Will HO Scale Buildings work on a small O-27 layout?
They will be if you have a back wall or divider and stick the HO Scale Buildings right in front of the wall or the divider. That is the solution if you are squeezed for space and squeezed for scenery. I saw that scenic trick done in a two part article in Classic Toy Trains by Dave Frary and the Kalmbach Book: Realistic Scenery for Toy Train Layouts by Dave Frary.
Note to Moderators: I am not selling books by Kalmbach, I just mentioned them.
Andrew
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
In teh new catalog from Lionel the plymouth switcher is back on track for $109. So is the simple 4-4-2 atlantic they offer, which is also available with railsounds (but then more expensive) and also a nice machine for a small layout. Both also at lower prices on ebay (a lot)
Secondhand: K-line S-2 (around $40) MP15 (around $60) and the alco's are good value for the money if you fetch a new or slightly used one. Heavy used machines have much wear (they wear out easily if not maintained!!) and can only be used as a statue somewhere..
K-line also has brought out a nice set of ore cars (be sure to get one with diecast trucks, from the plastic ones the couplers don't work nicely) which are very good sized for small layouts.
Anything postwar (except the F3's) also run on 027, so you've got plenty of choise there..
Vertical-motor F3s can run on O27. Trainmasters and scale Hudsons cannot (without modification).
Bob Nelson
Weaver Models has some short O scale cars that might look good with the R-M-T BEEP.
The PS-2 2-Bay Covered Hopper is a good choice.
What about large HO models like those in the Walthers steel mill series? I realize that the finer details won't match but it seems the size of the Walthers models may make up the diference in scale.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
You may be better off with 031. You will find that it will give you more flexibility as to what you can run.
Here are pictures of my 3' x 5' office layout.
Skip
Tons of micro layouts at this website
http://carendt.us/
Most of them are smaller than O scale, but lots of intersting ideas that can be scaled upto suit your needs.
underworld
Being something of a king of small layouts with 027 track, there's one thing you can do that does really help: either use the older sheetmetal construction Lionel 1024 switches, or drill apart the modern ones and using a hacksaw, cut off everthing but the actual track size.
That's what I do. I cut the switches down to just the size of the track iteself. This frees up a lot of additonal space on a small layout. The 027 switch footprint does take up a lot of space, epecially on a small layout where space is at a premium.
Plasticville buildings are just fine. I only use HO kinds of acessories, like the Model Power HO blinking water tower for on tops of factories. With a smaller layout, you just have to compromise some.
Also the K-Line S-2 Alco Switcher is a perfect loco for a small 027 layout.... I have loads of them and it is by far my favorite loco. The K-Line Alco FA is good too (much better looking than the modern Lionel coutnerpart) and the K-Line MP-15 is also another good candidate. The smaller steam engines also look right at home.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
Scenery Dividers
Island layouts require a scenery divider to focus the viewer on the immediate scene and the main track or two. Backgrounds on the scenery divider can be plain gray or blue. Dividers will add to the scenery.
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