so but stiff, nevertheless, -
I switched to N scale due to room requirements. I was always interested in it even when still in HO, so it wasn’t that painful. Though I miss HO, I am satisfied with N.
cost is another factor. everything seems to be more expensive is N scale, one of the major reason i reverted back to HO. Theres no real N scale equivalent to Athearn. if you have a large room, you’ll probably want to run long train. A medium train for HO might be 12 cars or about 6 feet long, the same train in scale will have about twice the car, thats double the cost, same for power up front, same for wheels and coupler and on and on… because you have more space, you almost automatically will want to fill it with car and engines…same goes for structures and vehicules…if you have a pretty decent budget thats not a problem. to me thats the main disadvantage. the space issue is the one major advantage though. in the same area i have for my layout now ( 8 by 8 on a 12 inch shelf) id probably have twice the amount of switching and yard area…
I have been in HO since 1966.I would like to stay in it because of the number of items available but I have become frustrated with it as I can’t model what I want to in my available space-which is 9’ X 14’. An N scale layout in that space will allow me to accomplish what I want. And that is to model the Wilkes-Barre,Pa area what with the D&H, LV, CNJ and PRR.
The conclusion? Switch to N scale.