I sometimes regret having N Scale. Probably because there's no Southern Pacific specific details like the nose light. I don't have space for an HO layout or N for that matter.
I really do love N Scale because it was the perfect size when I was a kid that wasn't to big to handle like HO or too small to do anything like Z.
I'm sticking with N until eye sense goes. And plus I'm almost 1/2 done with my trains and to start building.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I started out with S scale (American Flyer) as a kid. Went to HO then to N inthe 1960's. The reason was space. I have my dream laout in the basement. N provides four times the railroad of HO. My current layout has an operating hump yard which can only be done in a club layout in HO.
I started in n-scale, but switched to HO scale for two main reasons : #1--there were no manufacturers producing any locos for my favorite road (EJE), and #2---my difficulty in handling n-scale details.
back when I was 15 or so,I started an HO setup. By 17 with a license and a car no more setup sold it all. by 28 I was married I started buying some HO material here and there for when I got a house. Work and kids came along. Now i'm retired, redoing sevweral rooms in the house that never got done in 30 years. I'll have a part(small) in the basement for something.I dont have too much HO and its not the best quality so I figuired go with N and dcc. With glasses im 20/20 so thats why I asked.
As a former N-scaler who moved up to S-scale the one advantage that I see is that there is a lot less maintenance required. Keeping the track clean was a chore for me, and the larger locomotives will blow through dust that would have brought my N-scale locomotives to a shuddering halt. Even investment in several N-scale track cleaning cars did not seem to help that much. With my S layout I can let it set unattended for weeks, and it's still drop the train on the track and go!
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
I have not regretted going into N Scale. Little compression, so all your favorite scenes and trains are not affected.
Modeling the Bellefonte Central Railroad
Fan of the PRR
Garden Railway Enthusiast
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http://www.youtube.com/user/PennsyModeler
When I returned to the hobby I had to decide weather I should stick with "N scale" or move up to "HO" Now I have lots of space and was starting with a 15' x 24' room for my MRR rebirth. I went with HO as I always wanted HO back when space was an issue. Another reason for the switch to HO was my body had far more miliage on it than you would think a "classic 57" should have. I have trouble with the small bit's in HO and am thankful I did not go N scale.
I often look at my room and think of all the possibilities in the track planning department I could have had if N scale had been the choice. If you want to model long 150 car modern day trains, N scale is the way to go. My favourite train is a 4-4-0 with a handful of cars behind it. It takes five or six minutes to do a lap at 20MPH. I'm glad I went HO second time around.
In answer to your question(sort of). Yes I think I would have regretted it, if I had gone with "N scale".
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I love N scale and it's a good thing I do.I don't have the room to build a half decent HO layout and Z scale would be too challenging with my aging eyes.
However,I do have a pair of sound equipped HO heavy haulers that I use with the HO guys at the club.
With over 30 years in N Scale and proud of it. I agree completely with Don. Doug
Nope not at all. I love N scale for a laundry list of reasons...no different then folks who model in the other scales I would guess. N scale is simply the best scale for me and I have never regretted ever choosing it as my model railroading scale. I personally believe N scale is in a golden age right now with all of the new models and materials being produced by MANY manufacturers. It just keeps getting better! I look forward to what the future has in store for N scale.
Happy modeling!
Don.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."
Personally, I started with HO, switched to O, built an N scale layout for my son, switched to S, and dabbled in G.
Currently I have a 6x12 ft 3 rail O gauge layout and an under construction 12x31 ft S scale layout.
I find the small scales - Z, N, HO, - a little frustrating for building stuff because of the small size. But of course you can get a lot more railroad in. Others of course have no problem with it.
I like S for building things and not having to take up a lot of space, like O of G.
But watching an O or G train at chest height is pretty cool.
One thing I have found for the smaller scales is to keep them high. An N scale layout chin high can be pretty cool.
Enjoy
Paul
Another way to ask the question, "Anybody who has changed from N scale to another scale?"
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
I have two regrets,first one is I did not start seriously in N scale till 1993.(played with from about 1980).The second regret is that I don't have the space to build the layout I really want.
I also do Z and HO,but I'll stop doing N when they pry my favorite KATO diesel from my cold lifeless hand.
as a side note I am 70 years old.
Not into N, but I suspect regret is not quite the right word. There's a recent thread on giving up N with advancing age here that is worth a look, just a page or so back.
That said, people switch to larger scales all the time for similar reasons. Many people start in HOn3 and go to On3, for example, in the narrowgauge community. It's really about sustaining your comfort level with what's working for you. I don't think it's scale-specific.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
does anyone who switched to or started with N guage regret doing so.