Anyone know the size of the N scale market here in North America? I have heard the figure of 30,000 N scale modelers but not sure if that is accurate. Also what is the predominate scale in Europe and Japan? The reason that I ask this is that I have seen a lot of N scale items of Japanese and European prototype and I figure there has to be a sizeable market to support it.
According to many marketing studies done, approximately one out of a thousand US residents are active model railroaders. The last survey of Model Railroader readers showed over 16 percent were in N Scale. On this basis, there are at least 45,000 N scalers in the US. Evidently, the hobby is even more popular in Japan, as it is estimated there are around 300,000 model railroaders there, most of whom are in N scale. However, the hobby is different there, with very few owning permanent layouts. Europe is not a homogeneous group, with different scales having different popularity in each country. With its small loading gauge, British models are often to a different scale such as 1/152 instead of 1/160 for N scale.
The common dimension in N is the track gauge -- 9 mm So named because in many Western languages the number "9" begins with the letter "N".... As noted there are several proportions associated with N -- the most common US and European proportion is 1/160. I think the UK is 1/152 (originally called "000" there) and in Japan 1/150. Space is at a premium in both Japan and Europe. The typical family there does not live in a free-standing home. Apartments or flats are the norm, hence the premium on space. Kato's Uni-Track and the similar offerings from LifeLike and Bachmann are one way to permit easy set-up and take-down, yet provide a built-in roadbed and reliable mechanical connections between the track sections, not just the skimpy rail joiners on "snap-track". Although we like to think of N as the best scale, it is in a minority in the USA, and the overall hobby is just one among hundreds competing for our discretionary income (the money we have left over after covering the basics: shelter, food, clothing, trans-portation, etc.) And even within the hobby, it is so fractionalized: G O HO S N TT Z plus all the narrow gauges; steam diesel electric, interurban, trolley; 19th century; 1900-1950; 1950-1980; 1980-present; shortlines, class I, freight, passenger and tons and tons of roadnames, both current, fallen flags and the ever-changing merger picture. I am amazed that we have as much selection as we do in US-prototype N. And it keeps getting better all the time. Take a look at what we have now vs. what was available when N scale started in the mid-to-late 1960's......... eNjoy Don Brown N Scale since 1968 Model Railroader since 1949 (7-1/2" gauge live steam -- thanks Grandpa)
Hello Inkaneer, Figures stated for N-Scale part in US market (around 16 %) are the same in France. I suppose that the German market may show higher figures, considering the broad choice of N-scale rolling stock and building kits from German and Austrian manufacturers. But an important issue to think of is not only the quantity of N-scalers among modelling community but also the share of expense for this scale in comparison to H.O scale. I guess that N-scalers may be "better" customers than modellers in H.O scale and are younger in average too. It is just a guess and someone else may have a more exact view. Marc American Prototype N-scaler in France
I would guess that N scale has more collectors than the other scales. This would translate into more sales since many of the collectors buy one or two of almost everything that comes out. It would be interesting to know what percentage of sales are in N scale. Daryl
I have heard that Nscale is number 2 in sales next to HO . However I beleave it depends on what part of the country you live in . The Northeast is big in O and HO while the South and West N scale is more plentiful ,that whole basement issue .On the collectable scale I still think O gauge with Lionel beats even Nscale for collectablity(Ever been in a hobby shop when one of the older guys buys a $600 loco and you have your big $80 nscale purchase in hand,almost embarrassing) .With the limited runs from Microtrains\Kato and now even Atlas that record may soon fall . Ever see how many young people start out now with the collectable O scale almost none can afford it . I hope N does not overtake O in that category any time soon . Sorry for the rant at the end I just marvel how far Nscale as come even since the early eighties when I switched from Ho. Happy Railroading
When in the hobby stores I have heard the store clerk tell new comers into the hobby the following when asked about expense. The sales clerk tells the person that the expense between scales is about equal, but the money is spent differently. In the larger scales, less equipment is bought, but as it is more expensive. In the smaller scales, more equipment is bought as the equipment is less expensive. In n scale, it isn't at all unusual to have engines MU'd together. In the large scales, less likely. In N scales, it is more likely to have more cars in a consist, in large scales, less cars in a consist. In N and HO it isn't unusual to have a modeler own 30 to a 100 engines or more. In the larger scales, less likely to own so many engines. So to the person who bought their $80 engine in N scale. Yes it is cheaper, but we own 20 engines, with around 65% decoded, from Atlas and Kato. When you add that bill up, I could have owned four or five larger scale engines.
