I really considered going into 2-Rail O for a while, too. I toyed with buying an engine for a few weeks. And I was coming at it from the same direction as you -- because the structures are just that easier to scratch build and that much more fun to detail than in HO. The problem? It's just too big. I love the 'heft' and 'chunk' of 2-Rail O, but at the end of the day, it might be 20 years before I have the space to do it some degree of justice. Also, I wasn't extremely wild about the limited variety of motive power out there. And what exists is damned expensive. Having said all that, if you have the room and the bucks for it, then yes, 2-Rail O is awesome.
It's fun to consider new options. It's especially fun to start with a clean slate. As others have said, Do what seems right to you. It's not like either of these scales are somehow flawed. Go for it! Although, I think kids like smaller scales with more action.
It is fun and since there are so many roads I like, it may help me justify doing the B&M in N as a scenic type layout and the CB&Q in HO as a switching layout. The other nice thing about rural Illinois is some of the locations I took pictures of the BNSF looked the same from the same location in my CB&Q books. That means if I tire of CB&Q, I can change a few things and run BN or BNSF.
I've been thinking about switching from N to HO as well. I started out in HO but switched to N back in '95. At that time Atlas and Kato were coming out with very good running and looking N locomotives. Back then if you wanted a super detailed HO locomotive you detailed it yourself so the lack of extra detail in N didn't matter. Now the level of HO rtr superdetailed models is mind blowing. N has come a long way too but still falls short on both standard and road specific detail. Ive also become frustrated with N scales persistence on using truck mounted couplers on rolling stock. I've started detailing some N locos too but they're so small and hard to work on and most of the extra detail isn't really noticed in normal operation. The club I belong to has both an N and HO division with layouts of both scales so I'm very temped to switch but alas I remember the biggest reason why I went to N in the first place, space. With N scale you don't need a HUGE size layout room and being as I live on the west coast basements are only something I've heard of. How nice it would be to buy a house that came with a train room the size of your house! Not to mention I have a ton of N scale and the thought of selling it and starting over is scary.
I lost a lot of my eyesight in Iraq, so like many of you I struggle with N scale. But I just don't have to room for an HO scale layout. My desire is to have more than just a 4x8 loop, so I have to struggle with N scale in order to get the amount of trackage I want. Sure, if I had a huge house with plenty of room I would model HO scale. But it just isn't going to happen in this lifetime.
Jim, Why not be a rubber-scaler. I was having a bit of a crisis about narrow gauge in N. I can see what I am doing in Nn3, BUT I have a hard time shelling out $400 or more for a Z scale Marklin mechanism just to get out the hacksaw right away and start butchering it in hopes of getting something that will run at least as good as a Lifelike when I am done. I decided to do both N and On30 and I haven't regretted it since. For me, the number one thing is fun. If a scale gets in the way of that, it's time to switch or add scales. You may want to see what interests that 12 year old. Maybe he wants to do N scale, or O, or S scale, or... Adam
This is where On30 has a bit of advantage. With it's current popularity in a modular application, that gives another possibility. Boxcab E50
Jim, why not change over to Large Scale? Easier on "old eyes" & not so nimble fingers. Plus if you're a rivit counter, they're alot easier to see & count!
Have you ever considered a shelf layout, perhaps even done in portable sections? I've seen this done quite well using mostly foam as a base, in as little as 1 foot width (although a bit wider is better). It won't give you continuous running in most cases, but it can provide some pretty interesting switching operations.
I've been all over the map with different scales / gauges. I've done stuff in Z, Nn3, N, HOn30, HOn3, HO, On2, On30, On3 and G. The layouts that I have actually built were in N, HOn3 and HO. I began this adventure back in '72 at the ripe old age of 9! I'm 47 now and reading glasses are a big a part in Model Railroading as my X-Acto knife! This has made me cut back a bit on my modeling (which is a good thing!) and has forced me to make more of a decision on what it is I want to do. I've decided that I want nothing smaller than an HO layout...HOn3 that is! I am still dabbling a bit on my On2 stuff; it is a bit easier on the eyes. I am currently planning an HOn3 layout along with an On2 shelf layout. I need to see it without having to work at it for it to be enjoyable. I want to be able to see the couplers in case I want to do some switching; I want to be able to rerail a car; I want to NOT go crazy installing details. I figure I'm still young enough that if I settle on a larger scale now, I will have plenty of time to enjoy it. I'm tired of being a rubber-gauger!
cmrr, welcome to Trainboard, thank you and everyone else for the replies. This is a great way to "hash out" as they say in Illinois, all the stuff floating in my head. I think I am a rubber scaller. While the last 20 years has largely focused on N scale, I had a high rail 1/48 three rail layout for a number of years. Why would a "rivet counter" like me have three rail? I honestly don't know, I guess cause it was fun! In my N scale world on NH in the 1970's, my engines, cars and even landsape is dirty, beat up. The three rail world was my perfect, like a 1950's TV show, look. The layout is gone, along with most of the buildings, but most of the locomotives and rolling stock are on display in my apartment. Someday I will have another O layout. One strange update. Either my eyes are getting better, or I was just rusty after five years of not detailing and painting N scale. I found my last few nights into the workshop were more like they used to be, enjoyable. That has not changed my mind however. I still think I can have the best of both worlds by finishing the small 6X3 B&M N layout and keep the focus there as scenery. I originally built the layout that size so I could easily move it and take it to shows for display. To fix my "Operations" bug, I can make a semi modular HO scale, around the two walls (If the girlfriend will let me) and construct out of 1X4 sections of lumbar and foam. I could attach these to the wall with way brackets, so I could also take these to shows, set up on tables. It would also making moving easy since we plan to rent a house for the next few years. Purchase of a house is still a ways off. Of coarse the HO layout would be the good ole' CB&Q. This is really helping everyone, thank you!
