I've made this comment before in many threads but this is a hobby of compromises. Each modeler has to decide what compromises to make based on what he wants and what he has available in terms of space, time, and money. With the space you have, you could go either way. A decent sized HO layout can be had in that space or even less but obviously long trains and grand scenic vistas are not a realistic option. On the other hand, N has its limitations as well. The trains themselves are not as prominent. Fine detail, difficult enough in HO, requires a jewelers eyes and hands in N scale. I have no first hand experience, but I would think handling the equipment is more difficult in N.
I'm an oldtimer whose first exposure to electric trains was Lionel and American Flyer back in the 1950s so when I first saw HO, it looked small to me and still does. HO is as small as I would ever want to go but I realize that N has its enthusiasts and I would be the last one to say they are wrong. There is no right or wrong choice. Each scale has its pros and cons and each modelers has to decide what is right based on his desires.
R. T. POTEET wrote:Topics of this nature are an open invitation for generation of vast quantities of BS and I am going to RETAIN myself and only make one brief comment on the subject: in the early '80s when I bolted HO Scale for N Scale I did it because the area available to me for a layout only allowed 18" radius curves and that tight curvature is absolutely ridiculous for HO Scale, a fact that still rings true today and I will stay with N Scale for that precise reason. If you cannot afford 33" radius curves - and you probably can't in an 8' wide room - you need to stay away from HO Scale!; your room size is just right for N Scale!
This is exactly the reason i went to N. Truer words were never spoken.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
loathar wrote:If your young and have good eyes, go with N. You can fit a lot in an 8x12.
I knew we wouldn't have to wait long for this lame comment...
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
8x12 is a good amount of space, even in HO. I model in N as i dont have anywhere near that much space atm, and if i ever do, i intend to model appalachia, with long trains rolling through mountains, and several large coal mines. In my circumstance, i want the size of both the mountains and the mines (as well as the mining camps) to be proportionate to the trains. I used to model in HO, and my layout was only about 3 by 7 feet, so i just chose to model an engine servicing facility, with roundhouse, coaling tower, etc.
With that amount of space you can do a lot, whether HO or N, just remember that youll have to be able to reach all of it! It depends on what you want to model. City scenes with a lot of switching and industries? HO is fine. I see that your a UP fan....if you want to model Challengers and Big Boys rolling freights across the prairies, i would go N. Im working on a 2x4 layout atm in N (it was 2x3, i expanded) which is about the equivalent of a 4x8 in HO. With 8x12 you have 3 times that much room if you go HO, or 6 times that much in N! Thats plenty of space for either i would think.
4-6-6-4 Challenger wrote:I have decide that I am going to use N scale but if people can give me a reason that I sould use HO scale give me some good reason I am working with a 8x12ft layout and dont think I can put much.
I don't have that much more room and I think I have a really grande design in HO.
N is too small for me so no go. But I know others who went N dumping HO, more to be able to model a locale better because of the small size.
Work your ideas out and see what feels best for what you want to do. It seems N scale product availability is more modern prototype, but I don't doubt you could make an 1880's layout anyways, or a full steam 1940s.
concretelackey wrote: PASMITH wrote: 4-6-6-4 Challenger wrote:I have decide that I am going to use N scale but if people can give me a reason that I sould use HO scale give me some good reason I am working with a 8x12ft layout and dont think I can put much.If you like running Challengers even N scale may not work for you in an 8X12 space. It seems to me you are going to have to consider some type of short line with small locos or use a lot of view blocks and staging. How about narrow gauge?Peter Smith, Memphiswhat if he kept the bigger locos to the main and utilized smaller ones for switching/tighter radii?
PASMITH wrote: 4-6-6-4 Challenger wrote:I have decide that I am going to use N scale but if people can give me a reason that I sould use HO scale give me some good reason I am working with a 8x12ft layout and dont think I can put much.If you like running Challengers even N scale may not work for you in an 8X12 space. It seems to me you are going to have to consider some type of short line with small locos or use a lot of view blocks and staging. How about narrow gauge?Peter Smith, Memphis
what if he kept the bigger locos to the main and utilized smaller ones for switching/tighter radii?
Hey, guys! John Armstrong demonstrated that it's possible to run a DM&IR 2-8-8-4 in 4 x 8 - in HO scale. ("The Mighty Bantam," The Classic Layout Designs of John Armstrong, Kalpubco.) Given that, running a less powerful locomotive on a layout with three times the available area in a scale only 55% the size shouldn't be that much of a challenge.
View blocks and staging are the way to go. The rest is dealt with by the following quotation from a science fiction character of my acquaintance:
"I define, 'impossible' as, 'I haven't done that yet.'"
If anyone, anywhere, has done it, it sure as taxes IS possible.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in a space of equivalent size)
PRICE is similar - so it's SELECTIVITY vs. PROPORTIONALITY (alloted space).
Passenger trains look & run better when using 'N' curves on 4X8's..
YOUR Pronlems with an 8X12 will be REACHING things (IE:access). Max curve limitatios are 46"r.
I'd cut into 3' corner sections, and connect them along a wall using 18" wide straights, 8' long, which is a elongated 'dogbone', limited only by your imagination.
my opinion- you can still fit a decent amount of HO in that 8x12 DEPENDING on what your plans are as far as runninng stock/scenery/etc...
You can get ALOT more N in there and still have it spaced out respectably.
They say HO has a greater selection of RTR but they also say N is catching up fairly fast. Item for item the cost will be about the same.
IF it were ME I would opt for N scale.....plenty of action, plenty of space, and room for future development.