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Yet another one being seduced by the (small) dark side

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  • Member since
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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 8:52 PM
 Adelie wrote:

Hey Randy.  Are you thinking of altering your era/geographic/railroad ideas, or sticking with your HO preferences in those areas?  There have been a lot of good transition era diesels and rolling stock available in N. 

 I plan on stickign with the same era and road. Evn the same idea - thatof the Reading aquiring the LNE so I can justify single track railroading. Everywhere else other than certain branches that I don't really want to model had at least double track, and operation on double track is, well, kind of boring.

 Many of the locos will be easy - any RS3's and GP7's I need I can buy any road name and repaint them, it's all one color so even in N scale it wouldn't be hard. As long as I can find decals. And I'm not goint to worry about the teeny-tiny "danger 600 volts" lettering.

 

                                   --Randy
 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 11:27 AM
Welcome!  With the ever growing line of N product, I think you won't regret it.  I am building my second layout which is about 5'X8' and all I can say is that's considered small for HO but WOW, you can almost fit the whole main street of Majave in that space!  I am doing one that's sort of similar to Pelle Solberg's layout, his one is also based around Mojave and mine is about half the size of his in total but you can fit twice as much!  Just hooked up the DCC last night and man, I should have done this long time ago!  With this amount of space, it looked so much more realistic, I can't wait till it's finished!
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Posted by Vail and Southwestern RR on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 11:01 AM

 Trekkie wrote:
 Brunton wrote:
Why not compromise and go to something in between HO and N - maybe TT scale...


Wouldn't that be about two engines and three rolling stock? Not being a smart aleck here I just haven't seen any TT scale stuff anywhere. Just seems pretty rare.

I think that in the US TT really isn't an option, unless you really like scratchbuilding.  It is unfortunate, since I think it could have been a popular scale, with the right timing, marketing, etc.

Jeff But it's a dry heat!

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 10:32 AM

Way I see it:

N scale advantages:

1. With Nscale's 12" radius, you can build more railroad in smaller space. This is a big advantage.

2. Nscale looks more realistic, in that the smaller scale looks less contrived and toy like.

 HO advantages:

1. If they make it, they make it in HO. LOTS available

2. Easier to work on rolling stock and engines

3. More room for DCC decoders etc

4. Finer detail

5. Less derailing? (when uncoupling by hand for sure). I dunno, what do you think on this one? Is HO generally more reliable? Fewer derailments and inadertant uncouplings?

6. Your hand can fit up an HO tunnel.

Feel free to chime in with your own.

 

  • Member since
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Posted by motard98 on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 8:34 AM
In my opinion, N scale is the only way to go.  Lots of equipment available and it actually looks prototypical on the layout. 
  • Member since
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  • From: Wake Forest, NC
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Posted by Trekkie on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 8:18 AM
 Brunton wrote:
Why not compromise and go to something in between HO and N - maybe TT scale...


Wouldn't that be about two engines and three rolling stock? Not being a smart aleck here I just haven't seen any TT scale stuff anywhere. Just seems pretty rare.
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Posted by jblackwelljr on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 8:08 AM
Gee, with N scale, I could destroy twice as many things with one errant swipe - see my recent thread about Klutzdom. 
Jim "He'll regret it to his dyin day, if ever he lives that long." - Squire Danaher, The Quiet Man
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  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
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Posted by Pruitt on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 5:12 AM
Why not compromise and go to something in between HO and N - maybe TT scale...
  • Member since
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  • From: Under The Streets of Los Angeles
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Posted by Metro Red Line on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 4:53 AM

 Ironhead wrote:
There's No reasoN to chaNge over to aNother scale...maNy of those maNiacs from that tiNy little uNiNformed HO waNNabe modeliNg commuNity will try to iNduce you to turN from your passioN aNd devotioN to HO. DoN't be proNe to their maNipulation. By all meaNs remaiN true to your dispositioN and doN't fall for aNy phoNy campaigNs they may lauNch iN your directioN iN aN effort to iNflueNce aNd braiNwash you....  

 

pure geNius...

 

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Posted by Adelie on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 3:08 AM

Hey Randy.  Are you thinking of altering your era/geographic/railroad ideas, or sticking with your HO preferences in those areas?  There have been a lot of good transition era diesels and rolling stock available in N. 

- Mark

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • 32 posts
Posted by Ironhead on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:56 AM
There's No reasoN to chaNge over to aNother scale...maNy of those maNiacs from that tiNy little uNiNformed HO waNNabe modeliNg commuNity will try to iNduce you to turN from your passioN aNd devotioN to HO. DoN't be proNe to their maNipulation. By all meaNs remaiN true to your dispositioN and doN't fall for aNy phoNy campaigNs they may lauNch iN your directioN iN aN effort to iNflueNce aNd braiNwash you....  
  • Member since
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  • From: Vail, AZ
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Posted by Vail and Southwestern RR on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 11:55 PM
For me sound isn't really an issue.  I think it might be fun, but thinking about the sound of three or four trains in a small area seems like it would be more cacophony that 'music to the ears'.  Of course, some day I may change my mind!

Jeff But it's a dry heat!

  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 11:47 PM

Not to be harsh, but N scale stuff I cannot hear em.

My LHS put a E unit on the track with sound and ran it and all the heads nodded at the sound. Me? I heard ziltch. However, it did perform very well on that Kato Unitrack set up that took up less space than a door panel.

Im staying in HO with an eye towards a dabble in O once again.

The one thing that might get me back into O is the wagontop caboose being availible now ready to go that is not painted brass in the B&O. I know that HO is where I will be always but O scale will be for the eyes someday.

That little Wagontop may get me into brass country which is where everyone seems to be headed these days.

If you do switch scales, make sure you pack up well all the current stuff. Dont make the mistake of tossing or selling it because chances are it's all there is.

  • Member since
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  • From: Vail, AZ
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Posted by Vail and Southwestern RR on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 11:32 PM
I find that I have to have a magnifier, my eyes are not what they once were.  But the ability to run long trains was too much to resist!  And the locos and cars are so much better than 10 years ago when I started to dabble that I am glad I didn't invest too much then!

Jeff But it's a dry heat!

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  • From: In the State of insanity!
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Posted by pcarrell on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 11:20 PM

 MisterBeasley wrote:
Having recently been seduced by sound in HO, I'd really have a hard time going to a scale where sound is not readily available.  Yeah, that and the old eyes and fingers.

Sound is coming!  There's already one or two on the market, and more to come!  It's on it's way!

Philip
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Posted by pcarrell on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 11:19 PM
 rrinker wrote:

 pcarrell wrote:
I switched from HO to N in the 80's.  I love N!

 

 I switched back from N to HO in the early 80's right before the Atlas RS units came out - only thing I could afford was Bachmann and it ran like junk and I got tired of fighting witht he layout instead of running trains.

 

                          --Randy
 

Thats true....Bmann was very bad back then.  It's not the same now.  There are lots of good loco's to pick from......even some Bmann's!

Philip
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 11:04 PM
Having recently been seduced by sound in HO, I'd really have a hard time going to a scale where sound is not readily available.  Yeah, that and the old eyes and fingers.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by SpaceMouse on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 10:25 PM

I was tempted. I even drew up the design. But the reason I am now pursuing the Rock Ridge and Train City might not be what you think. I wanted to model modern day Norfolk Southern because that is what my son and I see when we go railfanning. Why I ultimately decided against it might not be what you think.

See the main pull was that in HO what I wanted to model was not available. To model the California Western in 1917 meant that I had to kit-bash all my engines as the staple of the fleet was 2-6-2 side tankers. I figured that if I were to model NS in the present, I should have no trouble.

I was wrong. On our last railfan expedition we saw 6 double-headed trains. Of the locos, 11 were Dash-9s and one was a Dash-8. No one has made a Dash-9 since 1998. They are near impossible to find and when they surface on eBay, they go for higher than list.

So I figured if I had to pay top dollar for my fleet, and I already have a fleet of HO old-timers, I'll stick with that.

Since then I thought about what I like about MR. One thing is I like to have scenes with Lilliputians. I figure "N"anoputuains would not only be hard to see, they'd be harder to customize and paint.   

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 10:07 PM
 perisher wrote:
 rrinker wrote:

 Yes I am thinking of selling off my HO and going to N. Although I will find a nice display base with rollers and a clear cover for my T1, I won't part with that until someone comes out with one in N scale that is not brass. I fairly convinced I want to do this, just not 100% yet.

 

                                               --Randy
 

Make sure your eyes are up to scratch before your venture into the dark side

 For what I want to do they are. I need a magnifier for the grab irons on Branchline and P2K HO kits anway. I've been helping a friend with his N scale layout and I have no problem with it,  other than his fine scale track - all hand laid, code 40 and smaller. I plan on doing code 55 at best.

 

                                                    --Randy
 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 10:01 PM

 pcarrell wrote:
I switched from HO to N in the 80's.  I love N!

 

 I switched back from N to HO in the early 80's right before the Atlas RS units came out - only thing I could afford was Bachmann and it ran like junk and I got tired of fighting witht he layout instead of running trains.

 

                          --Randy
 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 44 posts
Posted by perisher on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 8:31 PM
 rrinker wrote:

 Yes I am thinking of selling off my HO and going to N. Although I will find a nice display base with rollers and a clear cover for my T1, I won't part with that until someone comes out with one in N scale that is not brass. I fairly convinced I want to do this, just not 100% yet.

 

                                               --Randy
 

Make sure your eyes are up to scratch before your venture into the dark side
  • Member since
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  • From: In the State of insanity!
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Posted by pcarrell on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 8:19 PM
I switched from HO to N in the 80's.  I love N!
Philip
  • Member since
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  • From: northeast kansas
  • 308 posts
Posted by metalfrog on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 7:39 PM
i've went down down that path years ago but returned to ho because of eyesight and other problems.i could probably go to n again  being that so many wonderful products are rtr.after i get my room cleaned out next to where my ho layout is i might have someone build me the  4by8 benchwork and start an empire in n scale.the n scale product's at the kc,mo train show sure made me drool a lot.all of the n dealer's were packed with people buying stuff.go for it! but think twice about selling off your ho stuff.i did and was sorry i did it.i should of packed away most of the ho scale stuff for use in the years to come.terry.....
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Posted by Trekkie on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 7:29 PM
Join Us.....or DIE! Mwahahahahahahhahaha

Plus you can make layouts that are over 2x bigger in the same amount of space! 1:160 vs. 1:87 has its advantages :D
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Posted by ARTHILL on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 7:27 PM
Resist the evil darkside my son. It will pass.
If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art
  • Member since
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  • From: Reading, PA
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Yet another one being seduced by the (small) dark side
Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 6:47 PM

 Yes I am thinking of selling off my HO and going to N. Although I will find a nice display base with rollers and a clear cover for my T1, I won't part with that until someone comes out with one in N scale that is not brass. I fairly convinced I want to do this, just not 100% yet.

 

                                               --Randy
 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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