HO to N---N to HO

[tatans]

Just a strange question, I'm finding with HO, as I get older and crankier and eyes and fingers don't quite respond to those microscopic parts that seem to be on the floor more than on the table, I truly believe my fingers are turning into big Kolbassa sausages when trying to pick tiny things up. Now I wonder about you N gauge guys, just how do you work on these thimble size trains? and how small are the parts? or can you actually work on the trains without an electronic microscope, this has always been a mystery to me, especially now that N scale use is increasing. let us know.

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: tatans: Now I wonder about you N gauge guys, just how do you work on these thimble size trains? and how small are the parts? or can you actually work on the trains without an electronic microscope?

Let me tell you, the parts are tiny. Electron microscope, no. But I am armed with:
reading glasses
optivisor knock-offs
swing arm lighted magnifier
hand held magnifying glass
one of those little anvil jobbies with the two alligator clips and the swivel magnifying glass

I figure I get out of having to deal with a lot of detail as if I can't see it I don't figure it's worth messing with.

If I had a lot more space I'd love to be in Horribly Oversized. But as things sit, the only thing smaller than my trains is the space I have for my layout. Well, not the only thing smaller, but the only train related one. [swg]


Regards

Ed

[rtraincollector]

Thats why I dable in HO but mainly collect O/O27 Lionel post war and prewar but HO is great also I did once have a good size HO layout (without switches or crossovers) with a n scale running in the inside so one could chase the other in a sense it was to mess with freinds when they had a few to many lol

[bikerraypa]

I do HO and N, and I've found that when working on N scale stuff (I'm painting the window trim on a DPM building kit as we speak), it helps to curse and swear and throw things a lot. [:D]

Also, one of those hickeys with a magnifying glass and two adjustable alligator-clip arms comes in mighty handy.

Ray out

[Anonymous]

When I am doing something tedious in Nscale I think "this would be a lot easier if it were HO." The worst to me are all those little coupler springs! Still, I think "at least it is not Z scale." When I look at the space available for my RR and imagine what I could and couldn't do with HO in the same space, it makes it all worth it. If I had far more space for my trains, I'd go with HO. That's what I prefer. When I consider the space issue, Nscale's advantages far outweigh its deficits.

[Adelie]

Since I switched to N a few years ago, I find that I don't do much on locmotives or rolling stock without the Optivisor. That is also true with some parts of structure assembly and detailing. And I'm 43, with pretty good eyesight!

Overall, I agree though that N's advantages outweight its deficiencies. I have a large basement space in which I am able to create an extensive layout without packing in so much track and industry that scenery will look out of place. You can put an awful lot into a 2' wide shelf in N.

I'm not saying it's better or worse than HO, but on its own balance sheet I think it is in the black. Someday, with my winning lottery check in hand so that I can build a dedicated railroad building with the time I now spend working, I may reconsider and go back to HO in anticipating of failing senses.

[Anonymous]

I had an 11 X 22 HOn 2 1/2 layout that I removed 2 years ago . My new layout is HO standard gauge and while the locos and cars have "become easier" (id est larger) to work on, all the other darn parts stayed the same size! I am semi-seriously considering a move to O and On2 1/2 gauge. I admire the work of the N scalers especially folk such as the Reid brothers, and I N - vy the amount they can fit on a 2' wide shelf BUT since I actually have to SEE the darned stuff I'll stick to HO .... for now. A good magnifier AND young eyes are the keys to detail success in N.

[SpaceMouse]

I am currently in HO and that is where I will probably stay. I just like the amount of detail I can put in at that scale and I know, N will be way to small to compete. But...

I want to create a switch layout, just so I can experiment with different operations. I built an "experiment 4.5 x 8 layout that I would like to keep, but when I go to basement size, there will be no place for it. The N scale I'm building will be built into a bookshelf and hopefully enough fun to be used on occations.

[LVJJJ]

Right now I'm looking at a nice little N layout under our new glass top coffee table. Horribly Oversize would take up the whole living room and make my wife cranky. Yes my eyesight is getting worse but it gives me an excuse to buy more tools (magnifiers, etc.). I'll buy an HO loco only when I want to provide something for my grandson to play with.