Changing Scales

[Anonymous]

I myself currently have HO, S, and O scales in my home. I'm planning on selling the "O" Lionel for G scale equipment for outside and I am in the process of buildin an "S" scale layout in my home office. For some reason I just enjoy the larger scales more for their size.

[IRONROOSTER]

Personally I'll stay with S. While a G layout in a building of say 50' x 100' would be fun, I'm afraid I don't have the time to build it or maintain it. One of the neat things about doing S in 11'x18' is just puttering along when I feel like it. Laying track, running trains, building a kit - whatever. The larger scales are seductive, but where do you stop? When G seems too small, you move up to 1 inch then 1 1/2 inch then 3 inch.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

I'm currently in HO, but I'd switch to O if space and money were not a problem. There's a very nice O-Scale US layout in Continental Modeller (July 2004 Issue) which uses full DCC control - those Overland brass factory-painted locos are beautiful! Interestingly this layout takes up 16ft by 8ft and has a full oval of track as well as assorted sidings, so space is evidently not a massive problem. I'd also consider G-scale, but I prefer the proportions of O where standard-gauge locos are concerned, though I do have a small collection of G-scale German narrow-gauge equipment (LGB).

[Anonymous]

I changed scales already. I had O scale. I got screwed in that scale. When all of the manufacturers went over seas everything turned into junk. Bad circuit boards, never could find the train line you wanted, waited months for repairs, couplers wouldn't uncouple or worse yet stay coupled. I went to HO went I learned I could couple/uncouple cars using Kaydee magnets and couplers. Much better than O scale. I can even find the train cars I want, instead of waiting years for someone to produce them. O scale looks great, has neat options, but options fail! I even had my KW burn up all the switches on layout. It was too costly even for me. I enjoy HO when it runs well, I tolerate some of the minor nuisances now that I know how to fix them.

[Yampa2003]

I changed up from N to HO about 4 years ago, but am now starting on a portable N scale layout as well as building a permanent HO scale layout. I'd love to have an outdoor G scale layout as well, preferably live steam / radio controlled diesels.

Brian W.

[Anonymous]

I am currently in N-scale. Even with more funds, my major limitation would be that I have limited time to work on my layout. Because of that, my smaller layout will actually allow me to get the layout to this or that stage much more quickly than if I filled a room with one. So even though I am limited somewhat by space and money, I am more limited by time.

How that relates to scale is that I will be detailing the layout and rolling stock as well as the scale will allow. For example, I will paint the face and hair of an N-scale person, while I will paint the face, hair, eyebrows, and lips of an HO-scale person, and I will paint the face, hair, eyebrows, lips, eyes, nostrils, scars, beards, mustaches, etc. on an O-scale person. So in N-scale, I have 12 1/2 sq. ft. worth of scenery to put together for the amount of running and operation I have, while in HO scale, I would have 50 sq. ft., and in O-scale, I would have something along the lines of 200 sq. ft.

Now, if space and money really weren't an issue, I might also have a place where I'd have someone come in and build the whole layout for me, and have several people operate it with me. But I would still probably stay with N-scale. The engines and DCC are to a point where they can run well enough for smooth operating sessions. And even with a big room, you can take advantage of a train to scenery ratio that will really draw you in.

And something that I've noticed on alot of medium to large HO layouts is that the distance between passing sidings or from one major stop to another is little more than a train length or two. While the layouts I have in mind are terrific, nothing to be ashamed of, and something that I would LOVE to join in on the operation, an N-scale layout of the same design in the same amount of space would allow the trains to "stretch their legs" a little more, and it would give more of a sense of distance between points.

Of course, if space and money truly wasn't an issue, one could upscale a building and make it in HO or O, but if you did that, you would find yourself walking quite a ways, trying to keep up with the train, instead of casually walking around, watching it. So, I would still keep it in N-scale to get a more stretched out style of running, while keeping the comfort factor in mind.

But that's me...

---jps

[Anonymous]

Nah, I'd just increase the size of my layout. Get a few more towns and some real space between them.

I'm in HO, and no other scale offers a good selection of the oddball diesels my road ran in my era.

[AggroJones]

Even if I had unlimited space, I'd still be in HO. HO is the scale.

[ddechamp71]

Guys, this poll misses an item: where is Z scale? I'm myself involved with Z and am very happy with this scale. But I should switch to G if my time planning would allow: I currently live in an appartment (where Z scale is completely OK), but as I have an house in the country I begin working on a modular Z scale layout.
BUT, BUT, BUT, as I have a 70000 square feet garden with that house, I think I'll extend my modelrailroading passion to G scale. But what lacks me for now is spare time: I'm only in that house about 5 to 6 days a month. To comply with this, I'll have to wait for retirement, in 20 to 25 years....

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by ddechamp71

Guys, this poll misses an item: where is Z scale? I'm myself involved with Z and am very happy with this scale. But I should switch to G if my time planning would allow: I currently live in an appartment (where Z scale is completely OK), but as I have an house in the country I begin working on a modular Z scale layout.
BUT, BUT, BUT, as I have a 70000 square feet garden with that house, I think I'll extend my modelrailroading passion to G scale. But what lacks me for now is spare time: I'm only in that house about 5 to 6 days a month. To comply with this, I'll have to wait for retirement, in 20 to 25 years....
[/quote

ddechamp71, I didn't mention Z due to the Idea of going up in size. If you have Z and want to stay with it you would vote staying with current scale. ]

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