Why Did You Pick N-Scale?

eric220 Mar 19, 2009

  1. eric220

    eric220 TrainBoard Member

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    I saw that the "N Scale Forum = The Place to Be" thread was floated recently. I've seen these arguments all over the place, with N-Scalers discussing N-Scale's "true" market share. I have a question for everyone out there:

    What made you pick N-Scale? Why not something larger or smaller?

    As for me, my answer is simple. I didn't pick; my wife did. I grew up in HO, but in high school (late 1990's) I discovered N-Trak. I tried to start N-Trak clubs at both my high school and college, but with no success. When I gave up on the college effort, I realized that I had nearly as much N equipment as HO, and I recognized that on a college budget, I really needed to focus on one. I asked my wife (girlfriend at the time) which one she liked better, and she said N-Scale! The only HO I've bought since was a BLI T1 and GG1, and a model of the Strausburg's Marian, where I proposed to my wife. Since going over and building my first true N layout, I would never go back. I can't see building a layout in HO that would support a 1950's era 15-car passenger train!
     
  2. Tudor

    Tudor TrainBoard Member

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    This has been asked before, or a number of times. But, still a cool thread to ponder over from time to time.

    I started as a kid in the early 1960s with an O scale Lionel. I moved to HO sometime in the 1970s and started crude layouts vs just setting up the lionel tracks for Mom to trip over. Sometime as a young man in the early 1980s, thought the N scale stuff was cute, and thought about the world I could create on the same 4X8 layout I had for my HO. Started buying some N scale stuff then. Phased out the HO all together, because I simply liked what you could build in such a small space even tho N didnt have many choices. Gave all my HO stuff to my youngest son. Shelved the hobby for a few years as I got into my career and life as a family man. Picked it back up from time to time. Got more serious into it about 6 years ago, and have been loving it since, with no plans to drop it again....

    Now, N scale has come a long way, and I am loving it more due to the choices we have today.
     
  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Same here. I knew what N was, etc. Saw a set before Christmas of 1972, and she decided to get it for me. The rest is history. NTrak, Collecting. Done a lot. The best part is many friends made through the years.

    Boxcab E50
     
  4. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    My older brother built a small 3' X 4' 9mm gauge layout and gave it to me for Christmas in 1963, complete with Lone Star 000 trains to run on it. In 1967 I built a new layout with Atlas track that was 4' X 6' with new Atlas trains to go on it. Then in 1987 I got into NTRAK.
     
  5. kmcsjr

    kmcsjr TrainBoard Member

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    I was pretty much a set up O scale around the tree at Christmas person. That really caught on with the kids Christmas 07. In the spring of 08, I took my son to a Greenberg show. He bought an old LL Amtrak E8 and a Model Power Fed Ex car. (In N) The kids are still mildly interested, but I have found the addictive side of my personality. N is perfect. It offers a wide variety at reasonable prices. I'm about 20 engines in and I couldn't afford that in O. While I try to figure out how to make space for a layout, it fits on my desk. I really enjoy it.
     
  6. crazyro

    crazyro TrainBoard Member

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    I modeled quite a bit in HO (had a 20'x11' layout). Spent a good bit of money for HO equipment. Sold it all (still regret selling my prized Thalys set) and got out of the hobby for a while. When I decided to get back in, I realized that in order to run my long passenger trains (what I love), N scale provided to be a better choice. Also, my new layout (shelf type) will be rather limited in space, so N looked better and better. It's really funny. Now, when I look at HO equipment, it seems gigantic (like O scale felt when I was modeling HO).
     
  7. Hutch

    Hutch TrainBoard Member

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    To me the smaller scale of N was attractive because I grew up with HO and wanted to try something new. The smaller size of N scale made me think I could have twice the amount of trains in the same space. Not exactly true, but pretty close :)
     
  8. TrainCat2

    TrainCat2 TrainBoard Member

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    M-Scale was full...

    N-Scale was next in line.
     
  9. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    Interestingly, these are the same posts that you would get if you asked, Why did you get into Z scale. For me HO was never a consideration. Simply to big. I thought about N, we all know N's attributes so I won't go into them, but alas, still to large for my 10'x11' space. Z on the other hand allows me to build the same layout in 10'x11' as a corresponding approx. 13'x15' layout room in N. So, size does matter, it all depends on who, what, when, and where. If I could use my living room then N it would be. Cheers, Jim CCRR

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Tudor

    Tudor TrainBoard Member

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    I thought about Z a few years ago.. But jeesh. N makes me cross eyed enough..
     
  11. seanm

    seanm TrainBoard Member

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    N-Scale sort of picked me. My parents made me a 2'x4' laout for christmas in about 1968. I have been using the big N ever since. My brother had a brief connection with HO, but it was always too big for me. I have honestly never though about changing scale. I can admire others, but for me, N is in the blood. So I guess that makes it bloodn or something.
     
  12. BurghThing

    BurghThing TrainBoard Member

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    I was in HO since my uncle bought me my first Tyco set for Christmas one year. Had 2 large pieces of plywood set up in our attic (used to be a seperate apartment) for years that I would set up and dismantle my tracks on. Then I moved to Florida back in '82 and there were no attics, nor basements, and space was at a premium. I went to a train show in Bradenton and saw some N scale stuff and figured this I could fit. So I went back the next day with all my HO stuff and traded it for a couple of Bachman steam engines and a bunch of track. Haven't looked back since.
     
  13. Brian K

    Brian K TrainBoard Member

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    Simple, it packs and travels better than any scale (except Z....hmmmm). Never mind, I have to much invested in N now.

    Brian
     
  14. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    I like mainline railroading, and was stuck in a space no larger than 3x6 in 1972. Sold all the HO. So N it was. Even when I got more space, I stayed in N.

    When you're hooked on 3-5 unit consists, 30 car trains, 86' cars and prototype modeling, hey, you're not gonna leave....

    [​IMG]
     
  15. subwayaz

    subwayaz TrainBoard Member

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    Why N Scale you ask

    Well simply Maximize Fun in a minimum amount of space. And N Scale has yet to let me down since 1992 when I switched from HO. And the detail of N Scale models has just exploded in recent years.
    So there's my Two Bits
     
  16. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I was into Horribly Oversized in the 70's. I started driving trucks for a living...ended up divorced. I then meet 'THE Beautiful Wife' in 1980...got married in 84...raised a family but the train itch never went away. One day a few years back...I was searching for something unrelated on Google...I found TrainBoard in the results somehow. I started reading...and found the "N" guys here to be a friendly bunch. I bought an N Scale 'starter set' and havent looked back!

    So why did I pick N Scale?

    IT'S ALL TRAINBOARDS FAULT !!...LOL

    .
     
  17. TaeOH

    TaeOH TrainBoard Member

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    Personally I think TT Scale would be perfect, but I am just not into paving the way :D

    So I chose N, mainly because I want to run long trains and I want my scenery to dominate the layout. For my 10x13 space, N seemed a lot better fit over HO.
     
  18. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    I went to N for size, as well. Wanted to get into trains for a long time, only had some G "toy" trains for the kids. Wanted a scale where I didn't need to mortgage the house to buy more stuff
     
  19. wmcbride

    wmcbride TrainBoard Member

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    I've done all three (N, HO, and have been dabbling in 2-rail O thanks to Atlas). So far the O engine sits in a display case on my office desk, my Ho is in boxes, and the N is running around on Unitrack while I plan N layout number 3 with Atlas code 55 track.

    Each scale has its advantages but the other night I placed three N-scale tunnel motors on my desk and it's just something about their size, and the abiltiy to run the long trains, that captivates me still.

    I guess I will always go back to my initial 1979 N scale routes because I am an N-scaler at heart.
     
  20. NYC Nut

    NYC Nut TrainBoard Member

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    Why n scale? Because size does matter! ;)
     

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