N gauge or HO ?

[livethedream]

I have started collecting for an N gauge layout, but I like the ease of DCC for HO. What do you have and why do you prefer it?

regards

Darren

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

If sound is really important to you, then I guess HO is still the way to go.  Otherwise, for most N scale locos of recent vintage (there are exceptions) installing DCC is really not that big of a problem.  And people have managed to install it in almost anything.  While it is sometimes a challenge, once it is done, it's done.  I don't think I would let the few extra hours it might cost you over the life of your layout to drive you away from N scale.

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

To answer the rest of your question, I have N scale.  I want to run long trains, and I like being able to have nearly four times the railroad in the same space.  I like that I can have more open space, proportioanally, and still have a good railroad.

[gandydancer19]

Some Chaps that I have been acquanted with in the UK say the main problem with model RR'ing is they don't have a lot of room.  So the issue is; do you like to build things and do very detailed work, or do you like RR Empires.  If you like the former, then go with HO.  If the latter, then go for N scale.  However, sound does seem to make the difference.

[Anonymous]

I used to be into HO, but I've since switched to N scale.  I like what was already stated about the ability to run longer trains in a given area.  I don't do that, as I've got a very limited area for my layout.  I still have managed to get industries that are of appropriate size to warrent rail service.  I don't operate DCC, but I've been exposed to it.  Many engines are coming from the factory with decoders already installed in them, and all of the forums that I monitor have a special DCC section.  I think as the hobby progresses that DCC will become even more friendly to N scale.

[livethedream]

M'mmm that's my dilema, I like lots of detail but I want to have a decent amount of track for a layout. It's going in my garage but my space is only 10' by 7' .........arghhhhh the choice, it's killing me..

Darren

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

10 x 7 screams N scale to me, though I know people have made HO layouts, and nice ones, in that space.

Here is an example of an N scale door layout, that shows that detail is not "right out" in N scale:

http://thevollmerfamily.com/Pennsy/

 

[IRONROOSTER]

M'mmm that's my dilema, I like lots of detail but I want to have a decent amount of track for a layout. It's going in my garage but my space is only 10' by 7' .........arghhhhh the choice, it's killing me..

Darren

I moved up to S scale.  A lot a nicer for building, plus you can see the detail

One thing to consider is doing an N scale layout at chest height for a layout.  And then a larger scale underneath - this could be HO, S, O, On30, etc.  Where the focus would be on individual models.

Paul 

[Jimmydieselfan]

N Scale is the way to go. You get twice as much action in the same space, your curves won't have to be sharp radius',and best of all you can run long trains with ease, like this.......

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xd4FAmNzWrY

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

N Scale is the way to go. You get twice as much action in the same space, your curves won't have to be sharp radius',and best of all you can run long trains with ease, like this.......

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xd4FAmNzWrY

Four times, really, since it is area.  But I think it is even better to spreaad things out more, rather that try to fit more in.

[gandydancer19]

You might want to check this out.  It's HO.  Go to the video link at the bottom.

http://cs.trains.com/forums/1419904/ShowPost.aspx

 

[Occams Razor]

Have done both in the past personally, and right now I'm struggling with designing an N scale layout for an extra bedroom and helping my father on his HO layout at his place.  Both are excellent scales and fun to work in.  You can do just as much with details in N as HO, don't fall for that trap.  So we're left with space considerations.

In your space it will really come down to what type of railroading you prefer.  If you like mainline or "major" branchline action  N or even Z (I have seen some AMAZING things done in Z locally) would be the scale to go with in my opinion.  If you like industrial type switching then you could do HO easily in your area (you could also do this in N on a grander scale in the same space though) anything from a single huge industry complex, to a fair sized industrial park depending on what level of compression you want.

It might sound stereotypical, but if you tried to put HO mainline running in that small of a space, your trains would be far to short, and you'd have to compress things far far too much.

DCC and N work fine together, and sound is available (just not widespread), and will only get better as time goes on.

[Mike B]

I started in HO while in high school and very much enjoyed it but I'm now retired and living in Texas.  Without a basement I must make use of a small spare bedroom so I'm now building an N Scale layout 11' x 8'.  If I had a larger space available I would still be in HO but in order to have a decent amount of track, roundhouse, turntable, yard ladder etc. in the available space I had to go with N.  I am very happy with N but product availability is much more limited in N  compared to HO.

Mike B.

[wm3798]

This scene occupies a space of about 3' x 4' on my N scale layout.

Feel free to visit my website (link below my sig) and draw your own conclusions about train length and level of detail.

PS:   I don't do sound because I don't think it adds much to N scale, and I generally think it sounds tinny and cheesy anyway.  As you can see, I'm more visually oriented...

Lee 

[markpierce]

My old eyesight and fat fingers make N-scale unworkable for me.  Also, I like steam locomotives and their availability in N-scale is quite small and usually toy-like in appearance.  N-scale has advantages, especially for modern-day modeling because the prototypes are much larger than earlier periods.  Nevertheless, modernity doesn't appeal to me, even if I was able to work with such small models.

The choice is yours alone, but I suggest you "go slow" and visit (and operate, if possible) layouts of both scales and dabble a little in each (perhaps make both N and  HO scale mini-dioramas of two or three square feet each that includes structures, a bit of track, and scenery in both scales) before committing to either scale.

Mark

[Lateral-G]

I have started collecting for an N gauge layout, but I like the ease of DCC for HO. What do you have and why do you prefer it?

regards

Darren

 

I had an N-scale layout for a long time.  I had to abandon it in place when I moved. It was great because I could run long trains (the layout was over 25' long). But I was always hampered by the dearth of availabe locos, structures, details, etc. (this was over 10 years ago). I started building a new layout just this year but switched to HO (HOn3 to be specific) because this was always my main love. I could have gone back to N but it didn't hold any allure for me. Best advice is go with what YOU like. With what is available today scale choice is almost irrelavent.

-G- 

[ChrisNH]

I have N-scale, but would be using a larger scale if I had the space. I don't. I have a 13x13 space which needs 3' aisles on two sides so 10'x10' for my layout. Someday maybe I will have that HO layout.. or even the S layout I dream of.. but to have some room for operation and scenery I need a small scale.

Your space, like mine, really sounds like it would be well suited for N. you could certainly do a larger scale but you would need to make more comprimises. Perhaps you should try sketching some track plans and see what you can do in either scale. Remember.. aisles don't scale.. 

As for DCC.. if you are really interested in sound then HO would have an advantage, but as long as you are careful what you buy you should be able to get any modern N stuff with a decoder installed or decoder ready.. so that should be a non - issue.

One thing you could do is try building a smaller "test" layout, as I am doing, and see if working with the small size of N is appealing. Regardless, you will get some valuable experience you can apply to your next layout. 

Chris

 

 

[livethedream]

 

This scene occupies a space of about 3' x 4' on my N scale layout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's a real sweet layout, lots of detail included as well,

M'mm I think I may stick to N gauge but I may look at converting my loco's to DCC.

many thanks for the invite, your website is fab

Darren

[CascadeBob]

Lee,

Have you checked your web site for Trojan viruses lately.  Just now when I clicked on it, my McAfee software said it had isolated and removed a Torjan virus.  I don't know where it came from, but it occurred as your web site was coming up.

Bob 

[loathar]

M'mmm that's my dilema, I like lots of detail but I want to have a decent amount of track for a layout. It's going in my garage but my space is only 10' by 7' .........arghhhhh the choice, it's killing me..

Darren

On30... 

[MisterBeasley]

My layout is a 5x12 foot walk-around rectangle.  I'm in HO, and I'm really happy with it.  However, I've discovered that I'm a "modeller" rather than an "operator."   I'm also really hooked on sound.

So, I like the detail level that I'm able to put into my layout, although I really appreciate the space limitations of HO.

If I were to start again from nothing, I would probably seriously consider going with N.  Right now, I wouldn't buy a lot of locomotives, though.  I suspect that over the next few years, sound-equipped N-scale engines will become more common on the RTR market.  If you can wait that long for sound, you can have your cake and hear it, too.

[livethedream]

I'm definatley going to be doing N gauge anyway, but I wondered about a small layout/diorama for HO (probably getting carried away-said my wife). I have never seen such kindness and generosity such as I have received here from you all, especially though from RFINCH who very kindly gave me a roundhouse and turntable for my layout and sent them half way round the world to me !!!!! - now that really does prove that human nature does have a good side when total strangers help each other out so much!

Many thanks to you all, cheers Bob - pictures and plans on the way to you soon....

 

Darren

[Anonymous]

Im going to do and N scale. I had a 4x8 in HO copyed off the Turtle Creek Central. It was great did it a iron ore theam, but now I have 3 times as much room and I want to run lonnnng trains, and have room to still have the kids run around in the basment. So Im moving to N, but really it depends on what you want to get out of the layout too. Get that first. What you would like to see come out of it and that should tell you what scale to go.