Jumping scales from HO to something larger

[NevinW]

I have been a model railroader since college and I am now 48. My current layout is 85% completed and is a 10X22 foot depiction of the B&O and WM in West Virginia. I was happy with it when I could see it clearly. The problem is that my vision is really going downhill. I am using an optivisor for almost all modeling and reading glasses when I operate. The rest of the layout is slightly blurry and has decreased my enjoyment of modeling trains. My favorite part of the hobby is scratch building and assemblying craftsman type kits.

I have a good friend who is an avid S scaler and he has been pushing me to look in to that scale. I have also been impressed by the recent increase in O scale equipment (esp. Atlas). In the early 80's I modeled in Sn3 so I know how to function in a minority gauge. I would envision a branch line or narrow gauge layout to replace my current layout. 3 rail or tinplate doesn't interest me. But On30 is a possibility.

My question is how many of you have jumped from the smaller scales to the larger ones due to vision problems as you aged and how well did this work out.? Is it worth the loss of room and the effort to sell all your HO equipment to be able to see it better? - Nevin

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NevinW

I have been a model railroader since college and I am now 48. My current layout is 85% completed and is a 10X22 foot depiction of the B&O and WM in West Virginia. I was happy with it when I could see it clearly. The problem is that my vision is really going downhill. I am using an optivisor for almost all modeling and reading glasses when I operate. The rest of the layout is slightly blurry and has decreased my enjoyment of modeling trains. My favorite part of the hobby is scratch building and assemblying craftsman type kits.

I have a good friend who is an avid S scaler and he has been pushing me to look in to that scale. I have also been impressed by the recent increase in O scale equipment (esp. Atlas). In the early 80's I modeled in Sn3 so I know how to function in a minority gauge. I would envision a branch line or narrow gauge layout to replace my current layout. 3 rail or tinplate doesn't interest me. But On30 is a possibility.

My question is how many of you have jumped from the smaller scales to the larger ones due to vision problems as you aged and how well did this work out.? Is it worth the loss of room and the effort to sell all your HO equipment to be able to see it better? - Nevin

What's the cause of your vision loss, Nevin? Is it something correctible by surgery? I had cataracts removed about 3 years ago and was absolutely amazed at the vision improvement. The only downside is that I now need reading glasses for close in work since the artificial lenses that replaced my old natural ones don't adjust. It's a real nuisance at times because I'm constantly asking my wife if she's seen my glasses when I want to read or work on a model.

CORRECTION: I AM a real nuisance at times because I'm constantly asking my wife if she's seen my glasses when I want to read or work on a model. [banghead]

Andre

[Anonymous]

I operate G-scale as well as HO - not due to eyesight but as I wanted something suitable to run in the garden. I'm now looking at building an indoor layout - probably something industrial as this would fit the loco and cars I have. I was surprised how small a space is actually needed for G - the tightest set-track curve radius is about 2ft - and due to the size of the locos and cars they look far more impressive than HO scale equivelents.

If G doesn't appeal, I would suggest O scale - there was a layout featured in Continental Modeller magazine a few months ago which managed to pack a large amount of track and operation into a fairly small attic without looking crowded. There's a fair bit of reasonably-priced equipment available in O, and there also seems to be a decent range of detailing and conversion kits to personalise your fleet, as well as complete loco kits.

[NevinW]

Andre:

I saw the eye doctors about it last year and it is just presbyopia- gradual loss of close up acuity. I can still see great for long distances. Just growing old unfortunately. - Nevin

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NevinW

Andre:

I saw the eye doctors about it last year and it is just presbyopia- gradual loss of close up acuity. I can still see great for long distances. Just growing old unfortunately. - Nevin

I know how that is (growing old, anyway). I guess I've got "surgical" presbyopia since I need magnification to see up close. The ironic thing is that prior to the cataract surgery, I was near-sighted and had to take my glasses off to read. Now it's the other way around. [banghead]

Andre

[BRAKIE]

I am 56 and model in HO and N scale..My eyes are still good enough to see to model with my glasses off. even in N sclae..I can see up close but,far away objects is fuzzy and blurry.How long my eye sight will continue to be good close up is anybodies guess...Anyhoo,I have plans made that when my eye sight starts to fade I will go with On30 or perhaps O scale 2 rail..

[tutaenui]

I am 60mumble and went from Sn3 1/2 to On2 1/2 Industrial for much the same eyesight reasons. It did help, though some of the O industrial locos are smaller than the S scale ones! I still need so called hobby glasses (about 3 times magnification) for scratchbuilding but layout viewing is fine without.I think O scale is about as large as you can go indoors and still have reasonable scenary

[krump]

I like On30 as an option - can still run it on HO track ... so it's kinda like recycling, esp if you have most of the HO track already down.
cheers,

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Railroading_Brit

I operate G-scale as well as HO - not due to eyesight but as I wanted something suitable to run in the garden. I'm now looking at building an indoor layout - probably something industrial as this would fit the loco and cars I have. I was surprised how small a space is actually needed for G - the tightest set-track curve radius is about 2ft - and due to the size of the locos and cars they look far more impressive than HO scale equivelents.

If G doesn't appeal, I would suggest O scale - there was a layout featured in Continental Modeller magazine a few months ago which managed to pack a large amount of track and operation into a fairly small attic without looking crowded. There's a fair bit of reasonably-priced equipment available in O, and there also seems to be a decent range of detailing and conversion kits to personalise your fleet, as well as complete loco kits.

RailroadingBrit

Why dont you mosey over to the Garden Railroad forum and tell us about your indoor layout. We are always interested in finding new people to contribute to the forum. I'm also doing indoor G in a very small area and would like to hear more about your layout.

NevinW

G and On30 are good choices for indoors, good detail, cool stuff. I personally dont see much difference between HO and S and scale O is cool but the radius requirements are killer. G indoors in a small area usually translates into a industrial, minig, or logging line with small engines and cars but the level of detail that can be added on is sick! On30 offers a bit more expanded scope on scenery and buildings. Both are good options for you to consider.

[bcammack]

I'm nearly 50 and have been terribly nearsighted my entire life. I have macular degeneration now on the retina of my right eye that has it down about 20-25% on visual acuity. So I model in N scale. [:)]

I use an optivisor and lots of bright light while working on stuff. One nice thing about modelling in N scale with poor vision is that, if you happen to be an A.R. Virgo perfectionist like I am, all of the imperfections simply vanish when you remove the optivisor and observe from more than 12" away! [:D].

OTOH - I have been "eyeing" (pardon the pun) that Bachmann On30 siderod gas mechanical industrial switcher lately. This is due, for the most part, in the charm these engines have for me and the fact that they're too bloody small to do in N scale rather than my diminishing visual acuity.

I've also toyed with the idea of a surplus QA/QC stereo inspection microscope for the really fine work...

[spankybird]

You should take a look at O Gauge – Scale. The chooses are greater now than ever before and the computation between manufactures is at its highest. You have both 2 rail and 3 rail scale and semi-scale. The computation has brought out the best of MTH, Lionel, K-Line, Atlas, etc. Each one is always trying to out do the other and we are the ones that are benefiting from it.

[Anonymous]

I'm a couple of years younger than you but am starting down the same path. I need reading glasses to do any detailing, model building, and often times for just plain reading (imagine that, LOL). It's frustrating, but most of my friends have to wear glasses all of the time (and not just under specific circumstances), so I have no room to complain and really should just be thankful.

Nevin, you might want to also give some consideration to S scale. It's not all American Flyer or tinplate (with all due respect to the tinplate hobby - I used to be heavy into collecting American Flyer.) That scale has really blossomed and in my mind is the perfect compromise - you get the benefits of size and mass (more like O) but the benefits of less space required (more like HO). I am heavily into HO and will stay there, but the S scale offerings are very nice. In the late 80's I bought 4 S scale brass locos (Big Boy, Challenger, FEF Northern, and GS4 northern) and they were sweet - making them hard to part with. The detailing was phenominal (much better than HO brass, if only because of size) and had real mass to them, yet they weren' t as enormous as their O scale equivalent. They were a thing of beauty. I wasn't into modeling then but had dreams of a layout someday. After a year or two I ended up selling them, back in the early nineties. Well, the modeling bug finally bit me again (had been out of modeling since the late 70's) just 3-4 years ago and I jumped into HO. I don't regret the HO decision, but the S scale is an ideal size with many advantages. You'd also be amazed at how much stuff is available in that scale these days (and I don't mean just brass.) They have several mfgr's and one who is the S scale equivalent to the blue box and RTR Athearn - I think they're called American Models. There are other fine Mfg's like them in that scale, I just can't remeber them since I'm into HO. Explore the options. I wouldn't overlook that scale as one of the options. Good luck and enjoy the hobby.

Greg

[darth9x9]

I know a ferw modelers that switched from HO to G scale. You still may need magnifiers as some of the screws on G scale equipment can be quite small.

[spankybird]

BTW, be ready for sticker shock when you see the prices of engines and rolling stock in ‘S’, ‘O’ or ‘G’ scale.[:O][:O]

[ndbprr]

I have considered other scales but there are trade offs. The smaller the scale the better for mainline operations and HO is without a doubt the cheapest to build an empire with. S scale will require the most kit or scratchbuilding and G and O are going to be expensive. The plus side is if you are into smaler branch operations and don't mind adding rolling stock at a snails pace it can be extremely satisfying. I opted to saty with HO and I am 59 using an optivisor now. I can remember when I would see the ads and wonder why anybody would want one of those things. Now I know.

[slotracer]

In the mid eighties I switched from HO to S due to the promotion by a friend. At that time I was frustratd by the very poor qaulity HO brass steam and I loved to scratch build. I recall I got a beautiful S scale USRA heavy 0-8-0 for $400 about what I'd pay then for an HO berk that needed all kinds of work. I could scratch structures and rolling stock in S for about what it cost in HO and I developed a joy for handlaying track. S is a truely wonderful scale but has some serious drawbacks. I propably will get back into model RR in a few years and considered S but have ruled it out becasue of...........

1. Very limited product even for us scratch builders. Detail parts, trucks etc are limited and normally require you to special order and stock up...that is when you can find it. It was a reason I got back out of S and back into HO 6 years after going over to S. Getting trucks and brake castings was a pain, road bed had to be special ordered, as did switch frog kits etc. Simple things HO guys take for granted like switch stands and details for structures are alomost unavailable and burden the layout constryction process.

2. Cost......whaen I first got into S it was a bargain, far batter equipment (in brass anyway) for close to the same price. Now the prices I see are nearing O scale brass prices.

3. Availablilty....there is more available today than 15 years ago when I was in my S stage, but it is still extremely limited. Production of brass was so limited, it is very hard today to aquire things like PRR or NYC or USRA steam, pasenger cars cabooses and the like. Those that were made apparently are in the hands of those that want them and will keep them.

4. Lead times. The straw that broke the camels back with me was the lead time on new equipment that one had to put down a deposit for the reserve. I had $200 down on an NYC Mohawk and after waiting 2 years with no model or reliable release date I asked for my deposit back. I had already learned to ignore new product announcements given that attitude of yeah....when it actually arrives I'll beleive it. I understand the nature of small enthusiastic modelers who incvest time and effor tto make the stuff available, guys like Jetty padget (SP?) River Raisen and Southwind models, a group of friends contracte samhongsa to make NYC 19000 series cabooses even. But as a modeler and consumer, the long lead times and being in the dark on when something might ever show up was too much and I sold the stuff off.

If prices were more in reason and there was better availablity, I feel S is the scale as it does not require much more sapce than HO but looks so realistic when done right.

[on30francisco]

I used to be in HO but now model in On30. Although my eyesight is good I like the heft and detailing possibilities of O scale and the convenience of HO. (On30 runs on HO track) To me this is the best of both worlds. The larger size is also easier to work with. The Bachmann On30 locomotives run great and are very affordable.

UPDATE: I recently switched to Large Scale. I built a logging caboose in LS that I originally built in On30. What a difference! G scale, because of the larger size, is a pleasure to work with and the detail is fantastic.