I started out in N and on my second N layout now. I have gone from Bachmann locos to a fully digital system with sound equiped locos and DCC turn-outs, route control and even signal. Cost me an arm and a leg. However, I sometimes wonders if I chose the right scale. For space consideration which is why I pick N in the first place, then yes. But I always wonders if I am better to seriously model in HO for the reasons of better value, more details and more choice etc.
So who else models in multiple scales?
I think if I either re-design my home office/trainroom, I should be able to come up with more space now I have studies extensively in layout desgin. I can also scrap my die-cast plane airport in 1:500 scale, I might come up with some 8-10’ X 5-6’ pace. which should be enough for a mainline op with a dog leg switching yard in HO.
So my dilema is, either do another proper layout for my passenger and intermodal trains in N or do one in HO which means another complete set of gears. But I do want to do it properly thi time round and my curent N layout is sort of too complicated to change anything now.
I used to model HO, but switched to N. I still have my HO stuff, run it once in a while, also keep some large scale for christmas time.
You said you want passenger trains, I would stay in N, Trains can get VERY LONG in HO, with N scale you can model beautiful long trains, and still not have it be “almost all the way around the layout long”. That is also the reason I switched to N, I love long modern stuff.
I used to have 027, HO and N when I was younger. Relatives would buy me train stuff not knowing there where differant gauges. I sold the 027 and N stuff to concentrate on HO. Should have kept the Marks and Lionel stuff. Still kicking myself.[V]
I’m having enough trouble getting one layout finished without trying a second. Mine is a large HO spread. I had toyed with the idea of adding a N-scale line in the background to create some forced perspecitve but thought better of it. Instead I’m going to just add a few N scale houses on top of a distant hill to create the sense of greater distance.
I have plans to someday build a 4x8 Christmas layout and have toyed with the idea of doing that in N scale but if I ever get around to it, I will probably stay with HO just because I have a lot of old small DC locos that aren’t worthy of a DCC upgrade but would do fine on the little 4x8.
I originally modeled in On30 but then scratch built a logging caboose and a few other items in Large Scale that I originally built in O scale - and got hooked on indoor Large Scale modeling. Although I fell in love with the detail, ease of working with, and the size of Large Scale, I still had (and have) a passion for On30 (and HO). I had an extremely hard time choosing between the scales so I decided to model in multi-scales. By doing this, I can have the best of both worlds. I’d rather have two or more smaller layouts that I enjoy than one large one that is limited to one scale or theme. As far as devoting my time to any one of them, I work on what ever one tickles my fancy as I’m in no hurry to complete either one (a layout is never completed anyway) - I just want to have fun!
My primary scale is HO but,since I have a small collection of N Scale I also model in N Scale.However all of my N Scale operations is limited to the N Scale club.
When whimsey sets in, I sometimes operate 1:87.1 scale.
Since the track gauge for both is 16.5mm, I use the same rails on the same layout.
Can’t wait to build some authentic, true to (serious) prototype, scenery. Then I can baffle visitors by running a Niagara on the point of a string of transition-era freight cars past my 5-tiered pagoda and a street of shops with Japanese signage! Or head up a JNR limited express with a N&W J.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - usually)
At one time I had HO, N, and O layouts (And don’t even talk about the S, TT, HOn3, and HOn2 1/2 sitting in boxes). I also had the G-scale stuff for around the Christmas trees and outside. I have since been able to eliminate the N and O. What I can say is, don’t do it. Going to multiple scales spreads the budget, time, and space resources that much thinner, while increasing the “want list” geometrically. Dividing resources between scales reduces the satisfaction level with both. Even dividing resources between multiple layouts reduces the satisfaction level for both.
I think you are right, just did some maths and heck, how am I gonna get all that money to gear up to what I have in N now! LOL Even with just a few loco’s and I haven’t een complete my current layout yet. If I want sound, then it’s gonna quite a bit. I think I might be better off try to expand my N layout with the amount of cars and equiptment I got. I actually have more rolling stocks and locos that can occupy the entire trackage 3 times over…man…that is sad…what I need is space!
Guys,If you only buy what you need for (say) a N Scale club it doesn’t cost that much…I have 10 N Scale engine 4 C&HV and 6 NS and 50 cars…That all I need for the N Scale club…As far as time I don’t sit in front of the goof tube watching rerun movies and other rerun shows.I don’t watch any sports except NASCAR…So,I can attend 2 HO clubs and 1 N Scale club.[:D]I also race 1/24th slot cars on Saturday nights.
Don’t even get me Started on this. Untill about 2 months ago in my house We had every scale except for Z. I model in HO and N. I used to model in G about 5 years(got out of that becuase it was too expensive) So alot of that is still around, My mom Collects Lionel. I used to model HO untill about August of 2006 and then I switched to N becuase of space constraints. When I have my own house and I can I will probably go back to modeling HO but still have an N scale layout. The O and O27 I like but I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to get it. My layout is N scale but I still have all of my HO stuff becuase I go to an HO club and run trains there. And most of my friends Model in HO.
I have a bit of Z, some N (somewhere), one consist in TT, lots of HO, some S, a fair amount of O, and some prewar Marklin gauge 1. A bit of everything!!!
OK, so you think I won’t be able to control myself? Because apart from passengers which might be better off doing it in N anyway, I just want to do modern intermodal/car rack thing. Do you think I can control myself just to keep it in that theme with a moderate layout? Or it would be like in N, bit of this and that and I thought, what the heck, only one extra loco or one piece of rolling stock and end of doing a freaking unit train of the same theme etc.?
No DCC…As of now all of my operations is done on the HO clubs layouts or the N Scale club layout.All are DC layouts.Having DCC in both scales would add to the costs by a few dollars since a Atlas N Scale DCC equipped locomotive costs about $20-25.00 more at discount.