Ok, I've been doing some thinking, and perhaps N-scale is the right fit for me. I've always been an HO modeler off and on since childhood (for about 30 years), and it struck me that N-scale may be the answer. Don't get me wrong, HO is a great scale, but I've become totally overwhelmed with the detail aspect. Prior to my last break from modeling I felt that if I didn't get every last detail accurate I was missing something. With N-scale some of the details are so small you don't even notice them. Problem solved!! I never used to pay much attention to N-scale layouts mainly since I was busy with HO, but I realized that the N-scale models have just the right amount of detail and that HO was becoming way too rivet counting for my tastes. Another positive is the obvious space issue. Yep, you can get a lot more in a lot less space. No brainer. No more 15 car trains convincing myself that they're 8 times the length, as well as 22" radius (or worse!) curves that looked terribly tight. Chalk up a couple "W's" for N-scale. The product selection isn't half bad in N-scale either! It still pales in comparison to HO, but from what I understand, it's come a long way, baby. Same with the quality. So are there any HO scale to N converts out there? How about the other way around? How about O to N or any other combination? Anyone leave N scale for a different scale? I would like to hear thoughts and insights about choosing scales and what their likes, dislikes, and perceived pros and cons are. Much appreciated, Chuck
Ho to N to ho to N to G to N to O 3 rail to N to On30 briefly, to N. LOL It's all trains just build what suits you. I gotta say one thing though. In N scale 18" radius is huge! A 3x7 foot layout is big as far as what most home ho layouts can do. Have fun.
Kind-of a 'rubber scaler' here too (N, Nn3, Z and HOn3). I only have an N scale layout in progress though. I began as an HO'er as a kid. When I got back into the hobby I really lacked space and chose N scale for mainly two reason. Wanted realistic looking long trains and needed to do it in a relatively confined space. Fortunately for me... when I got back into the hobby in 1982... that's when Kato/ConCor and Kato/Atlas equipment was being made. The quality, detail and availability has improve exponentially since then. :thumbs_up: One the negative side... some N scale engines still cannot pull as well as they should... but that only means you have to add helpers like the real railroads do... and you have the space to do it convincingly. If you are going to run passenger equipment or modern freight (70' or greater rollingstock) you will still need to make your radii 19" to enhance appearance.
I'm an HO to N convert and my original reason for switching was space. In truth I figured that N would be an intern solution for railroading needs until HO was more within my 'space budget'. However, after spending some time in the scale I'm a full convert with no intentions on switching. My change in thinking was thanks in part to the work being done by online N scale communities. Since N isn't a leader in the MR press, I didn't get enough exposure to what was/could be accomplished. Now I realize just what a thriving scale it is and the modeling accomplishments/possibilities are astounding! Once of the hurdles I had to tackle was how i 'viewed' the scale. I was looking too closely - trying to fill my field of view with same amount on N that I had seen with HO and it was too easy to spot the differences - once I took a step back and took another look at the big picture I learned that N does a great job of capturing the immensity of a railroad more effectively. Sure, you might sacrifice a rivet or a grab iron with the change, but now you can model longer trains, scale redwoods and rolling fields. Anyway, my two cents. I just joined this forum and I don't want to ramble on.
I started with O as a kid, but was always fond of HO. We had one HO set that I never could get working, so I always thought the possiblity of me having an HO layout would be about zero. All I could do was set up a circle on my basement floor. I mainly liked HO over my dad's Lionel layout because of the detail. I was really into real life trains and the HO set that I had just looked so cool. But then later on, I started seeing N scale layouts at train shows. Oh my god! I was blown away! Every time I'd see this N scale layout it would inspire and motivate me so much, but unfortunately I couldn't do anything to act on it. Then about two Thanksgivings ago, my dad rearranged the basement, and I begged him to let me start another layout. I saw this cheepo 10 dollar engine at a train show. I had no experience with any locos at this point and it was a Life Like. Anyway, I got home and conviced my dad to let me use a spare 4X6 board that he had. So I set up track, I eventually moved up to a 4X8. Then one day I realized. N Scale! I had forgotten all about N Scale. yada yada yada, I started an N scale layout. But certain things started to depress me. Mainly that I couldn't find cheap used engines and rolling stock at train shows in N Scale. At least not as much as I could find in Ho scale. That was the reason I switched back to HO scale, but now I don't care about that. I only want to buy new, so right now I would love to be in N scale. But some issues prevent me from going back to that scale. But if I could, I would go back to N in a hardbeat! Why? Space!! That's the only issue. I get a lot of enjoyement out of modeling railroading, and those enjoyments are present in both HO and N. I think they're a lot alike. Just one big pro. You can fit more in less space. If I had say a huge 80X80 layout, I would choose HO. But overall, if space wasn't an issue, I would be happy in either N or HO. So I say if you only have room for a little layout, go with N Scale!
Chuck, I agree with Michael. There is a balance between detail and big picture that N scale handles well. Broader curves and wider vistas made possible in N scale add more to the big picture than do the correct grab irons. In my mind, the larger scales require more fine detail to trick the eye. For example, O scale equipment without sufficient detail looks toy-like. However, the big picture context of N scale requires less of the finest details to paint the picture effectively. An analogy: years ago, I learned that finished drywall does not have to be flat to look good. It only has to appear flat. A hand swept over its surface may find flaws, but the eye is the ultimate judge. The finished drywall suggests to the eye that it is flat, but it does not aim to prove flatness. In response, the eye is pleased and looks elsewhere. I try to model a believable railroad operation. I compress distance, I take liberties with time, and I suggest details not readily visible. My aim is to suggest to the eye that the expected details are indeed there. From there, the imagination starts to work and believe the railroad is real. Food for thought.
I'm an HO to N convert, and like others, I have no intention of going back. My first layouts were HO, mostly because that's what I was started with by some other HO modelers as a kid. I kept building HO as I'd never looked around at other options. A few years ago, my wife and I were at a train show, and a HO scale moduler setup was next to a similar sized N scale setup. The difference was just amazing. The HO scale and N scale groups were running similar trains, but where the N scale guys had 50 or so cars behind their locos, the HO guys only had room for about half that, and it was just the trains with little scenery, where the N scale train was running through a small world. For me, it's the feel of the trains. The fact that I can fit a huge layout in N scale in my space and run modern equipment just seals the deal. Welcome to trainboard!
Thanks for the invite guys. Another thing I noticed after looking at some pictures of layouts is I like the expansiveness of N-scale in the limited space. One thing I recall that often bugged me about HO was how trees were never quite to scale. Most often they're too small. Excellent statement. I believe I was becoming too detail specific in HO and missing the larger picture. Though the trend in HO the last 10-15 years has definitely been toward detail and prototypical accuracy, I went along with it and enjoyed the phase for a while until it became work and I felt like I was starting to sweat the small stuff. It's kind of ironic that you would have to go to a smaller scale in order to become less detail oriented! Chuck
Here in the Pacific Northwest, people often use "HO scale" coniferous trees to model what some of our actual trees look like in N scale. The N scale ones tend to look more like re-planted areas or Christmas tree farms. Welcome to Trainboard, Challenger 604!
After 20+ years of HO collecting, arm-chairing, and several aborted layout attempts, in 2004 I gave up all hope of having a layout, and stored my HO stuff. Fast forward to January 2007...I don't remember how or why, but I stumbled across an ebay auction for the N Kato Super Chiefs...for some reason they really grabbed my attention. My wife noticed my fixation and convinced me it was OK if I wanted to start over in N....So out with HO...in with N. I don't regret it so far...and I'm actually pleasantly surprised with the availability in N. What it boils down to is finding a balance of desires and practicality. For now, and probably for the foreseeable future, for me, that is N. If I had space, would I go back to HO? Probably....but if I had the space and money I'd go O...but either way, I'd not abandon N totally.
Welcome to the wonderful world of N Scale! I had N Scale and HO when I was in high school, and now have 99.9% N Scale. I may get an HO model or two to run on the club I joined, but personnally, I love N Scale alot more then any of the other scales.
I totaly understand where you're coming from. I think it would be interesting to see if all of the board members here could have the layout of their dreams, space and money not being an issue, what they're scale choice would be. Truth is that a lot of scales have different areas of interest, so the best way to choose what scale to model is to realize what limitations in space and budget you have and choose from there. As far as realism goes, O, HO, and N can have the same amount of detail. I wouldn't say N scale has more detail than HO, or HO has more detail than O. It can pretty much be the same, but for O scale, you'll have to pay a lot of money and be selective with the products you choose, while HO, it's pretty much a matter of space, and N scale can pretty much work in any situation.
Not to dissuade you but I suggest you read the detailing threads and see the photos on the N Scale Forum. I don't think any scale has a monopoly on detail or prototype accuracy, or at least the desire for same. N Scale has not had the suppliers of detail parts as have larger scales but that is changing. If the desire for detail and accuracy are "in your blood" I think they will follow you into any scale that you choose. All of us involved in N Scale will welcome you, of course, but justify the move by some other reason. The availability to build more railroad in a given space was mine. Ben
That should be the only reason. As I said, you can get the same amount of detail from practically any scale, and with on-line shopping, the scale you choose should have to do with size and space.
I'm not sure I totally agree with the idea that a scale selection should be mainly dependant on the given space. (i.e. large scales in large spaces, small scales in small spaces) Yes, space has a great deal to do with the decision, but it's not paramount. I think has to do more with perspective and what "look" you want to accomplish in the space you're given. I've seen N-scale layouts in huge spaces that could easily fit a substantial HO scale layout, and at the same time, I've seen O-scale layouts in areas no bigger than a bedroom. For me, it comes down to what feels right, and I'm coming to the conclusion that N scale may be the way to go. Chuck
Hi Chuck - I'm also an N modeler, and I dabbled in HO a little when I was a kid, but I would never do anything else now. The ability to model a whole scene, like has been discussed above, is what continues to sell me on N every time I go into my basement and see my slice of California in Ohio . There's never been a better time to be in N scale - great selection and growing every day, and outstanding running qualities. There's nothin like a brace of Kato 6 axles pulling a 40 or 50 car train!
Hey gents, I finally stumbled onto a thread which is all about what I'm going through..I'm an apartment dweller with an HO road..I was in HO as a child in NY..I was in two N clubs in LA as an adult and in that scale a total of 15 years..I got tired of what I believed N to be, too small, and about 3 1/2 years ago went back to HO..Though I have a strong fondness to the fictitious road I've been building I HAVE grown weary of the too short trains, too short passing sidings dictating these train lengths and, if lucky, maybe 2 scale miles of main..As layout is right in my face all the time (Liv to kitch) I am constantly haunted as to what to do: Stay the course ? Or, go BACK to N, and in same given space create something more of a 10 Mi (or more) RR and deal with the smaller scale's ideosyncracies ?....Well, this discussion above has pretty much tipped the scales (hey, now THERE'S a pun !! ) in favor of N..I do really love HO probably more but just don't have room to do what I'd like..Maybe the time has come...
