Caught between Gauges

[Anonymous]

[xx(] I need some advise. I have done "HO", "N" and "O" gauge. I can't decide which one I like better. I live in a South Philly home so I don't have a lot of room. I managed to do "O" with no problem, "N" was a breeze and HO was great, but I "HO" doesn't have sound and if you want maximum preformance, you need DCC. You have to have 20-20 vision to do "N" but you don't need a lot of room. "O" is great, sound, smoke, lighting, detail and preformance but I can't get passed those 3-rails!!!! Someone please shine some light on me please.


Chessie5570

[tree68]

You've summed up the most popular scales pretty well, although there is 2 rail "O".

Before you ask what scale is best, you need to ask what you want it to do, and what you enjoy doing. If you want grand vistas with long trains, then N is your thing, or maybe even Z. If you want fantastic detail, then O is where to go. For that matter, some folks have done surprising things with G indoors. If you just want to run trains, something that you can loop in the available space would be most appropriate. If you are heavily into switching, you can do a pretty extensive switching layout (with plenty of opportunities for detailing both equipment and scenery) in any of the scales.

That said, I haven't answered your question, but maybe your train of thought will include some different perspectives as you travel to your decision.

Best of luck!

[Isambard]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chessie5570

[xx(] I need some advise. I have done "HO", "N" and "O" gauge. I can't decide which one I like better. I live in a South Philly home so I don't have a lot of room. I managed to do "O" with no problem, "N" was a breeze and HO was great, but I "HO" doesn't have sound and if you want maximum preformance, you need DCC. You have to have 20-20 vision to do "N" but you don't need a lot of room. "O" is great, sound, smoke, lighting, detail and preformance but I can't get passed those 3-rails!!!! Someone please shine some light on me please.


Chessie5570

HO doesn't have sound? Wow, look again in MR or listen to some sound equipped locomotives at your local hobby store! Not only available with DCC systems but now also DC ones. The sounds are fanatstic and prices for sound are coming down.