Ways to create an O scale "empire" in small dwellings

[FJ and G]

I frequently hear the excuse that "the reason I run HO is because I don't have room for O."

I would encourage you to rethink that excuse and post your floor plan. There ARE creative ways to run O scale trains at YOUR dwelling, ranging from running trains around the ceiling to putting a layout in a bedroom or even a n/s track in the backyard. Doorways, windows, and other obstacles can be overcome with swing out, swing up or detachable sections. Walls can be tunneled thru.

People on this forum would be happy to help you.

My own layout I'm creating runs on a relatively narrow shelf in my hallway.

http://davidvergun.tripod.com/index2.html

Dave Vergun

[cnw1995]

Dave, this is another one of your thoughtful threads. There are some great small layout ideas on thortrains.com - there's another site I have to try to recall that focuses on v. small layouts in O as well. I get the impression -from chatting with HO and N scalers (having been one of the latter myself) that they sometimes want 1) more running room, or 2) a greater sense of the trains within a larger scenic space. I think both can be readily done in O as well.

[lionelsoni]

I have observed that the minimum radius used in scales from N to O is roughly the same. Only N comes close to being prototypical. It seems that each scale fudges the track curvature so that the model track will fit in about the same space. Therefore the only real difference in space requirements among scales has to do with the length of the trains. Lionel-style toy trains mitigate this problem to a considerable degree by shortening many (but not all) of the models. A 2332 GG1, for example, is about 30 percent short, but has about the right height and width. A Lionel hy-cube is about half the correct length, or about the length of an HO scale model!

[FJ and G]

Doug,

I think there's a lot to be said for N scale as far as building an empire and making the train length prototypical. IMO HO is the worst of both worlds, i.e., lack of "heft" and too large for empire building.

Bob,

Again, radius need not be a problem in ANY dwelling, if you get creative. For instance, in my hallway layout, I could have superwide curves by punching thru a wall in the hallway and using a stud finder so I don't hit wires. When you go to sell the house, patching the holes is easy.

[3railguy]

You can fit O scale in a small space but for someone who is interested running mid to large size locomotives in a realistic setting things get cramped if not impractical. If you like running northerns, E units, and articulateds with full length coaches and only have room for a 4 X 8 layout, N scale is the only real practical scale to model in because of the curve radiuses. The norm for realistic operation is the mininum curve diameter should be 5 times the length of your longest engine. So if your N scale articulated is 10" long, you're looking at 5 foot diameter curves (30" radius).

[lionelsoni]

However, if I remember correctly, a Big Boy could take a 21-degree curve, which works out to a prototype radius of 251 feet or an N-scale radius of only 19 inches.

[Anonymous]

You will have to make some sacrifices in regard to size of locos and rolling stock but a fairly realistic layout can be had in a small space. One key is to allow some visual breathing room on the layout. Create large areas of untouched expanse - nothing but trees, foliage, etc. This will then draw attention to the smaller concentrations of buildings, cars and other signs of life.
Too many layouts have an equally distributed layer of buildings etc. and it ends up looking like a table of "for sale" items at a train show.

http://home.comcast.net/~graz6/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html
to see my layout.

[FJ and G]

My point is that you don't have to sacrifice anything in practically any dwelling. Look at a blueprint of your house or apartment. Ignore doors, windows and walls. That blueprint tells you how much space you have for an O scale empire.

While THor's plans are nice, I'm not talking small, I'm talking large. There is definitely room if you are willing to overcome the obstacles, go thru walls, have detachable sections, etc. If you post a blueprint, I will demonstrate.

[IRONROOSTER]

For me the question was not do I have enough room for O scale, but can I do what I want in O scale in the room I have ( 11' x 18' ). For me the answer was no. To do what I wanted, S scale was the best choice. I actually drew up plans in O, S, and HO and decide that S would best meet my needs for a layout. Then I built a plastic box car in O and one in S as a comparison project using kits as smilar as I could find. I decided that I like S for building as well as O (I already knew O was better than HO for building - for me at least).

IMO the first question should be what do you want to do?
Second for the space you have, which scale works the best? And for other things like building models which scale works.

But I do agree that if running O scale is what you want to do most, there is a way.

Enjoy
Paul

[3railguy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lionelsoni

However, if I remember correctly, a Big Boy could take a 21-degree curve, which works out to a prototype radius of 251 feet or an N-scale radius of only 19 inches.

Soni, you are correct. 20 degrees actually. Still you are talking a 4 x 8 layout for that radius. 80 mph mainline running, 20 degrees would of put her in the ditch.

[Dave Farquhar]

Paul, you read my mind. I was going to suggest dropping back to 1:64 (whether that's S scale or O27) to fit more into a space-challenged area. O27 gives a nicer variety of curves (standard Flyer was 40-inch, and I understand they also made a 30-inch; O27 is available in 27-inch curves all the way up to 72 inches) but S is of course more realistic.