Should I go dual scale?

I know that I’m really the only person who can answer this question, and actually I’m not really looking for any answers, more…. maybe some comments.

My wife and I may start looking for a bigger house sometime next year, and of course one of my requirements for a new house is a ‘choo choo’ room, as my wife calls it, preferably a minimum 12 x 20’ room, today I have a 12 x 15, but would like it a bit longer.

Now, with the prospect of having to start a layout from scratch again (yuipiii I like that), it got me thinking of what I like about N scale and what I could get from changing to HO instead. I know this subject has been discussed countless number of times, but here goes again.

Reason for choosing N
Mainline running with long modern trains.
Big yard(s).
True sized big warehouse / factory buildings.

Reason for choosing HO
Would like to build some fine-scale buildings.
Love steam and the details I have seen on some HO steams.
Sound in a steam is a really cool feature.
Better details in general.
Availability of kits is not really that big of an issue.

So the obvious conclusion would be, N if I choose modern and HO if I choose steam.
Now should I choose one or the other? See that’s what I can’t decide.

So maybe I should do both, a lower level HO steam area layout, and an upper level N scale modern layout, that should keep me busy for the next 20 years or so J.
Has anyone ever done dual scale in the same layout room?

Well, nothing has been decided yet regarding the house, but I guess it’s never too early to start thinking/dreaming about what you can do.

 

Definitely do both - I would have two if I could afford the money and time.

But I would suggest N and HO are maybe too close in size. Why not have N and S or O? I realise availability of O/S won't be so good, but detail will be good and sound should be awesome (bigger speakers).

 

Hey...if you have the space and the money I'd say go for it!!

I've never been much into logging layouts because I don't know much about it, but after seeing the pictures of Paul Templar's layout I'd probably go modern N scale on one level and a big On30 logging layout on the other. The down size is hitting your head on the upper level while trying to work on the lower level.

You could also do two layouts on opposite sides of the room....which I think would be more preferable to a double deck arrangement....or at least it would be to me.

 

I would definitly consider both!! If I ever get near to finishing my HO layout I will have used up all available room in the house, so a N scale layout above it would work just fine for me!!

 

I'm in the process of finishing off my basement. I have a 11'X13' dedicated train room and in the family room next door, I'm going to put up an O scale shelf layout around the room. I have been toying with the idea of double decking the layout in the train room using a nolix since I model modern and I wanted to double my mainline. Now with all the new steam announced, I am thinking of doing two different layouts with a modern one below and steam on the top.

Bob

 

I have similar givens/druthers, along with a very understanding and supportive wife . Planning to build an HO scale layout in a coffee table. It will be narrow gauge steam, probably based on D&RGW in Chama NM. Nothing on paper yet, but the vision is to have a relatively simple oval with a siding, probably about 30" x 54" or so, with only half the layout exposed at a time. Each end would mirror the other, but one end would be a summer scene, and the other end be a winter scene. The layout would be lifted out, turned 180 degrees and placed back twice a year to match the calendar.

You have done such nice work on your N layout that it would be a shame to have you go spend time on HO. Keep pushing the N'velope.

BTW--any hints on the handlaid crossing you did? Thinking of including one in my next section.

kirk

 

Well, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one with this 'issue'

nodima, I build the crossing in place, started by placing PC ties from the center and out every other tie (if I remember correct, been a long time) and then a lot of filing/fitting. It's not electrical hooked up, so I didn't cut any gaps in the frogs

 

OK, I realise I'm coming into this thread a little late, but I just joined "the board". So I will echo what Mike Sheridan said about increasing the difference between the scales. My two main layouts are n and O. I got into modeling with O first and progressed through HO to n due to wanting more action in the space alotted. But I missed the O. The sound, detail, smoke, feel, yadda, yadda. So I rebuilt my layout (still rebuilding) with two decks. Bottom: O. Top: N. That way I can still get all that noodley action with the N but still get the large, thundering train "feel" with the O. And if detailing is your bag, you can have "monkey" hands and still do some real fine detailing in O. It's a good mix because there are qualities inherent in each of those scales which are at opposite ends of the spectrum from each other.

I do envy the larger house prospect though. Or at least more space. I'm starting to toss the idea around in my head of finishing my attic and taking control of it. Now that would be a pretty good sized layout. 30x40. My wife would probably jump at the idea too, just to get my paraphenalia out of any possible view of sane people.

Jacob