A recent post on another forum posed this question: why do you like On30?
I replied in the following way. If you model in On30 how would you respond?
My layout is 9 x 11 and an around the walls design. Being larger than HO (my previous scale) I get the feeling of being very much “in the scene”; a sort of “up-close-and personal” feeling in relationship to the layout. It’s a more intimate experience. I also enjoy scratch and kit building more with larger models. On 30 is definitely a craftsman scale and On30 allows a wide range of creativity. Finally, On30 frees me of the rivet counting constraints of some other scales and opens up a wonderful world of model railroad enjoyment. I’ve modeled all scales in my near 65 years and On30 is far and away my favorite.
I would tend to agree with you in many ways. I am not in On30, but just recently went narrow gauge after about 50 years in HO. I am currently in HOn3. At train shows, I always admire some of the good looking large On30 locos. The significant increase in size allows for less skilled or older modelers, (like us), to do a good job without the need for tweezers and allows far more room to shoehorn in DCC electronics. Everything is just easier to make “high scale” in On30. About the only issue with On30 is that there never were any K-27’s in 2-1/2 foot gauge and the prices to play in On30, especially for high scale locos limits some of us. I have seen decent rolling stock in On30 sell for less than the same Blackstone model in HOn3 and that hacks me off a little. If I weren’t so heavily invested in HOn3, might switch over, but the loss of all those HO scale buildings would throw a large fresh structure bill at me.
Certainly, any narrow gauge endeavor in any scale is still somewhat off the beaten track against the overwhelming backdrop of HO and N scales. Both HOn3 and On30, however, have had a major impact on MR over the last decade and have moved into what might be termed the “main stream” due to availability of good R-T-R models coupled with DCC. These are no longer “craftsman only” narrow gauge efforts.
Narrow gauge engines are unique among all other types, especially the outside frame units. Instead of drivers we are treated to a whirling mass of eccentric steel counterwieghts mixing in with a complex and tight monkey motion of the rods and valve gear. What a sight! Their cuteness level with shotgun stacks and over sized cabs and headlights is off the charts while still allowing them grand iron horse status. They are just more people sized and interesting to watch and the cars are certainly different and allow the modeler a tremendous license to fr
I’ve been in HO mainline railroading since 1960. Three years ago I tore down the existing layout to build a new one. I took that time to figure out what I reallly wanted. Being in my mid 60s at the time, I felt that a new layout may be my last, and I wanted it “right”.
I gave On30 a very, very hard look. To me, they always look like “fun” railroads with the rural settings and mountains, etc.
After a lot of thought, I went with my tried and true ATSF mainline HO railroad. I don’t regret the decision, but I still think about what might have been.
I’ve certainly thought about it, I was in O scale for about 15 years and still have some buildings, autos etc. that I could use. Of course the great advantage of On30 is that it’s easy to get into, because you can use HO track to start. HO “click track” like Kato Unitrack is a lot easier to build a layout with than say On3 using cork and flextrack - especially nice for a new modeller.
I find many of my fellow modelers in standard gauge scales saying much what other repsonses here have noted. I too, collected HOn3 stuff, very thinly and very piecemeal since the 1980’s, while plowing ahead into HO. I always had this deep ingrained love of the narrow gauge, sort of like you get when you see a woman who is not really beautiful but is somehow “strangely cute” that sticks in the back of your mind, hauntingly. This was the case with me and apparently many others, who, for years and even recently have a narrow gauge yen that they just won’t give free reign to.
I say, come on in, the water’s fine! If you aren’t quite ready to jump in, then buy some swim trunks, at least, (start picking up narrow gauge gear), for when you are ready to dive in.
Note: If you stay in your current scale, you get to keep and use or modify all your existing strutures, cars, trucks, etc…No charge.
On30 and HOn3 rule the game just now, but when its time, you’ll be glad you came over to narrow gauge modeling. For the diesel folks, there is the White Pass and Yukon where mixed transition engines ran free together. In Colorado and the Southwest, steam ruled, but there were a few small diesels for yard switching such that a small narrow gauge switching layout with these little guys pushing around old sway back, under-rodded box cars and beatup wooden gondolas is a real blast.
Yes, this is a general narrow gauge pitch, but On30 is a great place to start. I remain somewhat jealous.
I also don’t have an On30 layout, but I have designed one in the past and I DO have a small stash of locos and rolling stock tucked away just looking for the perfect excuse to do a small layout, but in answer to your inquiry:
The heft and size of the equipment over HOn3
All the detail of a finescale O layout with all the easy accessibility and reliability of HO track and mechanisms
Costs are on par with regular HO stuff instead of uber expensive HOn3
The shear freedom of allowing the modeler to create their own definition of narrow gauge.
I’m torn between HOn3 and On30. I have always had an interest in narrow gauge, and have been buying both scale for the last several years, and both have a lot of merit.
On30 has a nice selection of cars and locomotives. Yes, Bachmann is the only major manufacturer behind this, but they seem to be committed. It’s definitely a freelancers/craftsman/tinkerer scale, On30 has spawned a small army of independent manufacturers, making everything from cars to detail parts to whole engine conversions. It’s not for the class 1 guy with a handful of waybills, but it is a scale with a lot of modeling potential.
I started buying HOn3 because of the Blackstone cars and locos, and my narrow gauge love started in Colorado. These are without a doubt the smoothest running engines I’ve ever seen, steam or diesel. Simply amazing. The cars are highly detailed. Commercial track and prototype structure kits are available as well. Everything from plastic Rico Stations to museum quality craftsman structures. The prototype has been exhaustively researched.
All things considered, I think the pendulum will swing towards On30. I like the larger size and detail it affords, but the biggest thing is Blackstone pricing is a runaway freight train. The detail is awesome, but the cost doesn’t justify it anymore. People complaining about the price of exactrail cars really don’t have a leg to stand on compared to this stuff.
All you standard gauge guys are coming out of the closet! Wow!
Yes, On30 is the current rage and there is not one reason not to go to it, unless you have spent the long buck and are in possesion of the fine and superlative Blackstone models in HOn3. I came within a hair’s breath of spending $799.00 on E-bay for a G gauge Bachman K-27 last week. Then I realized what the track and cars cost. I haven’t the space, but boy, what a large beauty that puppy was. Who doesn’t love the big stuff.
For a fabulous view of the eccentrics and monkey motion with wheel slip thrown in for good measure, check out this K-36 trying to back up at Silverton on a Cold winter’s day with a large consist coupled to it.
I have long loved anything narrow gauge. I originally started my first stint in the stuff in '97 with HOn3. A couple of years later, I decided that HOn3 was a bit small for me, so I moved to On30 in 2000. Then I got back into standard HO, and then back to narrow, then standard…well, you get the picture.
Fast forward to today, I am currently building an HO standard gauge layout, but I am building my narrow stuff in On3. Except my On3 stuff is mainly On30 kits that I put On3 trucks under. Here is an example of a Morgan Hill Models On30 tank car with San Juan On3 trucks…
I have acquired some ex-NTrak modules that have been stripped. I plan on using those to model some On3 with.
On30 is great, but I just wanted the 3’ stuff. Like I said the car above started as an On30 car.
I should add to my original post that I can well appreciate those who have a lot of time and money invested in HO or other scales. I was one myself. However in May of 2009 I lost my entire house and all posessions including my HO layout, all rolling stock, all tools and the contents of my workshop. So I was left at square one. I’ve since rebuilt and in that effort designed a dedicated layout room and separate workshop with all the tools I’ve ever wanted. So when I decided on going with On30 I no longer had any equipment, layout or “baggage” to consider. I know that makes a big difference. As a side note, having previously visited East Broad Top, I spent a week in Colorado this past September and thoroughly explored, rode and photographed the narrow gauge lines there. Needless to say, if I wasn’t 100% hooked on narrow gauge before that, I sure am now! Yet I sure do love and respect all scales and model railroading in general. In fact, I have a N gauge coffee table style layout currently lurking in the back of my mind! Model railroading IS fun!
Is this sarcasm? I hope not, I was just posting that the On30 stuff could also be used to model the 3’ stuff. No, the trucks were only $12.98 a pair, while the car kit itself was $39.95. The trucks are also available in On30…
Yeah, a trip to Colorado is what did it for me. We just went back a couple years ago and rode the Georgetown Loop for the first time. My avatar pic was one that I snapped at the Colorado RR Museum in Golden.
My wallet and costs of modeling in one scale (HO) keeps me from coming out of the closet. If I have unlimited funds, I’d probably go wth the Blackstone models HO narrow gauge. Honestly I had forgotten about On3 although I remember some new products coming out for it in the 1990’s.
I’ve always been in HO(and plan on staying there for awhile),but I’ve recently picked up some On3 Rio Grande engines and rolling stock. My first close up encounter with any life-sized RR equipment was when my grandfather took me to the Colorado RR Museum shortly after they opened. I was 5 or 6,and being able to climb in and on those narrow gauge engines was IT for me - they’ve had a special place in my heart ever since. It had the same effect on my son,almost 30 years later.
As to why I like On3; Though my eyes are still good,I have to squint to make out the engine data lettering on the cab side of an HO Big Boy,and the thought of modeling a scene packed with details you can actually see from a few feet away is appealing.I also like having room for larger,better sounding speakers in engines or tenders, So for now,I’ll stick with HO,and tinker with On3,with the idea that one day I’ll get serious with a narrow gauge layout.
I have bought a bunch of Bachmann’s On30 rolling stock. They make great S scale standard gauge cars. Swap the trucks out and I have some early 1900’s cars for my S scale layout.
Jim,Being retied I no longer have deep pockets for any scale…
What has my attention is that sweet looking 2-4-4 Forney I seen at a train show and the price he was asking wasn’t bad $89.00…It almost found a new home…
I love Narrow Gage Railroads; but, feel HO Standard Gage is as small as my 63 year old eyes are willing to get down too. The fact that you can build an O-Scale layout in maybe a little more space than HO is very appealing to me. Incidentally On30 and On2 1/2 are the same thing. On30 is appealing to me because there are very interesting locomotives and rolling stock available.
Should I decide to tear down my present HO layout. I think I would jump on the On30 bandwagon as I think new ventures are fun, I like the size and I might be ready for the change!
