Well I’ve been modeling HO scale for several years, I really enjoy it but I no longer have the space for a layout that I would like. My question is how many folks out there have swiched? Did you regret it? What were the pros and cons? I have a list of my own that I’ve gotten narrowed down by other people just trying to get a better feel.
Thanks in advance.
I started with N scale early this year. I look through the magazines and visit train shows and see all the cool steam and early diesal avaliable in HO and think I may have made a mistake. Then I look at my layout, and at the N modules at the train shows and I realize what great looking, and realistic scenes I can put together. The HO modules at the shows just look crowded no matter how well done they are. That is just my opinion I don’t want to offend the majority of the people here.
Judging by the Z scale layout at the National Train Show it offers even more oppertunity for realistic sceanery but I think the avalibility of locomotives and rolling stock is even more limited than N.
I am sure you already have a large amount of time and money invested in HO but just think of the long, long N scale trains you could have rolling along your layout.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Remember that coupler springs seem to get smaller as one gets older!
Have fun
Well, I have made the switch from HO to N. N is a bit more expensive, as the locomotive mechanisms need to be smaller, as well as DCC chips and so forth. In N scale, steam locomotives are prone to be a bit underpowered at times, and may have trouble with the side rods and valve rods. But, the space is a great benefit. I do like the fact that you can model so much in a modest size space. As well as pull prototypical length trains. There is plenty available in N scale, and it comes close to the availability of HO.
All in all, if you need the space, and can afford it, and don’t mind the slightly smaller selection, N scale is a great scale to model, in my opinion.[2c]
I’m pretty much set on HO, but I’ve a fascination for N. I keep getting more and more N stuff until now, all I’m short of getting a layout going is the turnouts. I have the plan, but until I draw it up, I won’t know if I need #4s or #6s. I’ll probably have my N scale up and running before I get my basement plan together.
I swithced from HO to N and haven’t looked back.
I love the scenery to trains ratio in N.
The detail threshold is a little lower in N, but great strides have been made in this area lately.
Availability is a little better in HO but I just look at that as an opportunity to scratchbuild.
Do yourself a favor though if you want steam in N. Stick with the newer stuff. The last few years are pretty good. Before that it was kind of hit and miss, with lots of pizza cutter wheels if you know what I mean.
There are good older steamers in N, but like I say, it’s kind of spotty. Until you are ready to totally rebuild something (just in case it isn’t so hot a runner) it’s better safe then sorry.
I almost dropped N because of old Bachmann loco’s. Most left a little (or a lot) to be desired.
Also be careful with small steam. Not much electrical pickup and so powered frog are just about a must.
Oh, and traction tires are your friend! [:D]
Desiels are better as far as quality goes. Thats because this has been the focus of this scale from the beginning.
All in all, the scale is growing by leaps and bounds. Back in the 80’s things were much tougher.
Anyway’s, welcome to N!
Keep us posted on your progress and by all means, if you have a question, well, you know where to come…[8D]
As I model many different scales, I have noted various pros and cons to all of them. N scale manufacturers have made huge strides in terms of the amount of quality running, nicely details models that are available. While this is most evident in the steam locomotives IMO, all of the good manufacturers are putting out top quality stuff. Here are a couple of my thoughts…
If you don’t like small delicate things, N scale may not be for you. Although much of the product is available ready to run, there are still a lot of things to consider when building an entire layout in this small scale.
If you are a post transition era modeler, there are insane amounts of top quality equipment just waiting for you. If you are modeling the era prior to or up to the transition era, things begin to thin out a bit more. While there is more top quality steam available in N scale now than every before, compared to HO, you probably won’t be impressed.
Trackage is probably the weak link in N scale IMO. While compromises can be made in an effort to improve reliability, I have yet to use a ready to run product that truely offers performance and good looks. Many of the people I know here locally hand lay their N scale track, and all have had better luck than I have with ready made trackage, so this may be a way to go.
These are just a few of my thoughts, but honestly I don’t think you can go wrong with N scale, especially if space is your biggest concern… [:D]
I model Nscale because I do not have the space to model HO. It seems to me that Nscale is no more expensive than HO and, in rolling stock, is cheaper. To me, the main drawback to Nscale is the lower availability of good steam. Admittedly, this has and is getting much better. Inherent to Nscale steam is an inability to pull as many freight cars as the equivalent engine in a larger scale. I have a 7’ x 8’ Nscale layout that I am very happ[y with. If I had an HO layout in that space, it wouldn’t be much. To me with my space limitations, Nscale is hands down the way to go. Nscale equipment has improved quite a bit in the last 15 years. I expect the trend to continue and even to accelerate. So some of the drawbacks to Nscale are evaporating relatively quickly. Nscale allows a modeller to have a nice layout in an extra room that is not attainable in larger scales.
I have been modeling in N scale for over 25 years. Space or the lack of it decided the scale and I never regretted the choice I made. I must admit that in the early years N scale lagged behind HO and other scales in terms of variety and quality in every aspect - from couplers, engines, rolling stock, trackage to structures.
Today, there are tremendous improvements, given the time span (N scale is comparatively new when compared to HO,O etc) I believe it is at par with HO. Well detailed, correctly scaled and smooth running engines from Kato and Atlas makes a world of difference. The variety of well made rolling stock, structures, tracks and couplers help make N scale modeling attractive.
I suggest you look at engines by Kato, Atlas or InterMountain. Tracks by Peco, Micro-Engineering. Couplers by Micro-Trains and rolling stock you have many choices e.g.Atlas, deluxe innovations, MT etc.
Lastly, my eyesight has never been good. Being 63 years old everything is tiny but I managed.
Happy modeling,
[sigh][2c]Boy [:D] you got that right,Its a shame is’nt it???Well thats life[^]
JIM
I went the other way – started out in N because I knew I didn’t have much space and logic told me that N would mean longer trains and more interesting layouts. But I have (happily) now switched to HO. I think we try to make N vs. HO a logical decision, when there is a large emotional or non-rational part that must be considered, too. Like jnichols said – if space is your biggest concern, go N scale. But space may not be your BIGGEST concern.
The “emotional” part of this decision I’m talking about refers to what makes the hobby satisfying for you. For me, I kept finding that I would go to the hobby shop when I was in N, and gaze longingly at the HO rolling stock… loved the look, the heft, the detail, the wide selection… while always feeling that N stuff was just too tiny to offer the same pleasing “feeling” to me. Nice long trains, yes… but that always felt like itty-bitty toys.
So, like you, I reached a crossroads (or is that a grade crossing?). In my case, I decided to go DCC. Should I install decoders in my N locos, or start fresh? Bit the bullet. I sold all the N stuff on ebay and made the switch to HO. I miss the space, the train length, and the lower cost of rolling stock in N. But I love working with those HUGE (after being used to N) turnouts and rail joiners. I love the much wider availability of things like structures, signals, accessories, etc. But mostly, for me, it just feels better. I just so thoroughly enjoy looking at, working with, designing, creating trains, running trains (playing with) with those big beautiful HO cars and locos.
I say go to the hobby shop, really look at, hold, and study engines and cars in both scales… especially N since you’re used to HO. Imagine building the layout with each. Examine track and rail joiners in both scales – one in each hand – and think about the hours you’ll spend with it. And listen for which one “speaks” to you.
My wife says she liked the N scale layout better. “Cuter” she says. Ye
I went down to the local hobby store today and picked up a small assortment of N scale stuff. The hobby store had a set made up for me at a good price, so I got it. This guy stands to profit alot from me and he actually tryed to talk me out of it. We’ll see where it takes me. Thanks everyone for the good input.
I’ve been in HO since i was a kid. I fooled around with N scale for about a year a while back… Honestly, I never enjoyed it. There is so much more room for superdetailing in HO scale. When i would try to detail an N scale scene, engine, box car, or building, i found myself attempting to install details that nobody could see without getting Super close. HO scale gives you superdetailing possibilities that are well more enjoyed. On the other hand, if you are just interested in running vs. realism, N scale does save space, but not money.
So what kind of stuff did you pick up?
I’d also be a little concerned that he tried to talk you out of it. Gives me the impression that he might not be up to speed on N-scale – and biased against it. I can usually walk into a shop and tell pretty quickly the preferred scale of choice. Mostly it has been HO. There’s one shop nearby that’s just as heavily into N as HO, and the selection on both sides rival each other.
I’ve been solely in N-scale. The biggest advantage (as already stated) is the scenery to track ratio. I think it’s more realistic (especially when modeling rural areas) not to jam as much tracks into an area as possible because you’re limited in space. Most 1:1 situations are not like that. I also love running long trains with multi-unit lash ups.
N-scale availability and quality has never been better – and a slew of new offerings are on the horizon. Hey, even Athearn finally jumped into the ring! So I would not really be overly concerned about lack of availability because it’s been filling in quite rapidly over the past few years.
The drawbacks are size and cost. If you have difficulty working with smaller items, then perhaps this scale is not for you. Cost can be an issue for larger layouts – not because N-scale items necessarily cost more than HO, but because you will need more of them to fill the layout.
I went to the largest N scale dealer in the area. He has several Overland models and recomends Kato or Atlas. His HO stuff takes up about 1/10 of his store, the rest is N scale.
I got the K1 Kato track kit and an Atlas U25, couple of Atlas cars, couple of Model Power cars, J&J car, E-R Models car and a Loco-Motives car. Just the basics to see what I like and don’t like. I’m really into super detailing my stock and see that is going to be something that I’m not going to get as much of. Maybe not? I don’t know yet, it’s not something that I’m going to decide on overnight.
EMD100469 sadi “I got the K1 Kato track kit and an Atlas U25, couple of Atlas cars” You can’t go wrong there. I was reading this thread watching for someone to mention Kato Unitrack. I got back into the hobby after a 30 year Hiatus. Because of Space I went with “N”. But Now I’m glad. I’m moving to a larger space but will continue in “N” I got my start by buying someones stuff through a local Classified. I got a Bunch Of Kato Unitrack, a couple of Atlas Uboats, and an MRC pwoer pack. Great Start the Unitrack is bullet proof. I was worried about track problems and have never had any. I can burn in an engine, walk away for hours and come back, and she’s still cruising, and I’m talking Grades 3% double crossovers, Double main etc. And I’m no master Craftsman. You may want to join the Kato Users Group at Yahoo Groups, answers a lot of questions.
Stay away from Cheap Steam, it will only disappoint you. I bought an New older Bachman Northern from Ebay, it sucked. I sent it along with $15 to Bachman and got a Brand New Design Northern, Runs Great. But I wasted $45 on the first one. Kato and Atlas have great running products, and I have some good running LL diesles also. From the Start go with MT or MT like couplers. And if you have capable engines and are thinking about it, go DCC before you have a fleet of engines. Good luck, Enjoy. Dave
Let me put your mind at ease.
You can do an almost infinate amount of detailing in N. I’ve seen working red and green caboose lanterns that are about as fine as a couple of human hairs. It’s amazing really!
You’re just working with smaller materials when detailing.
Things like using fiber optics for lights, and putting the light source in a remote location is one trick you learn. I’ve seen people who used very small armature wire for truss rods. Things like that.
The question isn’t really can it be done because it can. The question is, as vbaglivio points out, is it worth it to detail to that degree? There is a point of diminished return on all that detailing work.
IMHO, to the average observer a moderately well detailed Nscale model that is cleanly built will look as good as anything that is equally detailed in any other scale. Now you do have to pick your battles, such as spening most of your time detailing the outsides, and especially the tops, of all your rolling stock. People aren’t going to see much of the insides of your boxcars and passenger cars. Now you can do that stuff if you want, but, for instance, I only paint the tables and chairs and maybe some plates and silverware in my dining cars. I don’t model merlot in fine chrystal because its beyond whats necessary to get the point across. That doesn’t mean that you can’t do that if you want to though.
Please keep in mind that this is all just my opinion and therefore is wide open to interpretation, but it just goes to show that much superdetailing can be done in N. You just have to “think small”.
move up, not down … [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][C):-)] consider a G scale outside. or how about an HO shelf railroad in limited space…
actually N scale is very nice, just too small to grab (my interest) - I’m not skilled enough to work with tiny modelling, and after spending my good Canadian greenbacks (painted metal coinage[2c]), I want to be able to see what I bought. N is great, just not practical for me.
If I do it over, I’m going big… O or G
Try scratchbuilding small steam in N! Thats an exercize in patience! Fun though!
Or maybe I’m just sick and twisted! [:p][:p][:p][:p]
My first Nscale trainset was a Trix Postage Stamp Train. The Funit had cute written all over it. Too small for me was the Zscale Marklin sets that used to be a part of a decent downtown department store.
Nscale has grown up a lot in the last 10years. Many of the gaps in the diesel lineup are now filled with models from Atlas and Lifelike. Kato makes excellent product, but the US market is too small compared to their home base of Japan to get enough atention. concor usede to be a much bigger player. Their PA1 & Hudson models were state of the art. They made a good line of passenger cars, in a wide variety of paint schemes. They practically invented the special run sets of cars. The bankruptcy of Rivarossi has cost them dearly.
Trackwork needs to be done properly for Nscale to operate reliably. THe little bump in HO scale becomes a major obstacle in N. The oversize railhead is a good compromise. You can spend more time doing scenery, leaving out small details.
If you compare car or loco per car, N can be less expensive than HO. I don’t like all the high prices on special run cars. You don’t have to but them. Stick to what you would find in a typical train. Spend more time assembling trains,. Spend more on motive power by buying 2 of them, then you have 2 motors to pull your train. Performance will improve. You have a better looking train with at least 2 units and 12-30 cars trailing behind with a caboose.