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Jealous of N-scalers
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[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by Tracklayer</i> <br /><br />Scale really doesn't matter in a situation like yours. It's more of a room issue... <br /> <br />Tracklayer (N scaler - for now.) <br />[/quote] <br /> <br />Good point... I often hear people say "oh, well if N-scale is half the size, I can have twice the layout in the same space" <br /> <br />Not true. <br /> <br />First of all, their math is off. Geometrically, you should be able to get FOUR times the layout into the same space. (a one-inch-per-side square is one square inch, a two-inch-per-side square is four square inches...) <br /> <br />But theory and practice differ. <br /> <br />One problem is that we're all 1:1 scale. We need the same aisle widths regardless of scale. We need to be able to keep our "reach" on the layout to 24" or so, regardless of scale. <br /> <br />Another problem is that while going down in scale allows you to cram more track in the same space... it can also allow you to ease your curves, use larger number turnouts, etc. In many cases the "best" way to convert a layout from HO to N is not to add a bunch of new track, but rather keep the same basic track plan with less-unprototypical curves, a double- instead of single-track mainline, etc. That's probably a very good idea, but you don't get "4 times" the layout. <br /> <br />I was reading an old "starting a toy train layout" book I came across, and when talking about scale, the author said "N scale is good for people who want to run very long trains and be able to have their scenery tower over the trains"... A bit trite and over-generalization... But also not the worst way to consider it. It's all about what _you_ want out of it. <br /> <br />At the end of the day, I still say it boils down to a very subjective decision. If N is equally pleasing to you as HO, then you should probably consider N strongly, regardless of space... Even if you have a 5,000 sq. ft. train room, you will never model anything close to prototypical distances anyhow, and N will always let you fit "more" into a given space. <br /> <br />
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