I am glad that I model N instead of HO!

[wm3798]

N was the choice for me from the get-go, about 35 years ago.  My brother had a huge HO Christmas Garden that he and my dad worked on, but it came down every year in January to go back into storage.

I started out with a neat little 3x6 in the corner of the basement that was out of the way, and got to stay up year round!

Since then, I've dabbled in everything from N-Trak modules to large club layouts to my current enterprise up in the attic. 

I also built an HO rig for my son, who wanted to have his own trains, and at the Delmarva Club, I operate on the HO layout, so I have some equipment for that scale as well.  I really like the new smaller steam that is coming out in HO, but not enough to make me give up my N.

In the space that I have my N scale, which features two main lines, a good sized yard and engine terminal, and lots of scenery, I could barely fit a single industry switching layout in HO. My interest is in long trains, big scenery, and active operations.  N scale allows me to do all three.

 

I also like the fact that I have room to make industrial buildings larger than the boxcars that call on them! 

And yes, I'm also 43, and I accepted my first pair of glasses about 5 years ago.  I find that working on my trains helps me keep my eye-bones exercised, and when they get tired, I throw on the good old Dollar Tree reading glasses to get me over the hump.  I also know plenty of guys much older than me who wouldn't switch to a larger scale if their lives depended on it!

Lee

 

[Anonymous]

I've always been an N scaler because I've always liked tiny stuff. But, at 43 my eyes aren't what they use to be... So, I'll probably auction all of my N scale stuff off on eBay eventually and move up to HO. This time around I'm going to put some strict limits on it though and try not to end up with dozens of locos and cars I never use.

Tracklayer

Me too actually. I'm 43 and I've noticed the drop in eyesight quality. I was a jeweller for 20 years before going for this office job. It's only when one of the gals at work shows me some jewellery that I notice how much further away I hold things. I'll have to do what my old boss did. Go buy a magnifying "hat" or visor. 

 I built an N scale pike for my late Dad about 6 years ago.Just small enough for him to drive it back the 1100klms between Brisbane and Sydney in his '93 Corolla hatch. I had an HO layout at the time. Well the HO layout was going flat and I had begun dismantling it and cleaning up all the timber,track and as much scenery product as I could. I'm big into recycling modelling gear... I hate the term "tear up"  I've got some Peco small radius turnouts that must be about 5 layouts old dating from 1978! I've just relaid the last one btw..

Unfortunately, Dear Ol' Dad passed away and I not only inherited his little red Corolla, but I also brought home his N scale pike I'd built him for Christmas few years earlier. (You wanna know what that 1100klm trip back to Brisbane was like? Crikey...)

Anyway, I've built on this little pike ... I hope that I'll be able to publish a little article in MR about it all one day.   If and when my fingers ever seize up, I'll probably stick to my 1:20.3 in the backyard !

 

BHR

 

[Anonymous]

Just a quick question, did you get the new Broadway Limited AC6000? I just took delivery of mine with DCC and sound last week and it is heavy! If my scale works correctly, it weighs 1.8 pounds.

-Brandon

Yes!  I was afraid it might dent my styrofoam layout!

Is that the Blueline one??

Actually, I got the regular BLI Paragon Series locomotive in the CSX scheme. Pictures are soon to come.

-Brandon

Actually mine is the CSX DCC unit with sound.  I would hate to think that mine weighs even more than the BLI ones!  On the bright side, it does seem to have unbelievable pulling power and slow speed ops!  It even reads out the scale speed while it's moving!  The start up sequence and shut down sequence is also quite elaborate.  I can only put in about 3 pieces of straight tracks plus one feeder track of the Kato uni-track on my 8X5 N layout so as you can see I haven't had a chance to crank it up to full speed yet!  LOL

[Anonymous]

N scale is for ***** and *****!

Well now.  I thought we had a decent thread going about the relative merits of N scale, but I'm sure it's headed to the trash heap tomorrow.

Boy, I wish Bergie had stayed late today.

Some people... And I actually thought this would be a good thread. At least he could have kept it within his own posts instead of contaminating the posts of others.

-Brandon

*sigh* There are always people that cannot tolerate other people having fun or holding a civilised conversation.  Sad!

The post is still there and I think it's not too much to ask if the mod can delete that post.  It's really not called for.  I also do think this is a good thread especially when I started it!  LOL  ;-)

[cheese4432]

What do you mean this is still a good thread I don't see his post anymore unless it was on page one.

By the way how much does a well weighted n scale locomotive usaully weigh? it can be approximate but switchers don't count.

[myred02]

N scale is for ***** and *****!

Well now.  I thought we had a decent thread going about the relative merits of N scale, but I'm sure it's headed to the trash heap tomorrow.

Boy, I wish Bergie had stayed late today.

Some people... And I actually thought this would be a good thread. At least he could have kept it within his own posts instead of contaminating the posts of others.

-Brandon

[myred02]

Just a quick question, did you get the new Broadway Limited AC6000? I just took delivery of mine with DCC and sound last week and it is heavy! If my scale works correctly, it weighs 1.8 pounds.

-Brandon

Yes!  I was afraid it might dent my styrofoam layout!

Is that the Blueline one??

Actually, I got the regular BLI Paragon Series locomotive in the CSX scheme. Pictures are soon to come.

-Brandon

[RR Redneck]

The biggest reason I am an N scaler is due to space restrictions. I have a small 2'x4' layout in the family rec room. I have all the detail on it that a 4x8 in HO could easily have.

[Tracklayer]

I've always been an N scaler because I've always liked tiny stuff. But, at 43 my eyes aren't what they use to be... So, I'll probably auction all of my N scale stuff off on eBay eventually and move up to HO. This time around I'm going to put some strict limits on it though and try not to end up with dozens of locos and cars I never use.

Tracklayer

[trainfan1221]

I am in N scale and model a good sized intermodal train in 3x6 feet.  Yeah i'm pushing it a bit but what the heck.  I used to be in HO years back but wouldn't even have sufficient room now.  That being said I am severely jealous of some of the amazing models in HO that have come out the past several years.

[R. T. POTEET]

. . . . .weakening eyes and arthritic fingers may some day cause you to re-evaluate. . . . .

Ironically, I toured an HO Scale layout during the national at Kansas City in 1984; the brass hat - who, by the way, only appeared to be in his mid- to late- '50s, was going to demolish his layout immediately after the convention, sell most of his HO Scale equipment, and change over to S Scale.  His eyesight, he claimed,  had deteriorated and his fingers had become arthritic and he needed something bigger to handle - he had a basement that provided - and this is a WAG - about a 25 X 30 foot area, enough I guess, to accomodate the 36% increase in size.  Why he was not planning on converting to O Scale I don't know.  Even HO Scale can be uncomfortably small under some circumstances.

My eyesight is not what it was twenty years ago when I first had to start wearing glasses; I, at least, have my glaucoma under control; and my fingers also don't quite function as they did twenty years ago and this may eventually force my reversion back to HO Scale sometime in the future; for the moment, however, I can survive with N Scale!!!   

[SOU Fan]

Just a quick question, did you get the new Broadway Limited AC6000? I just took delivery of mine with DCC and sound last week and it is heavy! If my scale works correctly, it weighs 1.8 pounds.

-Brandon

Yes!  I was afraid it might dent my styrofoam layout!

Is that the Blueline one??

[Dave Vollmer]

Someone said on one of these forums that while HO is great for modeling trains, N is better for modeling railroads.

Clearly that depends on the space and time available and the skill of the modeler, but with all else being equal, you can get so much more in the same space with N.

I think the best situation is where you have room for a moderate-sized HO layout but build it in N.  In other words, keep the same table size, same curves, etc. you'd have in HO, but lay the track in N.  That way you have far more scenery space, far broader curves, and a much longer mainline run.

People will often poo-poo the level of detail possible in N.  I disagree.  The level of detail possible is a function only of the modeler and not the scale.

Nevertheless, consider a boxcar molded-on grab irons.  On an HO layout where that boxcar is large relative to the scenery, it might be bothersome.  Now imagine that car in N scale, rolling along as part of a much larger train in a scene where the scenery really does dominate the trains.  Now those grab irons aren't so bothersome, are they?

[Anonymous]

Just a quick question, did you get the new Broadway Limited AC6000? I just took delivery of mine with DCC and sound last week and it is heavy! If my scale works correctly, it weighs 1.8 pounds.

-Brandon

Yes!  I was afraid it might dent my styrofoam layout!

[dknelson]

As for future requirements, weakening eyes and arthritic fingers may some day cause you to re-evaluate.  I sincerely hope not - but I wouldn't bet against it.

I resemble this remark! Even in HO things are beginning to get too small.  Thank goodness for my favorite tool in the layout room: THE OPTIVISOR! 

 

Heck, I've reached the age where the prototype is too small!

Dave "Geezer" Nelson

[myred02]

Just a quick question, did you get the new Broadway Limited AC6000? I just took delivery of mine with DCC and sound last week and it is heavy! If my scale works correctly, it weighs 1.8 pounds.

-Brandon

[cheese4432]

Sweet! maybe I might. But that depends if when I get my own house (many years from now) how much room I have.

[CSX Robert]

...

Now eventually I might switch to n scale if there is a n scale big boy and if the n scale challenger by athearn doesn't have traction tires. If it does then show me one without them.

I also want a link for the big boy.

The Athearn N-Scale Challenger does have traction tires, but Key Imports is planning an N-scale Challenger and Big Boy(http://keyimportsinc.com/n_future_projects.htm), and I suspect they won't have traction tires.

[on30francisco]

N scale's strengths are long, mainline trains, spectacular scenic effects and the ability to have huge radii in a reasonable space. Although modeling the steam era, short lines, small prototypes, or narrow gauge can and is being done in N scale, it is much more geared to mainline, contempory, modern modeling. For me, even HO seems small for modeling backwoods narrow gauge or short lines with prototypically small tea kettles and unusual rolling stock. The larger scales such as S, O, or G are much more suited to this type of modeling - especially where reliable running, ease of working with the equipment, and detailing are concerned.

[faraway]

If you have the hand and eye for N it's a good choice. The last NMRA magazine has a great report about a N-layout. I'm deeply impressed about the details.

 

Sorry, I do not have the hand and eye for N (anymore)

[Jetrock]

A lot depends on what you like to model. I like small equipment: 40 foot boxcars, little switch locomotives, "shorty" cabeese and streetcars. I could feasibly fit a pretty decent O scale switching/interurban layout in my place, but I like the selection in HO better. If I were more into modern railroading or big, big, big steam, then N scale makes a lot more sense: the 40 foot boxcars and switchers I like in HO are about the same size as 80+ foot autoracks and modern C-C diesels in N scale!

[IRONROOSTER]

All scales are a compromise based on how much room you have and what you want to do.  After trying HO and O, S works best for me.  But they're all good.

Enjoy

Paul 

[Anonymous]

As for future requirements, weakening eyes and arthritic fingers may some day cause you to re-evaluate.  I sincerely hope not - but I wouldn't bet against it.

I resemble this remark! Even in HO things are beginning to get too small.  Thank goodness for my favorite tool in the layout room: THE OPTIVISOR! 

Being small is one of the drawbacks in N, I thought installing non drop-in decoders was fun when I first converted to DCC only to find out that the normal 5mm LED had trouble fitting into the cab!  So I thought those Nengineering micro LED should do the trick only had to wait another week for my Optivisor as well because not only I can't see the darn thing, my soldering tip was larger than the freaking soldering pad!  So after all that, only drop-in decodes for me now.

I think the miniature size is also what's keeping N relatively expensive for the good stuff.  Because if you compare the sizes of N and HO, the size difference is enormous but yet the price difference is sort of dissimal.

[Anonymous]

As for future requirements, weakening eyes and arthritic fingers may some day cause you to re-evaluate.  I sincerely hope not - but I wouldn't bet against it.

I resemble this remark! Even in HO things are beginning to get too small.  Thank goodness for my favorite tool in the layout room: THE OPTIVISOR! 

 

[tomikawaTT]

I, too, am glad you chose N scale.  It sounds as if it meets all of your present requirements.

As for future requirements, weakening eyes and arthritic fingers may some day cause you to re-evaluate.  I sincerely hope not - but I wouldn't bet against it.

I chose the scale I model because, at the time of the choice, that was the scale that the manufacturers who were producing models of my desired prototypes were using.  (Not much of a choice, granted, but so be it.)  If I change scales again, I wiil probably go for narrow gauge in something larger than I now use.  I hope I won't have to, but only time will tell.

Chuck [modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in 1:80 (twice-N, aka HOj) scale]

[cheese4432]

I hope I don't sound bossy or rude in the rest of this post all is written in peace. 

How much does a well weighted n scale engine weigh? Ones in ho scale can weigh over a pound or more.

Now on how to model an intermodel trin in ho follow these steps:

 

1. get approximently $400-$500. cost maybe less depending on what you already have
2. use the above money to buy 3 kato sd70's or sd80's or sd90's if you prefer one over the other.
3. also use the above money to buy 120 double stack container cars with containers if possible if not buy the containers seperately.
4. get ATLEAST 150 feet of main line preferably more. NOTE this number and the amount of money neede is approximate.
5. put down the mainline
6. take out the kato's and rolling stock check all the heights of the couplers adjust them if needed.
7. put all the cars and locomotives on the track.
8. if you have dcc before checking the height of the couplers on the katosconvert them to dcc.
9. if on dcc consist the locomotives.
10. turn up the throttle to approximently 60 scale mph
11. watch and enjoy your full length intermodel train.
12. add more mainline if the train looks like it's chasing it's tail or if the train is to long

Note more locomotives might be nescarry depending on grades and if the cars have metal wheels with metal axles and are free rolling.Curves greater than or eqaul to 22" radius is mandatory.

 

Now eventually I might switch to n scale if there is a n scale big boy and if the n scale challenger by athearn doesn't have traction tires. If it does  then show me one without them.

I also want a link for the big boy.

[Anonymous]

I always loved the Geevo's and finally decide to get the latest AC6000CW in HO just for display.

All I can say is they are huge comparing to N!  And heavy too!  I had a Fairbank Morse before and I didn't remember they were this big in HO!  I can model comfortablly a reasonable intermodal train in my 8X5 N layout plus a intermodal yard and various industries and cannot seriously think how would a HO intermodal train be modeled!

I am certaiinly glad I decided to go with N before!  But I can see the attraction in HO if I have the space.  You get a lot more detail and presence not to mention that everything don't have to be so miniature!

Anyway, just put up the AC6000CW on top of my bookshelf and also test runned it on a temp DCC track and even though I wish I can have a huge HO layout but the new 8X5 N layout when it's complete will have to do it for now.