Why did you leave HO ?

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Santafekent

I had a Lionel set as a kid, but got into HO scale as a serious modeler in 1965. Good size (which is why it's so popular), but as I got older, it became more frustrating to work with. More detailed models become very fragile, and my near-vision inability was not helping. I received Papa's old 1948 set in 1987. I fell in love with it again.... can't explain it, it was the sight, the smell, the sound and heft of it. I trashed or gave away all the Half-O junk a few years later. Now I only do the full O! I feel sad that there are so many train brothers that have not yet seen the light.

[#ditto]

[Anonymous]

I had a Lionel set as a kid, but got into HO scale as a serious modeler in 1965. Good size (which is why it's so popular), but as I got older, it became more frustrating to work with. More detailed models become very fragile, and my near-vision inability was not helping. I received Papa's old 1948 set in 1987. I fell in love with it again.... can't explain it, it was the sight, the smell, the sound and heft of it. I trashed or gave away all the Half-O junk a few years later. Now I only do the full O! I feel sad that there are so many train brothers that have not yet seen the light.

[wrmcclellan]

TTim,

I actually started with Lionel as a child. I got into HO because my parents bought me some for Christmas one year - likely because the HO was very economical as compared to Lionel and it does not take up as much room.

I came back to 3-rail because I never was a very good scale modeler. For me the detail work became too tedious. I was never into weathering and trying to create lifelike scenes. I really liked just running the trains.

The change for me occured when the large Lionel Christmas displays appeared here in Dallas (Team of Ronald McDonald house and Ban Bywater's train collection at the Cresent and then the Galleria - now at Northpark mall)). I liked the noise, pseudo-realism, and operating accessories. So I dug my old Lionel out and packed up the little HO I had remaining.

BTW - I really enjoy looking at and reading about scale layouts (N, HO, O, G, whatever) and admire those that can build them. I have helped several friends with scale layouts, including O, usually with electronics and wiring. I think DCC is pretty neat, but it has as many quirks as TMCC and DCS, and is more expensive than TMCC or DCS.

Regards,
Roy

[zwbob]

I was going to get into HO in the early 80's because I felt that the stuff lionel was making at the time was junk and post war prices were getting higher and higher out of my price range. And I was newly married with the thought of babies. My wife bought me a HO set for Christmas, but it just didn't do it for me. So I kept running all my postwar stuff and the HO sat in the box for about 15 years. It was a good decision because I love all the O gauge stuff I have accumulated over the years, new and old. I sold the HO stuff about 10 years ago.

[FJ and G]

The cars shake too much and stall w/just a little bit of dirt on the track and are prone to derailments; even on professional layouts. Also, they are less than half the size of 0 so that makes them twice as toy-like. 1:48 is closer to real railroading. You can begin to feel them rumble.

[Anonymous]

I haven't ! Marklin HO 3rail or stud contact will always be a part of my program. "O" scale Hi-rail train have become my dominate interest for several reasons. The sound Systems, their massiveness, wimsy, easier to work with(In my opinion) etc.
Many individuals seem to have a general assumtion that a Classic Toy Train must be Standard, O, or S guage. I don't beleive that's true! I had a couple Toy HO train sets whe I was a kid. One was very crude AC powered with no reverse. Ran on tubular track with fiber ties. I think the train was made in Texas by a company named ("Circle Twenty"?) I have never seen them at any of the shows. Another HO train was made by Lima of Italy. Battery powered, it consisted of a German 0-4-0 w/tender and a 1st and a 2nd class coaches.Toy Trains to me not only decribes the, sometimes characterazation of a train; but the method in which we play with them.

[IRONROOSTER]

I wanted to build in a larger scale than HO. I tried O scale, but the space requirements for a layout are too great. So I find S scale to be the perfect compromise - fun to build in, hefty presence, dosen't seem to have the track cleaning issues of HO. Still, I have some Lionel that I run.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

My first Xmas layout was HO. When I unpacked them the following year, the steam engines would'nt run right. After 3 years of this...GONE! My neighbor had a nice, large HO layout, but I never really saw them RUN. He was always saying, "I just need to clean the track again". Joe

[Kooljock1]

I've never dabbled in two rail myself, but I think I can comment as my brother has a nice, scenicked H.O. layout.

For me, it's the rumble and the roar. I like the way the table top vibrates with the weight of the passing locomotives.

I like the colors of the accessories, the glow of the passenger car and caboose windows.

I like the mis-match in size between the Gateman and the Plasticville Colonial Mansion nearby.

And I like the fact that the trains can DO SOMETHING other than just run in circles!

Jon [8D]

[andregg1]

Because is too small, no heavy, lot of plastic(reason why a like only post war)
Lionel is heavy, AC power, steel wheels, 3 rails and required maintenance.

[underworld]

I didn't! [:p]

underworld

Easter Easter Easter Easter Easter!!!!!

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[3railguy]

I left HO because it only has two rails.

[choochin3]

I never fully left HO.
In addition to O gauge,I'm also collecting toy like HO stuff like Tyco,AHM,Life Like and such.
Buying stuff I had as a kid,and stuff I wanted but couldn"t afford.
Also getting into Flyer S,and N scale too.

Cheers,
Carl T.

[TurboOne]

I noticed that many of us started in HO. What caused you to go up to your new gauge?

What do you see as the differences?

Tim