Both of my boys, ages 4 and 8, want to start a layout in the basement. I’ve had 2 other layouts before - both ‘N’ scale. I have a 26’ by 52’ basement, and want to go ‘HO’. But me dearest wife wants to stay ‘N’, due to the surplus parts, etc. I really don’t know what to go with. Better scale scenery with ‘N’, but neater accessories with ‘HO’. Sincerely, a troubled old fat bald dad.
Welcome Dan , great to have you, I’m sure you’ll get opinions for both sides, but with that much space I would say HO, and the boys will find them easier to handle(when they get to that stage)… I understand your wifes stand tho, but there is no need to get rid of the N scale, just cos u have it now and go to HO doesnt mean u have to get rid of it, box it up for a possible future use, above all have fun with whatever you choose, sounds like its a family decision, so wiegh up all the pros and cons.
Have fun & be safe
Karl.
Stick with N… (bias)
i like HO because it is big enough to put in the details I want to see in a layout. I can’t imagine painting in the window frames of an N scale eBay house. Or retrofiting a N scale decoder into a N scale 4-4-0 steamer.
And I like sound.
There you are. You told us the answer. You want to go HO. Go HO. This is a subjective, emotional decision. You can make all the logical arguments you want about the parts you already have, but it’s not a logical decision. It’s our trains. There are all kinds of emotional responses that I for one will never understand about what makes us like the trains we like. You’re attracted to HO. Go HO.
With that much space I would go HO. That is a lot of space to fill with N Scale. I also think HO is a whole lot easier to work with.
Bryan
Cheat like mad! Kitba***he old N-scale stuff into HOn30, run it as a narrow gauge connection, then build the mainline in HO.
Seriously, I can understand your wife’s desire to avoid new expenditures (mine squeezes every nickel so hard the buffalo bellows!) Realistically, N scale may be a bit challenging for your younger railroader, and possibly for his older brother as well.
I would suggest you design something in the ‘big, but simple’ school. Allow for a long mainline run, and leave modeling the hump yard and the puzzle palace industrial district for later. When the youngsters are ready for that kind of challenge, they’ll let you know.
Chuck
[#welcome] I would sell all of my non-sentemental N scale things and go with HO
G scale. You’ll never want anything else again.
For some reason HO has been great for me. My brother had N scale while we were growing up but it was just to hard to work with. I guess if you want a real big layout: go with N but I think that you will be real happy with HO. I believe that it just an easier scale to model.
26’x52’!!! WOW!!! N scale could have miles of open track between towns! Trains could really stretch out and run!
But then again, I’m biased…
I was in a similar situation a few months ago. The difference being I had nothing. Originally the room for the layout was 13 x 15 so I was looking real hard at N however, I really wanted to go with HO because it was bigger and there is more stuff available for HO.
Things changed for me. The layout room increased to 20 x 15 thanks to my better half giving me the larger area of the two in the basement. At that point it was a no brainer, I went with HO.
I’m glad I did because my eyes are not getting any better. The smaller N scale stuff would be difficult to work with especially when it comes to maintenance.
I’d say with the space you have HO is a solid choice.
Bill
Don’t know how “scale” you need or want to be.
But for something more whimsical and fun - closest to the aisle, and at a lower level, some 3 rail O. Make it low enough so your 4 year old can reach it, put stuff in the open top cars, pu***he locomotives, set up collisions with building blocks, etc. The 8 year old will likely get a big kick out of a few of the operating accessories and animated stuff, as well as “racing” the trains. If you go this route, I would recommend sticking with the lower end conventional control rather than the expensive “hi-rail” almost scale new production. Remember, the point of doing this is to enjoy seeing your boys have fun with trains.
Then add a level of HO - and the great part about this is that you can run HO or On30 on this track - your choice - if you set up your clearances correctly.
Finally add some N track, and enjoy what you already have.
Watch what the boys choose to use or play with over time, and shift empasis between scales accordingly. With eBay, you don’t lose nearly as much money by selling off what you are no longer using - especially if you buy used to begin with. The only thing sweeter would be to get the wife involved (which will be more likely if the boys are involved).
Granted, this isn’t the cheapest approach, nor necessarily the most satisfying for you. But your boys will never forget playing with “their” trains and their Dad. And the learning they will get working beside you on building and operating a mult-scale layout will serve them in good stead in school and in life. The boys are at the best ages for sharing a hobby with their Dad. I pretty much (but not totally) blew it with too much concern over breaking “valuable” trains.
learn from my mistakes, not your own
Fred W
With that much room I would be looking at “S” or “O” scale…CERTAINLY HO scale…good lord this is a no brainer my good man !![:D][:D]
If I had that much room to play with… I’d do one of each. I’m a bi-scaler. For years, I was only into HO, but picked up some used N scale stuff last year. Right now, my HO scale layout runs along 2 walls in my workshop. The track is laid, most of the buildings are done, but I still have the “Plywood Central” look. The N scale layout is nothing fancy right now–just a loop of Kato Unitrack on a 4x2-foot table. So far, they’ve been able to peacefully coexist 
Are you planning on using DCC and/or sound?? If so HO would probably be the best bet. There are a few N scale engines that come from the factory with sound decoders installed, but there are many more in HO scale. Plus an HO engine gives you a lot more room for a decoder, and most engines today have an eight-pin “plug and play” receptacle built in.
Tell your wife it will cost twice as much to fill that space with N scale stuff (cause you can get twice as much stuff in the same space and most N scale stuff costs about the same as HO)
I don’t know about that. Perhaps on the macroscopic level for the over all look of a mountain or country side. But when it comes to details, stick a camera into one of those scenes and suddenly the weeds have stalks three scale inches around! It is hard enough not to have simple things like weed look OK in HO. This lack of detail issue (and not just with the scenery) is one of the main reasons I abandon N-scale in 1983. Most of the non-brass locomotives and rolling stock were converted to “Christmas Tree Ornament” service and given to the wife. If I had the space I would definitely go with one of the larger scales O, 1, Fn3, or 1:29th scale whatever it is designated. And when I say space I mean a whole lot more than you have! I am currently in the beginning planning stages for a gymnasium size double deck layout for HO.
At the age of 45, and with eyes getting worse every year, IF i had to do it all again, I think I’d go with On30!!.
by all means,go with HO