I am new to Model Railroading and I am just now starting my layout. So which scale is best to start out with? Alot of people tell me to start with HO. Help
Well since this is the CTT forum, you won’t hear HO. Actually this is something that is best determined by the amount of space that you have and also your age. Us old guys (meaning me) tend to go for the larger scales such as S & O. S is a nice size but the choices available are limited. Much more is made in O.
None are the best, they each have advantages and disadvantages. I suggest you go to a train show that has layouts displayed in different scales and see which one you like best.
Enjoy
Paul
You need to give us more information. Jefelectric is totally right - space and age are big keys. Limited space may move you in the direction of one of the smaller scales. But I think O is best for a sense of energy and excitement. They are bigger, heavier trains, that convey (at least for me) a more clear sense of power that you can both see and here as they go around the track. The smaller scales like HO and N tend more toward realism. You can do that in O too, but O has a more smile inducing fun side as well. I think in O there is more opportunity to go in different directions if you want. For kids, I think O is also better because the trains can be a little sturdier and are actually easier to handle. Though the smaller scales might seem better suited to the smaller hands of children, my experience is that kids have a harder time getting those smaller trains on the track and coupled up. This is true for many adults I’ve known too. And then there is speed. Go to a local train show or event and look at the set ups in the different scales. The smaller scales often excel in realism but the trains more or less crawl along. That might be realistic for that scale, but for my scale it just seems slow. Again, you can do slow in O also. BUT, you can do fast too. Kids and adults both love an occassional flying lap. So there it is. Many factors will influence your decision and my opinion may not help you given that I don’t know more about your situation. But I don’t think you can go wrong with O. You can take O in almost any direction. There are a ton of great trains out there and interesting accessories too. You can go basic or you can go top of the line digital control and sound. Most of all O is fun. And that is what toy trains are all about.
Try it out. I started in N scale, and personally found it too fiddly - I moved to O - and I’m only in my ‘mid-40s’ - I love my choice because I love the sounds, lights, size, and friends I have found in this scale.
Hi!
Welcome aboard!
As mentioned, this part of the “Trains” forum deals primarily with O and S gauge model railroading. The “Model Railroader” part of the forum deals primarily with HO, N, Z, and scale O and S railroads. As someone who has “played with trains” since the mid '50s, and worked with O, HO, N, and dabbled with S a bit, I have seen the upsides of each, and also their shortcomings.
Also as mentioned, there is no right or wrong answer to your question. There are so many variables such as your age, space (and money) available, areas of interest (i.e. running trains, building scale models, etc.), and so on.
What I strongly suggest is that you spend time at the hobby shops, train shows, and friends with trains, before you spend dollar one (except for some of the mags of course). This way, you will be more likely to start off with something that will stay with you and keep your interest up for years to come.
In any case,
ENJOY !!!
Mobilman44
Some folks enjoy every aspect of the hobby; others specialize in certain aspects of it, such as creating scenery, etc. Some leave their layout up permanently; others set it up only at holiday time. Some have small children;* others enter the hobby primarily for themselves. Do you want to be primarily a “runner” and mostly just play with trains; or do you want to create an elaborate model railroad? You can do the latter with any gauge, but o-gauge three-rail seems to be the popular choice for just “playing with” trains. Do you have any interest in running trains outdoors?
Read magazines, go to train shows, check out local railroad clubs, and visit your local hobby shop – if you are fortunate enough to still have one. Look at the differences between the relatively simple traditional trains and the new modern fancy electronic systems. Do a lot of homework; and then decide what you really want. Ask yourself what is attracting you to the hobby at this moment. I strongly recommend NOT taking the “starter” approach if that means changing scales later. (You may want to start out with a “starter set” within a given scale; but even here, there is so much variety you ought to figure out what you reallly want and get the most and best you can afford as soon as you can…)
Changing scales in “mid-hobby” can get infernally expensive!
*Contrary to a lot of advice, small scale does not equate to small children. In fact, the opposite is true. Little hands tend to make hash out of little trains, and get very frustrated in the process. (The “simple” act of getting all the wheels on the track is very much easier in the larger scales.) O-gauge hasn’t remained popular for a hundred years for no reason.
There have already been lots of excellent comments, so I will only reiterate to do lots of looking, reading and ask questions. Sometimes you may think it to be a stupid question but in reality the only stupid question is the one not asked.
[#welcome] aboard.
P.S._ Forgot to add. For me the best part of 3rail “O”, aside from all the sound capabilities and smoke, is the simplicity of setting up and taking them down (Carpet Central). As long as the rails line up reasonably straight they run, no polarity issues !
Welcome to the hobby and the forum.
I started with hand me down o gauge, did ho for a few years then got the S gauge bug and now I collect and operate in O, On30, S, N and G scale still have a few ho trains as well mostly kits I had put together and could not bear to part with. This hobby is addictive[#welcome]
I’ve always thought, if I were to start over, a good scale to try would be 1:1.
O
Or you could be like me and work with a lot of scales.
I work with N, HO, S, O, G, and 8 3/4" (Ride on)
If you find that you like working with different scales, there are many ways to integrate them, such as using an N scale train as part of an amusement park on a S or O gauge layout.
Or you could have a dual S and O gauge layout.
Some scales are eaiser to obtain in some areas than others. When I lived in ND, most of the nearby hobby shops on had HO and N, some only had HO, while a few had some O.
When I moved to GA, the local hobby shops had mainly HO and little of N, no O or S.
When I was stationed in SC, N, HO, O, and G could be found at all of the local train stores, with a store run by a friend of mine carrying S gauge equipment.
Up here in CT, a number of hobby shops carry more O than they do HO.
I found by experience that they best region to get S gauge equipment is in New England, which is due in no small part to AC Gilbert making all of those wonderful American Flyer trains in New Haven, CT.
That said, just because you can’t find the scale you want nearby, you can still use eBay, or better yet, train meets/shows. Most shows will have some variety in scale to them.
It all depends on what you like to do. If you like operating accessories and more action based equipment, then S and/or O would be best. If scale realism is what you are after, then HO and/or N is for you.
If you can’t decide, get them all.
Just make sure that YOU are the one that is happy with the scale you work with.
I started out with HO when I was about 12 and found out the hard way they are not toys but models and they broke easy. So I moved into O when I found my Dad’s Lionel #2020 packed away in the basement closet. It was able to take alittle more of a beating. So I stayed with it till I was about 16. We spent our summers at they mountain house and the basement is huge. So space was not a issue. When I got older and didnot get to go all the time I changed to N for the size and living in a S. Philly rowhouse they were perfect. But now that I have my own house and don’t have to worry about Mom complaing about the room they take up I brought out the O stuff again.(I never sell anything I still have the HO stuff) SO I am staying with the O. Plus the little guy can be alittle rough so he runs the junkers and Daddy runs the expense one’s. So I guess I’m sayiny if space is really not a problem I would go with the O gauge.
I am dyed ing the wool postwar American Flyer, but that is due to the person who got me addicted to the hobby had “S”. In retrospect, I would start in O. S has it’s advantages as far as being the “just right” size, availability is nowhere close to the O market when it comes to “modern” stuff.
Size and what your expectations are drive your answer. As answered above, read ask and research before you get in real deep, or collect 'em all [:O][:-^]
Jim
I model in scales from Z to G. Santa gave me my first electric train in '57 and it was an American Flyer “S” scale steamer. If money and size of the train/layout is not of consideration, go with “O” scale – the possiblilies are enormous. If size of a layout and there is money constraints, go with “N” scale. My favorite layout is my metal Marx that I have on an 8 X 8 board running three trains, one being elevated. I use metal buildings, most of which were originally used to sell candy and cookies, and it looks great. Children really enjoy this one – and it is my wife’s favorite, too.