HO vs O Scale

[Anonymous]

Fellow HO scalers - I need your help. I am a long time novice HO modeler who is just getting back into the hobby. I have four or five locomotives, a bunch of dated rolling stock, and many Code 83 switches and flex track I "inherited" from my dad, who passed away last January. A friend of mine has a nice O scale layout with TMCC, railsounds, and the works. I was blown away by the sounds his steam locomotives made and the ease with which he controlled them with his Lionel Trainmaster Command Control. Although my space is limited (I have room for a long wall layout, but hard pressed to fit 60-72" diameter loops at the ends), I am seriously considering switching to 3 rail O scale. I know it has that cheesy third rail, but the trains seem so much more real with their sound systems, TMCC, or DCC-for-idiots (which I consider myself), and auto-uncoupling. It seems a lot of my trepidation would be addressed if I knew which DCC system was the easiest to use and whether or not anyone makes HO locomotives with DCC decoders and sound boards pre-installed. I agree that HO is less expensive, has better availability, and one can fit much more "train" into a smaller space, but I can't get over how much better the realism is with these new digital O scale trains.

Any advice/thoughts (or lectures) ??[?]

STC-Rob

[JoeUmp]

Rob

While HO does not have the visual impact that O scale has, very realistic layouts can be created in it as well as in N scale. Most of the decoder manufacturers produce decoders suitable for HO, N and Z scale. Most of the decoders I've seen are usually rated for G scale as well. If you want sound then SoundTraxx and now MRC are making sound equiped decoders for HO and N. So there is no reason to switch to O scale if sound is the driving force.

As to what system is best. That depends on what you want to do with it and how much you are willing to spend. Suitable starter systems are supplied by Atlas, MRC, Roco and others for under $200.00. If you are looking at expand ability, then you should look at Digitrax, Wangro, Northcoast Engineering or Lenz. Other suppliers out there probably have good systems as well but the ones mentioned are the ones I am familiar with.

Most of the locomotives that come with decoders installed are diesels, but some of the newer high end steam locos are being equiped with decoders now. Atlas, MRC and I think Kato have models with decoders installled. But don't let that dissuade you from any of the other fine models out there. There are the Plug N Play decoders being made to drop right in for many models now. And if you are using the 9 pin decoders there is a harness to fit the older Athearn locomotives as well. And many shops will custom install decoders if you want.

Tony's Train Exchange has recently come out with an automatic uncoupling system the call Digital Direct Coupling (DDC). It uses two of the available DCC functions to operate.

Both MR and RMC have run their own series of articles detailing DCC's use and operation. Good primers on DCC are "DCC Made Easy" by Kalmbach, "The Big Book of DCC" by Digitrax and "Digital Command Control For Beginners" by Ruter Friberg.

So get out and enjoy that HO. Or switch to O scale if that's where your interests really lay. It's all up to you. Best of luck.

JoeUmp

[Anonymous]

The HO world has changed. The options, selections, quality are awesome. The 2004 HO Walthers catalog has over 1,000 pages of stuff and that's not all inclusive.

Bring yourself up to speed before you switch.

Chuck Walsh

[IRONROOSTER]

DCC and sound can be done in any scale, so I wouldn't let that decide the issue. In O scale 3 rail, Atlas has some nice looking track . Many people have done hi-rail layouts over the years. Except for the couplers and wheels the rest can be "scale". Not all 3 rail locomotives run through O27 curves, some require more. If the size is what you love, consider G. If HO is just a little too small look at S.
Enjoy
Paul

[FJ and G]

agree with ironrooster. G scale offers 2 rails, great sound, and the prices of their engines are actually less than 3-rail! Plus, you can run it outside or in.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by STC-Rob

It seems a lot of my trepidation would be addressed if I knew which DCC system was the easiest to use and whether or not anyone makes HO locomotives with DCC decoders and sound boards pre-installed.

Rob;

The easiest DCC to use is the one(s) others in your area are using. When it comes to controlling sound equipped locomotives, the MRC, Atlas and Zephyr systems are somewhat lacking. I use a Digitrax Chief with DT400 Radio throttle.

HO steam locomotives factory equipped with DCC & sound: Broadway Limited and Bachmann Spectrum currently offer them in the USA. Trainworld is a good dealer for both.
http://www.broadway-limited.com/
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.html
http://www.trainworld.com/

Both Athearn and Lionel have announce HO scale Challenger models with sound.
http://www.athearn.com/
http://www.lionel.com/#

[Anonymous]

I'd stick with HO - you can fit sound units, smoke generators etc, and you can run HO in the garden - it just takes a little more work in the preparation stage. There are growing numbers of people building OO scale (same track gauge as HO, but 4mm to the foot scale rather than 3.5mm, for very old and complicated reasons!) model railways in their gardens here in the UK. These seem to be very successful, as long as you design the trackbed to avoid it picking up dust, dirt, leaves etc - most of the better-looking lines I have seen have a slightly raised trackbed - between 6in/1ft higher than the surrounding terrain, this stops dust and dirt from falling onto the lines. You can then run full scale-length trains - the whole train costing about the same as a decent O or G Scale loco!

[FJ and G]

The decision to go with HO or O IMO will, besides price, be largely determined by the emphasis you wi***o place: on the trains themselves or on the scenery. With O and G, you get heft and feel of big railroading. With HO and N, you get much more scenery and longer trains.

IMO, the idea scale is S. You get a good compromise there. If I had to start over again, that is the scale I would go for, as these days, there are a lot more good offerings in S than in the days of yore.

[vsmith]

If you like narrow guage, I would look at On30, O heft - HO economy. They keep adding more items to whats availible also. Could have a good future.

[Anonymous]

I agree with vsmith. Try On30. O scale engines on HO track.

[Anonymous]

I say go for the O! I have to agree that G scale is nice, but it can be a bit too big at times. O gauge trains are much more realistic now than they have ever been and as for the third rail, there is Gargraves track with a black third rail to make it less visible. Also, there's the Super O track that Lionel made back in the pastwar era, which in my opinion has an even less noticible third rail and is quite realistic looking. There's a good variety of stuff out there and O gauge definetly looks great running and has an amazing visual aspect to it. Perhaps I'm not the best guy to consult on choosing one scale though, considering that I've got both HO and O gauge trains and a layout for each. I've also got some G scale and Standard gauge that I set up from time to time.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

If you like narrow guage, I would look at On30, O heft - HO economy. They keep adding more items to whats availible also. Could have a good future.

I'm having the same thought. Or possibly, a good sized switching/industrial scene you can detail easier in O.

[Anonymous]

I too was in HO until I just happened into the local hobby shop who sells mostly Lionel O-Gauge trains. He had a Lionel Pennsy 2-10-4 with Lionel TMCC and most importantly it was equipped with Lionel's "Odyssey" system. For those who are unfamiliar with this, "Odyssey" is an electronic tachometer and governor used to accurately control and maintain the engine's speed. This monster could go "tie by tie" down the track, and the sound was excellent. I was sold, on the spot, and changed over. The key is to only buy speed controlled locomotives. Lionel and MTH both offer excellent products with a very high level of detail. You can now also add the electronics in either the Lionel "TMCC" or MTH "Proto-2" formats to just about any locomotive. Up until this time, I would not buy steam locomotives because they would never operate very smoothly at slow speeds. They certainly can now, and O-Gauge has a definite "presence" if you know what I mean. With the new Atlas track system, O-Gaugers can now have what the HO folks have had for years, a prototypical nickel silver track with excellent switches. (just a note for the two rail folks who like to look down their noses at the third center rail, it is prototypical, just not predominantly so - The New Haven had it in some areas!!) In any case, the third rail's days are numbered. Battery technology is advancing at a very fast rate, soon you will be able to have "On Board" power and then the two-rail and three-rail trains will be interchangeable.

[Anonymous]

HO

[Anonymous]

I would go for the HO, that what I have right now.. but I like the 0 or the G they are pretty big.. I just stay on the HO it can have alot room to go around with than the 0 takes alot of room..

just enjoy what you feel best for you.

[Anonymous]

I would go with HO. O is expensive! Plus, there is not the selection of stuff (rolling stock, locomotives, structures, whatever) available in O.

[IRONROOSTER]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DonCameron

I would go with HO. O is expensive! Plus, there is not the selection of stuff (rolling stock, locomotives, structures, whatever) available in O.

For a given amount of layout space you'll probably spend the same amount regardless of scale. That's because you can fit more tracks, locos, cars, buildings, etc on the layout the smaller you go. So what you save on individual pieces you spend on getting more of them. In fact, you may spend more on N or Z scale for 12x12 foot layout room than any other scale.

All the popular scales - Z, N, HO, S, O, G - have more stuff than I can afford to buy or space to use. So as long as you can get any particular pieces you want (and they all have the most popular ones) I wouldn't worry about overall availability.

Enjoy
Paul

[BRAKIE]

My Daddy was a O scaler (2 rail) and that was the first type of model train I ever ran..I have always been a O scaler at heart but never had the room for a small O scale layout and did well to find room for a HO layout..Then 2 Christmases ago my Kids got me a Bachmann On30 train set which I display on a shelf.

Now with more Bachmann On30 models available at reasonable discount prices I am tempted more then ever to leave HO behind and model in On30..I have a good start with that train set.So,I am thinking it over.Of course I would prefer the standard gauge O scale but still lack the room..[:(]

[Anonymous]

How about this for the O Scale, is to cut a hole in wall to go into other room..?

[on30francisco]

I would give On30 a try. At one time I used to model in HO exclusively. I then tried O scale narrow gauge. I was hooked. With On30 you have the heft and detailing of O scale and the convenience and affordability of HO. Today I model both scales but lately I've been thinking of doing On30 exclusively and leaving HO behind.