Now that I think about it, I think I have a video of a layout that was in Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette and maybe MR too, a logging layout where the area closest to the aisles were On3 or On30 and the tracks "up in the hills" were HO standard gauge. It was a very well done layout and looked good, the two scales were separated enough that you didn't notice the difference...plus of course On30 is the same gauge as HO std gauge, and On3 is only a little wider than HO gauge.
I recall something like this in MR but can't say much more than that. It was with in the last year. I've only subscribed since November last year but have total I think 8 issues of '08. But it was set up like how mentioned, the primary scale was HO and a background was set up with N scale set behind and on a raised trackage. I will have to look through them to find it.
As someone noted, it depends on what you're doing. It's not uncommon for train collectors to have "layouts" set up to run more than one scale, like O and S. If you want it to look somewhat realistic, keep the different scales as far apart as possible. O scale could be closest to the aisle, using as wide a curves (0-72 for example) on the outside, S scale inside of that and perhaps elevated slightly, then HO in the back and perhaps elevated more. If you have say HO buildings near the HO tracks it will look OK, and will give a little of a 'forced perspective' look too it.
If you want to build a realistic layout, and not just a "test track" to run trains around and around, it would be better to stick to one scale, and maybe make small separate layouts for the other two.
I have combined HO and N scale for the purpose of forced perspective. The N scale is only a couple of inches behind the HO, but with the low distant hills it adds to the perspective realism. The N scale is a continuous dogbone loop that operates on it's own DC power supply. The HO shownm is part of a rather vast DigiiTrax complex involving 270 yds of track. with 110 turnouts 6 reverse loops and 3 wyes.
Click on the photo to enlarge it then click on the photos to the left to view parts of the entire layout. Bob Hahn
How good an idea it is really depends on what your goals are. I get the sense that you want the layout to be more of a rolling display of your vintage models than an ultra-realistic model of a given prototype. The rolling display in the best toy train tradition is a lot of fun. And you'll find a lot more enthusiasm for this type of layout over in the Classic Toy Trains forum than you will here.
I started a layout (4x8) that featured an HO line above the O and O27. I quit when the narrow gauge bug bit. With the kids mostly grown, and getting more into accurate modeling, the Lionel just doesn't have the fascination for me that it once did. At first I thought a combination of the 3 rail O and On30 was just the ticket, but the differences in level of detail and realism between the post-war and MPC Lionel that I owned and would go around O31 curves, and contemporary On30 were too jarring and took the joy out of the 3 rail O. Bringing the 3 rail O up to snuff is doable, but would have meant replacing everything and no longer being able to have a small layout.
So I am now trying out HO and HOn3, and assuming it pans out, will sell off the Lionel collection (with a small amount set aside for the kids should they ever want it). My concern is whether I have the eyesight and manual dexterity to do the scale modeling I want to do.
And that's something you may have to contend with. The vintage models (I assume you are talking 1950s era models) you have will generally (there are exceptions) not perform well if asked to do much more than display running. Without rebuilding, switching speeds and switching operations are usually not very practical. And their visual shortcomings will be rather noticeable if seen side by side with modern production. Some have no issues with this. I surprised myself and did.
Examples of more than one scale seem to do best with the largest scale in front, and the smaller scales elevated and behind the larger scales. A Model Railroader visit to a club layout in the 1960s that had O, S, and HO on the same layout used this pattern reasonably successfully (not looking particularly toy-like).
Fred W
thanx mark, that is the concession i am getting.
Not me...but I have modeled in two gauges simultaneously: HO and HOn3. This is more useful than working with two different scales on one layout. One has the advantage of different-sized trains that look appropriate (as they are the same scale) adjacent to one another.
Of course, "lookin' good" is subjective. Mixing scales on the same layout is possible, but whether it is a good idea is up to you.
Mark
thank you bill!
"looking good" is a bit subjective. If you mean realistic.. Then yes its possible if your layout is a bit larger then average. You can use the trains to force perspective. The larger towards front small in back. I model in O but have and S gauge "tourist" excursion line that at its closest point is about 10 ft from viewing area. I use S sized structures at that point.
Bill D
model in O. the Western NY and Ontario Railroad
hi, is there anyone who models more than 1 scale at a time? i have vintage o,s and ho scale trains and i love them all, and would like to be able to run them all on one layout.does anyone think this would be possible or would it look good on one layout? maybe try to lay them out to look 3 dimensional in sucession? any help would be appreciated.thanx ,john t.